Language experts agree that the best time frame for learning a language is in early childhood. Once past this window, it becomes markedly more difficult to learn to speak another language fluidly. Most people don’t have the opportunity to learn a second language before they enter elementary school, yet the ability to speak a second language is in high demand in today's workforce. The ability to communicate in Spanish is becoming more and more necessary in today’s melting pot culture. So what options are out there for the adult who wants to pick up Spanish?

Teach Yourself

The easiest way to start learning Spanish would be to pick up a Spanish textbook and start drilling yourself on vocabulary. This option, however, is not usually the best choice. Without hearing the language spoken, you can’t develop a natural accent or learn to carry on a natural conversation. Software or online programs that don’t have an audio portion also have this issue. The quality of your language skills will be limited without hearing the language spoken and imitating the intonations.

Learning From Others

As with anything, practice makes perfect in learning another language. Learning to read and write Spanish from a book can improve your vocabulary and grammar, but it will leave you lost for words the first time you try to converse with a native speaker. It’s important that you hear the language spoken out loud. Using a private tutor is a great way to do this. However, this option can get expensive very quickly, as tutors will charge an hourly rate and you’ll need many, many hours of instruction to feel comfortable with the language.

A Good Compromise

If you want to learn conversational Spanish, but can’t afford the price of private lessons, a good option for you would be software or an online learning program which features audiovisual teaching techniques. One great option is "Learning Spanish Like Crazy." This program features video and audio lessons that teach you practical, conversational Spanish. The lessons are portable and can be listened to just about anywhere! For the busy adult wishing to master Spanish, this option is an excellent choice.