It is agreed that Spanish is a beautiful language to study. It sings to the ear and rolls off the tongue in a sensual and romantic way. There are any number of approaches you can choose to learn to speak Spanish. Courses that allow you to learn Spanish in Spain are exceptionally valuable, in that they give you the opportunity to completely immerse yourself in the natural setting that fully expresses this rich and vibrant language.

While it may not be possible for everyone to go to Spain and spend time learning the lingo, those who do have such an opportunity are able to accelerate the speed at which they learn. The main advantage of being able to study in Spain, is that you are completely surrounded, or immersed, in the Spanish language, the Spanish culture and with the Spanish people. This also means that you are able to immediately integrate the many different aspects of learning a foreign language into your daily life experience, making the learning more intense.

There are a number of Spanish language schools in different cities, where you can go to learn Spanish in Spain. Most of these schools have a set of basic Spanish language courses that allow for a number of classes throughout the week. This means you have a rather rigorous schedule that is meant to help you absorb and retain the language as quickly as possible.

In addition, the schools that offer opportunities to learn Spanish in Spain, also offer a variety of free-time activities that you can participate in outside of the classroom time. These include a range of activities and events that are optional but which support your language learning efforts. Some examples of these extra activities are welcome parties, where you can get to know your instructors and fellow students, guided tours of museums in the city where you are staying or in nearby cities, and weekend excursions to smaller towns and rural areas where you can gain an appreciation of the Spanish lifestyle.

If you choose to totally immerse yourself in the country and learn the dialect, then you will find that the average class has only about six to twelve students. This factor allows the instructor to give each student individual attention and assistance as needed. Many times, the instructors also participate in the different free-time optional activities, which helps to create a strong relationship between the teachers and the students. This also allows the students to ask questions and continue to receive instruction while participating in these activities. As well, it give the students a better insight into the local culture.

During the classroom time of the courses, there is a daily focus on Spanish grammatical structure, Spanish vocabulary building and proper Spanish pronunciation. There is also time given to comprehend the roots and evolution of the language and the culture of Spain and other Spanish-speaking nations. Active participation by all students in the Spanish course is not only encouraged but it is considered essential for the best overall experience.

The majority of the learn Spanish in Spain basic courses are for the students who can stay in the country to learn for a time period of about four to eight weeks. This arrangement is perfect for solo travelers, or for people who appreciate having some of their free time scheduled for them. In addition to learning the language, it can be a terrific way to meet new friends and develop the sense of having a second home abroad.

What if you cannot take advantage of the opportunity to learn Spanish in Spain?  Perhaps you cannot afford either the cost or the time required.  In that case you will have to resort to some other method for learning Spanish.  There are an abundance of books, tapes, and CDs available on the market, but which ones offer the best approach or are the most effective?

In my experience many are almost worthless and are a waste of both time and money.  And unfortunately, no single program seems to cover all the bases.  However, I have found a combination of Spanish language programs that works well and I offer it for your consideration.  It involves using both the Rosetta Stone Spanish Language program and the Pimsleur method.   The Rosetta Stone Spanish Language program comes in two versions, Latin American and Spain.  With both versions, you learn to understand, read, write, and speak Spanish.  The program is offered as a CD version or by online subscription.  In either case you have to have and be seated at a computer to use the program.  The Pimsleur method allows more freedom of location as it is primarily an audio only approach to understanding and speaking Spanish.  With Pimsleur, you can listen to the CDs in your car, while walking or jogging, etc., and the CDs are very much focused conversational Spanish.  Used together, they work synergistically to build your understanding, vocabulary, and ability to use the Spanish language much faster than either program alone.  

Upon completion of the Rosetta Stone Spanish Language program and the Pimsleur method for learning Spanish, you can take advantage of several methods to continue to develop fluency in your new language.  You can download a chart in .pdf format on Learning Spanish that lays out this process for a better understanding of how it all fits together.  While perhaps not as effective as the full immersion courses to learn Spanish in Spain, I believe the approach outlined in the Learning the Spanish Language chart is the next best thing.