Welcome to the sixth day of the 30 days writing challenge of this year. You can find a list of all the articles I wrote at the end of each article. Please have a look at the end of it to understand how can you participate in this one.

Why Learning A New Language?

As some of you already know, a few months ago I moved to another country. I didn't know the language before moving in, so a relevant part of the move was related to learning Spanish. I'm still far away from speaking Spanish at conversational level, but I'm ok at the grocery shops or in short, casual interactions with other people.

What follows is a (very) short list of best practices for learning a new language.

1. Use An App

I started to learn Spanish long before I actually moved here. I think I started it 6 months before, and the way I did it was to use an iPhone app, and practice just 5-10 minutes per day. The app was Duolingo, and although I found the lessons very easy, reason for me to skip every other day, I did learn a little bit. Especially vocabulary.

2. Focus On Utility

A lot of language learning methods are following a general approach. Like teaching you English, or French, or Spanish from a very top to bottom approach, like you would have 3 or 4 years to master it. Most of the time, you don't have that much time. So, focus on the specific situations that you want to use the language for. In my case, I learned a lot of food names, because I go shopping very often.

3. Listen More Than Speaking

Sometimes I go to the park only to listen people talking in Spanish. I don't understand much - yet - but it's a great way to familiarize with the real language, not the academic approach you get when you go to a specific course. Also, when I talk, I'm more focused on what the other person says, and very often I just encourage him or her to say more, with a Balle, or Claro.

4. Practice It With Your Partner

We try really hard to have at least a few conversations each day in Spanish, and that it shows. In the beginning it was really hard, but as we learn more words and grammars rule, things are getting easier.

5. Explore Around. A Lot

This may seem like unrelated to the actual learning process, but I found it very useful. The more I explore the city and its vicinity, the more I get to learn. From transportation (by subway, bus or bike) to food (I have to eat everywhere I go) and from casual interactions to very specific situations. Exploring around, simply walking through various neighborhoods, has a very unique way to open your mind to new experiences and to new ways to describe those experiences.

So, this is my (very short) list of best practices for learning a new language.

How Do I Participate In This Challenge?

The criteria for @challenge30days account to vote your post are:

• post must be at least 300 words long
• post must be original
• post must be on best practices
• post must use the #challenge30days tag

Previous Posts In The Challenge

• January 2019 Challenge 30 Days - Best Practices For Keeping A Successful 30 Days Challenge
• January 2019 Challenge 30 Days - Best Practices For Selecting Relevant Crypto Projects (Day Two)
• January 2019 Challenge 30 Days - Best Practices For Surviving In The STEEM Universe (Day Three)
• January 2019 Challenge 30 Days - Best Practices For Working Remote (Day Four)
• January 2019 Challenge 30 Days - Best Practices For Working From Coffee Shops (Day Five)

Steem on!

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I'm a serial entrepreneur, blogger and ultrarunner. You can find me mainly on my blog at Dragos Roua where I write about productivity, business, relationships and running. Here on Steemit you may stay updated by following me @dragosroua.

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