Use these shortcuts from my lessons learned on your own journey to fluency in Spanish, English, Italian, or any other language.
Through much trial and error, these three steps are eventually what I did to become fully fluent in Spanish.
But boy, did it take a long time! As in 10 years long.
Don't make the same mistakes I did. Instead, use these shortcuts on your own journey to fluency in Spanish, English, Italian, or any other target language you've chosen.
1. Find the way to learn that's right for you and stick with it.
In the past, I spent too much time in classes I didn't like.
I never enjoyed group classes. Yet that's what I would always seek out, more group classes that left me feeling like I either couldn't catch up or never had a chance, or the confidence, to speak.
After moving to Peru, I learned that full immersion works best for me.
Then when I got to a point where I needed help getting answers to a lot of questions I had, I found that 1:1 lessons with a native-speaking teacher provided the perfect supplement to my learning.
2. Go ahead and try speaking right away.
When I lived in Peru, I used to avoid speaking with my Peruvian friends. I didn't say a word in Spanish for a full year.
That's because I didn't have any confidence and was afraid of making mistakes and having people tease me.
(Peruvians do love to tease each other. You have to have thick skin and a good sense of humor to take it.)
Then I realized that the only way to move forward was to just try and say something. Anything was better than nothing.
So if I were learning Spanish, English, Italian, or any other language all over again, I'd speak right away with people who make me feel good about trying.
3. Let go of perfection and embrace your mistakes.
Like I was just explaining, I used to be too caught up in being perfect.
At some point, it occurred to me that I'm not even perfect in English. So how could I be in Spanish?
Around the same time as that epiphany, I met an 80-year-old Cuban who corrected himself while speaking.
It hit me then that if after 8 decades of speaking if he was making mistakes as a native speaker, then it would be natural and expected that I would as a Spanish learner, too.
What we do in the past is part of the process, so learn from it and keep moving forward.
Now all the lessons I've learned have helped more than 500+ folks feel confident speaking Spanish, English, and Italian like a native in 90 days or less.
Want some freebies before you get started with Spanish, English, or Italian? Download them now.
Jackie Amidon Donaldson helps women feel confident speaking Spanish, English, and Italian like a native in 90 days or less. She loves helping them achieve their goals by setting up their action plan for success, showing them the tools they need, and supporting them each step of the way. Jackie's the owner and language coach of Amidon Studios and has worked with more than 1000 women around the world.
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