El vocabulario
Vocabulary is one of the most important basic needs for successful communication. What does it mean to "know vocabulary"? And how can you best learn vocabulary in Spanish?
- Memorization is only part of the learning process. Using new vocabulary to communicate requires practicing that vocabulary in context. What do you associate with this word? When might you want to use it? Create a context—a place, a situation, a person, or a group of people—for the vocabulary that you want to learn, or use a context from the text.
- Carefully study the words in vocabulary lists and drawings. If a word is a cognate or shares a root with an English word, be especially aware of differences in spelling and pronunciation. For example, note that clase is spelled with only one s, and that ciencias does not begin with an s. Keep in mind that a slight difference in spelling may lead to a miscommunication: el libro (the book) versus la libra (the pound); la mesa (the table) versus el mes (the month); el consejero (male advisor) versus la consejera (female advisor).
- You also need to remember which words require el and which words require la to express the, as well as which words require a written accent—el lápiz, el bolígrafo, for example—and where the accent occurs.
- After studying the vocabulary list and drawings, cover the English in the list and give the English equivalent of each Spanish word. When you are able to give the English without hesitation and without error, reverse the procedure.
- Vocabulary lists based on your own associations and flash cards can also be useful as a review or as a self-test.
La gramática
Learning a language is similar to learning any other skill; knowing about it is only part of what is involved. If you memorize all the grammar rules but spend little time practicing them, you will not be able to communicate very well in Spanish.
As you study each grammar point in ¿Qué tal?, you will learn how the structure works; then you need to put your knowledge into practice. First, read the grammar discussion, study and analyze the examples, and pay special attention to any ¡OJO! sections, which will call your attention to problem areas. Then do the exercises and check your answers against a classmates'. As you do each item, think about what you are conveying and the context in which you could use each sentence, as well as about spelling and pronunciation.
Always remember that language learning is cumulative. This means that you are not finished with a grammar point when you go on to the next chapter. For example, even though you may be studying the material in Capítulo 2, you must still remember the concept of gender in Spanish and how to conjugate -ar verbs, because Capítulo 2 builds on what you have learned in Capítulo 1—as all subsequent chapters will build on the material leading up to them.
Los verbos
Study carefully any new grammar section that deals with verbs. Are the verbs regular? What is the stem? What are the personal endings? Don't just memorize the endings (-o, -as, -a, and so on). Practice the complete forms of each verb (hablo, hablas, habla, and so on) until they are "second nature" to you. Be sure that you are using the appropriate endings: -ar endings with -ar verbs, for example. Be especially careful when you write and pronounce verb endings, since a misspelling or mispronunciation can convey inaccurate information. Even though there is only a one-letter difference between hablo and habla or between habla and hablan, for example, that single letter makes a big difference in the information communicated.
Are you studying irregular verbs? If so, what are the irregularities? Practice the irregular forms many times so that you "overlearn" them and will not forget them: tengo, tienes, tiene, tienen.
Once you are familiar with the forms, practice asking short conversational questions using tú/Ud. and vosotros/Uds. Answer each question, using the appropriate yo or nosotros form.
| ¿Hablas español? |
Sí, hablo español. |
| ¿Habla español? |
Sí, hablo español. |
| ¿Comen Uds. en clase? |
No, no comemos en clase. |
| ¿Coméis en clase? |
No, no comemos en clase. |
- Practice the forms of all new verbs given in the vocabulary lists in each chapter. Any special information that you should know about the verbs will be indicated either in the vocabulary list or in a grammar section.
Los diccionarios bilingües
A Spanish-English/English-Spanish dictionary or vocabulary list is an excellent study aid, but one that should be used very carefully. Follow these guidelines to minimize the pitfalls.
- If you are looking for a Spanish word in the Spanish-English part of the dictionary, remember that in some dictionaries the letters ch, ll, and ñ, follow the letters c, l, and n, respectively. The word coche can be found after the word cocina; calle comes after calma; and caña follows candidato in these dictionaries.
- When you look in the English-Spanish section for the Spanish equivalent of an English word, keep in mind the part of speech—noun, verb, adjective, and so on—of the word you are looking for. By doing so, you will avoid many mistakes.
- Remember that there is rarely a one-to-one equivalency between Spanish and English words. Jugar means to play a sport or game, but the verb tocar must be used to talk about playing a musical instrument.
- Minimize the number of "dictionary words" you use when writing in Spanish. It is best to limit yourself to words you know because you have used them in class. And when you do have to use the dictionary, try to check your word choice with your instructor or someone else who knows Spanish.
El arte de escribir
You can develop a more mature writing style in Spanish by using transition words to link shorter sentences. Follow these suggestions.
- Write a first draft of your composition, trying to express your ideas in short simple sentences. Be sure each sentence has at least a subject and a verb.
- Determine which sentences have a logical relationship and can be linked together. Choose transition words that show these relationships.
- Rewrite the composition, adding the transition words and making changes, if necessary. For example, if you link the following sentences together with cuando, the word ella will not be necessary.
Vimos a Jacinta. Ella estaba en la cafetería. ®
Cuando vimos a Jacinta, estaba en la cafetería.
- Remember to use words that you are familiar with because you have used them before, and avoid using the dictionary too much.
| además |
besides |
| así |
thus, so |
| cuando |
when |
| de vez en cuando |
from time to time |
| en cambio |
on the other hand |
| es decir |
that is |
| luego |
then, next |
| mientras |
while |
| pero |
but |
| por ejemplo |
for example |
| por eso |
therefore, for that reason |
| por fin |
at last, finally |
| pues |
well; since |
| sin embargo |
nevertheless |
| también |
also |
Los amigos falsos
Not all Spanish and English cognates are identical in meaning. Here are a few important traps to be aware of. These words are false, or misleading, cognates (los amigos falsos).
| sano |
healthy |
| la renta |
income |
| el pariente |
relative |
| gracioso |
funny |
| actual |
current, up-to-date |
| la fábrica |
factory |
| el colegio |
elementary/secondary school |
| una molestia |
a bother |
| la sopa |
soup |
| la ropa |
clothing |
| real |
real; royal |
| sensible |
sensitive |
| el éxito |
success |
| constipado |
suffering from a head cold |
Occasionally such words can lead to communication problems. The English-speaking tourist who, feeling embarrassed, describes himself or herself as embarazado/a may find people chuckling at the remark, because embarazada means not embarrassed but pregnant!
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