¡Hola amigos!

In over 10 years teaching Spanish to English speakers I have come across some mistakes that almost everyone make when they are learning Spanish. These are a natural part of the learning process, and together, we can navigate through them. In this blog post, I'll highlight the five most frequent slip-ups and provide tips on how to overcome them so that you can speak like a native faster. Let's get started!

Mistake 1: Misusing "Por" and "Para"

One common challenge Spanish learners face is the confusion between "por" and "para." And rightly so! I get it, since both are translated as "for" in English in some instances, but they are used in different contexts which gives them in Spanish a different word.

"Por" is often used for reasons, duration, and general movement.

Examples:

Siempre tomo café por la mañana. I always have coffee in the morning.

 While

"para" is used for purpose, destination, and deadlines.

Examples:

Estoy estudiando para un examen. I am studying for an exam.

Tengo mucho trabajo para mañana. I have a lot of work for tomorrow.

 To overcome this, practice with example sentences, work on honing the difference between the two of them or let us know if you would like some exercises with answers to practice!

Mistake 2: Neglecting Basic Vocabulary

Another initial hurdle for Spanish learners is neglecting fundamental vocabulary.

Building a strong vocabulary foundation is crucial for effective communication, and to overcome this I like to create flashcards, label common objects around me with sticky notes, and using vocabulary-building apps to enhance your word bank. Another thing you can do is watch youtube videos with vlogs that teach vocabulary.

Even though I am not the biggest fan of apps like Duo Lingo to learn a language I do think they are a good addition to your learning, specially to practice and learn vocabulary but if you want to base your learning on those apps you will be lacking in many areas. I find that most of the pupils that come from starting in apps like that are very confused on grammar points and feel like they are not making any progress after a while so keep that in mind. 

Mistake 3: Stumbling on Ser vs. Estar

Mastering the difference between "ser" and "estar" can be challenging for English speakers. While both mean "to be," they are used in different contexts.

"Ser" is for permanent characteristics

Martin es alto. Martin is very tall.

Elisa es una persona muy amable. Elisa is a very kind person.

"Estar" is for temporary states.

Estoy muy cansada hoy. I am very tired today.

Inma está de compras. Inma is shopping.

To overcome this, practice with real-life examples and remember “ser” is used to describe things in permanent state while “estar” is for temporary situations and locations.

Mistake 4: Misusing Gender and Articles

Nouns in Spanish have gender (masculine or feminine), and the articles that go with them must match. Misusing gender and articles is a very common mistake.

To overcome this,I always recommend everyone that works with me to memorize the gender of common nouns and practice with flashcards. That means that if you are learning a new word for example silla, learn it with the pronoun so that you always remember the gender of the word.

Instead of learning words like this:

Silla – chair

Coche – car

Mesa – table

Learn vocabulary like this:

La silla

El coche

La mesa

It takes the same amount of time to learn but you will be saving having to study grammatical rules for masculine and feminine words. When you learn this way, you will eventually be able to speak and use the pronouns correctly without even noticing it.

Mistake 5: Ignoring Regular Verb Conjugations

Conjugating verbs is a fundamental aspect of Spanish grammar. Many learners struggle with regular verb conjugations in different tenses, not to mention irregular verbs!

To overcome this, focus on one tense at a time, use conjugation charts, and practice with common verbs in everyday sentences. Consistent practice is key to mastering verb conjugations. Once you manage the present tense you can go onto a different one but do not try to get ahead of yourself as you will create confusion and you will get them mixed up.

Always remember that the best and fastest way to learn any language is to immerse yourself in it. Have Spanish speaking music on the background, listen to podcasts, read short stories for the level you are at, and you will progress much quicker.

Always keep in mind that at the beginning you wont understand it, but stick to it and let the magic happen. 😊

¡Buena suerte (good luck) on your Spanish learning journey!