Learning a new language can be very challenging but at the same time very rewarding. It takes a lot of effort and time but the results will benefit not only your professional life but it will also become a personal asset that you will keep for the rest of your life. It will also benefit your perception and understanding of other cultures.
Considering that the Spanish is one of the most spoken languages in the planet, you will likely find yourself in a situation where some Spanish knowledge will be useful or even necessary. There are many ways to learn Spanish. Let's review some of the most typical ways of doing it and see the pros and cons of them:
An immersion program in a Spanish speaking country is probably the best and fastest way to acquire the language. Being in constant contact with native speakers increases the communication interaction, which is the key to fluency. The environment helps assimilate the language naturally. Unfortunately this method is not suitable for everybody. Family, job responsibilities and financial issues make immersion programs inaccessible for many people.
The second best option is a qualified Private tutor. They will customize a program just for you; they will be 100 % dedicated to your progress and needs. All language institutions offer private lessons. Most schools offer lessons on-site at your workplace or home.
Private tutors can be quite expensive in many cities but you can save money and gain flexibility by learning Spanish online on a virtual classroom. This method has all the benefits of a private lesson plus the advantage of having more flexible schedules for busy professionals. Another pro is the fact that by interacting through a computer (as opposed to the traditional classroom), many students increase their motivation and commitment to the program. A downside could be that even though you can see your instructor it is not the same as being in the same room.
Traditional group courses in a language center are an affordable option. They provide a friendly atmosphere and the interaction with other students can be very helpful. If you happen to be on a small group (no more than four students per teacher) with a qualified instructor it could be truly effective. The problem is that most of the time, and for financial reasons, groups are really large. This can greatly affect your opportunities of practicing your speaking skills (unless you have a more than good instructor), and will definitely affect your access to the teacher. He or she must pay attention not just to one person but to several. Many schools don't even start the program if they don't have at least 7 students and being with 12 or more classmates is not unusual.
Self-study materials (cd's, software, or online materials) are good for practicing grammar, vocabulary and listening. You organize your study time, and there is no commitment with an institution or tutor. The biggest problem with this method is that you don't have anybody to help or guide you when you have questions or problems. You learn by repetition (which is neither efficient nor recommendable from a pedagogical point of view), and there is no real language interaction with another person, which is vital for learning how to use a social communication tool (such as a language).
It is extremely difficult to become fluent with self-study materials. You can (and you should) use them as additional or secondary studying material. But you must have a main study plan that must definitely include guidance from a professional instructor and interaction with other people using the target language.
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