Happy New Year everyone! I'm fully aware of the fact that this is a long overdue post. Let me just say that, with the new year comes the new attitude.

So, let's get started.

Most of you would agree that, as far as New Year’s resolutions go, learning to speak a foreign language is a bit of a cliché. The real question, however, has to do with the way a language is efficiently learnt. Every student has a different learning style. In my case American films were absolutely instrumental. For some learners it’s the books that they find most useful (although I don’t see how the griten word can help your speaking skills).

Here are some tips of mine:

1.     Turn a part of your daily life into an anglophone experience. For example, change the language on your cellphone (from Spanish to English) or read the Spanish press in English. Yes. Spanish press in English. Some Spanish newspapers have on-line editions in English. If you're curious about it check out the English editions of País here and Marca right here.

2.     Watch short scenes of series or movies that you really enjoy. And then go and watch them over and over again. Take notes. Read those notes. And, of course, use the "new"vocabulary in the classroom.

3.     Read things aloud and talk to yourself in English. I know that can be creepy... but you know what? Your mouth needs to go through the actual motions. Pronunciation requires some degree of gymnastics.

Do you remember the vocabulary we saw in this class?