frontpagephoinix | Staff posted Apr 26, 2026 07:48 AM
Item 1 of 2
Item 1 of 2
frontpagephoinix | Staff posted Apr 26, 2026 07:48 AM
Fluent Forever: How to Learn Any Language Fast and Never Forget It (eBook)
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1) There are no shortcuts; you will still need to spend at least, for example, 600 hours of study for minimal Spanish conversations. This is, for example, about 6 months with a private tutor @4 hours/day. More complex languages will require more study
2) Start with pronunciation. If you go sideways at the start, it will be very difficult to correct later
3) Use one of the SRS card systems to enhance memorization, preferably every day. Build your own cards - not decks built by others, however tempting - use imagery wherever possible, and write verb conjugations in complete sentences. Leverage a frequency-of-use dictionary to help select words and verbs. Use an instructor plus several books for grammar
But this is still a big lift. The first 300 nouns will get you to about 80% of super basic conversation; basic fluency starts at between 1000 and 2000 nouns. Verbs are another story. English has about 12 verb tenses; Spanish, for example, has 16-18 verb tenses. To go with the top 300 basic nouns, there are about 75 frequently used verbs. 75 verbs in the 5 top tenses, in the 5 major forms (6 forms if you want European Spanish), is an additional 2,000 words, many of them completely irregular. Triple the verb memorization and their various conjugations for basic fluency
4) Practice with native speakers. Spanish in Mexico is different from Spanish in Colombia, is different from the Spanish in Argentina, and is different from the Spanish in Spain. Also, like English, each region has common simple phrases that defy translation. You will probably never lose your American accent, but with a LOT of practice, your pronunciation will not consistently embarrass you.
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1) There are no shortcuts; you will still need to spend at least, for example, 600 hours of study for minimal Spanish conversations. This is, for example, about 6 months with a private tutor @4 hours/day. More complex languages will require more study
2) Start with pronunciation. If you go sideways at the start, it will be very difficult to correct later
3) Use one of the SRS card systems to enhance memorization, preferably every day. Build your own cards - not decks built by others, however tempting - use imagery wherever possible, and write verb conjugations in complete sentences. Leverage a frequency-of-use dictionary to help select words and verbs. Use an instructor plus several books for grammar
But this is still a big lift. The first 300 nouns will get you to about 80% of super basic conversation; basic fluency starts at between 1000 and 2000 nouns. Verbs are another story. English has about 12 verb tenses; Spanish, for example, has 16-18 verb tenses. To go with the top 300 basic nouns, there are about 75 frequently used verbs. 75 verbs in the 5 top tenses, in the 5 major forms (6 forms if you want European Spanish), is an additional 2,000 words, many of them completely irregular. Triple the verb memorization and their various conjugations for basic fluency
4) Practice with native speakers. Spanish in Mexico is different from Spanish in Colombia, is different from the Spanish in Argentina, and is different from the Spanish in Spain. Also, like English, each region has common simple phrases that defy translation. You will probably never lose your American accent, but with a LOT of practice, your pronunciation will not consistently embarrass you.
1) There are no shortcuts; you will still need to spend at least, for example, 600 hours of study for minimal Spanish conversations. This is, for example, about 6 months with a private tutor @4 hours/day. More complex languages will require more study
2) Start with pronunciation. If you go sideways at the start, it will be very difficult to correct later
3) Use one of the SRS card systems to enhance memorization, preferably every day. Build your own cards - not decks built by others, however tempting - use imagery wherever possible, and write verb conjugations in complete sentences. Leverage a frequency-of-use dictionary to help select words and verbs. Use an instructor plus several books for grammar
But this is still a big lift. The first 300 nouns will get you to about 80% of super basic conversation; basic fluency starts at between 1000 and 2000 nouns. Verbs are another story. English has about 12 verb tenses; Spanish, for example, has 16-18 verb tenses. To go with the top 300 basic nouns, there are about 75 frequently used verbs. 75 verbs in the 5 top tenses, in the 5 major forms (6 forms if you want European Spanish), is an additional 2,000 words, many of them completely irregular. Triple the verb memorization and their various conjugations for basic fluency
4) Practice with native speakers. Spanish in Mexico is different from Spanish in Colombia, is different from the Spanish in Argentina, and is different from the Spanish in Spain. Also, like English, each region has common simple phrases that defy translation. You will probably never lose your American accent, but with a LOT of practice, your pronunciation will not consistently embarrass you.
Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank whitecrane8
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1) There are no shortcuts; you will still need to spend at least, for example, 600 hours of study for minimal Spanish conversations. This is, for example, about 6 months with a private tutor @4 hours/day. More complex languages will require more study
2) Start with pronunciation. If you go sideways at the start, it will be very difficult to correct later
3) Use one of the SRS card systems to enhance memorization, preferably every day. Build your own cards - not decks built by others, however tempting - use imagery wherever possible, and write verb conjugations in complete sentences. Leverage a frequency-of-use dictionary to help select words and verbs. Use an instructor plus several books for grammar
But this is still a big lift. The first 300 nouns will get you to about 80% of super basic conversation; basic fluency starts at between 1000 and 2000 nouns. Verbs are another story. English has about 12 verb tenses; Spanish, for example, has 16-18 verb tenses. To go with the top 300 basic nouns, there are about 75 frequently used verbs. 75 verbs in the 5 top tenses, in the 5 major forms (6 forms if you want European Spanish), is an additional 2,000 words, many of them completely irregular. Triple the verb memorization and their various conjugations for basic fluency
4) Practice with native speakers. Spanish in Mexico is different from Spanish in Colombia, is different from the Spanish in Argentina, and is different from the Spanish in Spain. Also, like English, each region has common simple phrases that defy translation. You will probably never lose your American accent, but with a LOT of practice, your pronunciation will not consistently embarrass you.
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