Focus on Principles (not Methods) to Improve Your Spanish Study Routine

If you want to improve your Spanish study routine, focus your effects on principles instead of searching for the best language learning method.

Methods go in and out of fashion but principles will always be true. In addition, the success of any method will depend on how well that method aligns with an underlying principle.

In this video, you'll learn:
- What is the difference between a principle and a method
- How principles and methods play out in different fields such as dieting and cooking
- The two key principles of learning anything
- How the two principles of learning anything apply to language learning

[realfastspanish]

Have you thought about principles when trying to figure out the best way to learn a language? Please let me know if this is a new idea or something you have considered before.

[CalebJHoman]

I agree! I took 4 years of Spanish in high school and I don't think principle 1 was being followed at all. Haha. I now am working construction along with multiple Mexicans and some South Americans and my Spanish is improving a million times faster because I am motivated and want to learn. También, Estoy aprendiendo mucho de tus YouTube.

[claytondemge]

I’m glad I found a good nutrition advice channel, now I gotta find one for Spanish.

[sammychernikoff]

Great videos my friend. A good example of cooking principles is the awesome “cookbook” Salt Fat Acid Heat

[catskillsonline]

“If you learn only methods, you'll be tied to your methods. But if you learn principles, you can devise your own methods.” -Ralph W Emerson

[jamesfreese]

Good video with helpful info!!!gracias

[michds]

I like these videos because you make sense and open up my eyes to things I never would have known

[deborahpacheco]

I really appreciate your programs. You break things down so it's easy to understand. You don't talk too fast, and your lessons aren't crammed with college classroom grammar phrases. You're lessons are fantastic!

[aruiz]

I come from a large Latino family where some of our great grandparents who came from Mexico to the US intentionally tried to erase the Spanish language from our family as a way of protecting us so we would fit in & not be judged in the US by having broken English. It's unfortunately common. As generations went on, speaking in Spanish is almost eliminated from our family on my mom's side. It's sad. I always grew up with the culture of singing, dancing, cooking, and practicing traditions MINUS the language. I took probably 6 years of Spanish classes which didn't help me get to the point of fluency which I want for career purposes & simply feeling connected to other Spanish speakers. It's embarrassing I'm still no where near where I want to be. Hearing Spanish on repetition via podcasts, music or shows/ movies NEVER helped me. I'm a visual & hands on learner - spending time with family who's primary language is Spanish who directly talk to me and show me what they're talking about helps slightly. I feel as though in order to fully become fluent I need to do exactly what you said and learn to study it in a way that makes me absorb the info. I'm 37 and I'm not close to being where I'd like to be with my understanding of forming sentences. I have a large vocab and great comprehension on pronunciation but I have a long way to go.

[lucy]

Thanks Andrew. I've listened to a lot of your videos on language learning methods and tips and I've found them all fascinating and very helpful. Yes more like this would definitely be watched by me :) .

[VineshVaswani]

You have described the method and principle very clearly. I appreciate you analytical approach. Do such talks often.it wakes up a confused mind and helps to find a direction. Thank you, Guruji.

[slobobba]

Two days ago I concluded a 4 week immersion program in Oaxaca (city). My starting level might be called advanced beginner. I signed up for a second 4 week program at a different school, commencing tomorrow. I came across your YouTube channel 2-3 weeks ago while seeking some clarification about a grammar topic. I haven’t checked out the podcast but due to some of the comments will do so muy pronto.
The background above is to set the context for the following remark- Wow, I needed this information a lot! It clarifies my intuition about not continuing with the immersion program and trying a school with a different methodology.
Principle 1) your video affirms my sense that there are a few actions I can take to improve my readiness and ability to learn.
Principle 2) Practice. How can I explore some different methodologies for practicing? I engage often in conversation with people on the street. Often I find myself mentally correcting myself afterwards; that helps. I’m also drilling with digital flash cards (ConjuGato👍🏼) to noticeable benefit.
The immersion class is beneficial but cuts both ways as I can’t learn what I can’t understand.
Thanks to many of the commenters for your helpful experiences and thoughts.

Question- prior to this month I had never studied Spanish though have spent, over the past 35 years, an aggregate of maybe 3!years in Latin America. I’ve communicated successfully through a limited vocabulary of words and phrases, but with very little structure. Now I’m finally learning and imposing some structure to how I speak, I’m also having to avoid and undo my previous [lazy] ways of communicating. Any suggestions or advice for how to make this transition?

[VivasPuertorriquenos]

Practice doesn’t make perfect. Practice progressively makes participating in any activity greatly perfected.

[gregheaton]

Your thoughts are are very interesting and sound logical. I would like to hear more on specific applications of the concept. Thank you

[theresatomasello]

Hola Andrew, por favor danos más de este contenido. Nos sirve mucho. El la llave de todo sin duda.

[norikosato]

A few years ago I learned from a music teaching/learning channel a "proverb" many music teaches are saying. That was: Practice makes permanent. This means, if you make the same mistake again and again every time you practice, you will not be able to correct that mistake. Instead, repeating the same mistake again and again will make that mistake permanent. I think it is applicable to the language learning as well.

[lb]

Yes, please, I feel I need more videos like this; Thank you! The explanation of principals and methods in learning a language is very helpful! Going to organize myself! Be ready! This video gives me encouragement to do look differently at my method to learn Spanish!

[kaypackard]

I really appreciate how you distilled the learning into two basic principles #1 Readiness and #2 Great practice makes great. Without that perspective/acknowledgement, one could flounder with less effective tactics or methods, as you identified. It seems like you really enjoy the motivating aspects of being a teacher and it is important for learners to understand how psychology, mind and motivation play into the results of learning (even though were in the gap 🙂). So yes, please keep these types of messages coming! Thank you very much for the colossal amount of thought, time and care you put into making these incredibly helpful videos. I leave for Mexico (Guadalajara/Guanajuato) in two weeks and many of your lessons will be put to practice. I'm ready!

[throughthegrace]

I love your channel. You just explained a lot of my struggles with learning Spanish. I have been primarily using Pimsluer and I listen and repeat on my way home from work. Often times I'm too tired and stressed to listen after work so I am trying difderent methods right now.
Thanks for all of the hard work here.

[ebolds]

This an important point, that I haven’t seen addressed in other videos on language learning. Thanks