by Corbett Barr

Created on: February 05, 2010   Last Updated: February 06, 2010

How to Keep The Spanish (or Other Language) You've Already Learned

One of the hardest things about learning a new language is not losing what you've already learned. When you take some time off from active study, it's easy to regress in your speaking ability if you're not careful.

The only sure fire way to prevent losing what you've already learned is to keep studying actively. But, if you don't have time to take classes or put the hours in, there are still some things you can do to maintain your level of fluency.

In my case, the language I'm talking about is Spanish, although these techniques  could really work for any language. Spanish just happens to be the language I'm working to learn and retain.

To retain as much as possible during gaps in your study, the goal should be to intersperse learning opportunities throughout your life over the course of the gap. The longer your gap between intensive or immersive learning, the harder you'll have to work to keep what you already have.

Software

In my experience, the better language learning software programs aren't really going to help you become completely fluent. It's just not easy to become fluent without real life conversations.

The software programs are however, good for quick practice sessions when you're not taking immersive classes or studying abroad. Spend just a couple of hours a week using language-learning software, and you'll help retain what you've already learned. You might learn a little extra along the way as well.

Audio Learning

One of my favorite free audio-learning courses is the series from Radio Lengua Network called Coffee Break Spanish. These quick lessons only take 15 minutes each, and you can listen on your iPod or online. A couple of these each week will definitely help you maintain fluency.

Email Lessons

A service I helped create called Morning Spanish delivers a new Spanish lesson to you each day over email. It's great for a quick (10 minutes or less) lesson each day, and it's convenient because the lessons come right to your inbox. The lessons aren't intended to make you completely fluent on their own, but they are a great compliment to other learning techniques or for maintaining what you've learned during study gaps.

Television and Movies

If you're trying to retain a popular language like Spanish, watching T.V. or movies in that language is a great option. It can be more fun than regular study, and you will learn some slang and contemporary idioms that you might not otherwise.

Conversations with Native Speakers

This is probably one of the best ways to retain some language over a gap in study. If there are native speakers in your town of the language you're trying to learn, find some way to have regular conversations with them in that language. It's usually easy to find business owners that speak Spanish or French or Chinese in most towns. Visit their business and make a point of speaking in their native tongue.

Do What Works For You

The most important thing is that you expose yourself to the language you're learning while you're not actively studying it. This will help ensure you retain as much as possible until you get back to more in-depth learning. Figure out whatever method works best for you, and don't waste time on things that don't fit your lifestyle. Good luck with keeping your language skills up to snuff!

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