15 Tips for Learning Spanish in Philadelphia
Learning another language is a process of dynamic and active interactions between the learner and the teacher or tutor. Based on years of experience tutoring Spanish, working with students of all levels of proficiency, ages and occupations, Spanish by Native recommends the following tips to accelerate the learning process.
ARE YOU AFRAID TO SPEAK SPANISH?
It is common for Spanish learners to be frightened to say a word in Spanish for fear of making mistakes. Remember that the goal of learning Spanish is communication.
o The more you speak, the faster you’ll learn the language. Repetition is critical in learning a new language. Practice frequently and let the natural way take place. 
o Speak Spanish as much as you can,whenever you can. Confidence comes from practice.
o Practice your pronunciation. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. They are natural and part of the learning process. The key here is to get use to sounds of words in Spanish. Having trouble rolling your R’s? Check out this post.
o Date a Latino/a. This may be the cheapest and the most fun way. Spanish is a romance language, so why not?
DON’T HAVE ANYBODY TO PRACTICE WITH?
That’s ok. There are many ways to learn Spanish in the Philadelphia area. Here are a couple of ways to get you started.
o Join a Spanish meet-up in Philadelphia. This is a great opportunity to meet some other people who want to learn Spanish and possibly some native speakers. More importantly, the Spanish meet-up in Center City is FREE. All you need is to find the time and a location that works for you.
o Find an exchange language partner. There are many sites online that offer options to exchange languages. Check them out; this includes sites like Philadelphia Craigslist if you’re on a budget.
o Find a local Spanish tutor. Most Spanish language schools in the area can be extremely expensive. If you are looking for a personal and engaging way to learn Spanish in Philadelphia, then a tutor may be for you.
o Read Al Dia. This is a FREE local Hispanic newspaper. They offer both print and an online version of the newspaper.
o Watch peliculas. Movies are a fun way to learn the language and a good way to train your ear. In order to master your accent and improve your comprehension, listen while you watch.
NO TIME TO STUDY SPANISH?
There’s always time. You only have to be prepared and take advantage of it.
o Listen to Spanish talk radio while driving. Ever drive west on 76, or 95 South in the morning? If so, then you know exactly what we’re talking about when we say TRAFFIC. Use this time. Listening to other people speak in Spanish helps to train your ear.
THINK LEARNING SPANISH WILL BE TOO EXPENSIVE?
It’s not if you are creative. There are a number of ways that you can pick up the language in Philadelphia. Spanish is all around you; all you have to do is participate. Check out these Spanish restaurants in Philadelphia. Who knows, you may even see us there.
If you are a little less adventurous, try these on for size:
o Study Spanish online. Use our site, or check out of list of best websites on the web to learn Spanish. 
o Look for local deals. Sometimes you can find discounts and special offers when looking for Spanish classes. It takes a little research to come across the best deals for learning Spanish, but you lose nothing by searching.
o Ask for discounts. Planning on taking more than one Spanish class? Ask for a discount.
o Look for FREE resources online. Study from the comfort of your own home and at your own pace. Not sure where to begin? Let’s us help. Check on our post on how to learn Spanish online.
o Subscribe to a Spanish newsletter. There are plenty of sites out there that offer a Spanish language learning newsletter. We like Don Quijote. The format is clear and the breadth of information is just right.
o Spanish is all around us. Just take a look in the streets of Philadelphia and you’ll be sure to find some.
CHECK OUT THIS LOCAL PHILADELPHIA VIDEO
We hope you find these tips useful and we wish you luck on your path to Spanish fluency. There is no magic recipe for learning Spanish. As you continue to progress, you will discover new ways of learning and you will face new challenges.
Keep these tips handy and practice speaking Spanish often!
Buena Suerte
