While they say that a language is best taught during childhood, there’s really no age limit in learning a language. It isn’t too late to learn something new. In fact, experts say that learning a language delays and prevents possible dementia in later life.
Spanish is perhaps one of the easiest foreign languages that can be learned by Filipinos. I can see 2 main reasons why. First, for the many Filipino words loaned from Spanish, Filipinos have the edge in the vocabulary part. We’re more familiar with Spanish words because a lot of Filipino words mean actually the same in Spanish. Second, since most syllables in Spanish are pronounced the way they’re spelled and have less silent syllables (aspects that are similar in Filipino too) and Spanish isn’t as nasal as French or German, so it’s a lot easier for Filipinos to learn it.
Also read: Filipino Phrases Borrowed from Spanish that You May Find Amusing
If you plan to learn Spanish, or have started learning it, here are some tips that may help you learn Spanish in a snap:
In learning a language, when in doubt, ask a question. Never keep a question to yourself. What if something you thought was right is wrong all along just because you don’t ask? It might remain wrong not until you ask to check it’s correct or not.
If you’re learning Spanish through an academic institution, the classroom is the best avenue to commit mistakes. The teachers are there to correct you. Meanwhile, if you’re self-studying Spanish, try your best to talk with the natives. Speaking with them helps you absorb the native accent, which is something that you might not be able to learn if you’re only reading or using an app to learn Spanish. Don’t feel intimidated that you aren’t as fluent as them. Instead, feel proud that you’re trying to speak their language (and may even know more languages than them!).
In Spanish job interviews, for example, some Filipino applicants memorize the interview questions and its corresponding answers instead of practicing how to confidently respond in an interview. The chances are, if the question changes or gets rephrased, they get lost because they just memorized.
Also, writing helps you master the gender of nouns, another aspect of Spanish language that’s hugely different from Filipino or English. There may be a set of rules on gender of nouns, but at times these rules don’t apply. it would be better to get familiarized with it.
Also read: Filipino and Spanish Words: Spelling the Difference
Tip: When answering fill-in-the-blank or multiple choice type exercises, rewrite the entire the sentence instead of just writing the answer. It’s a good way to recall Spanish words as you write them. The idea is similar to muscle memory in sports: when you write often, your brain remembers and recalls it easily.
In Filipino grammar, it’s a similar idea with the use of po, a Filipino word attached before or after the subject pronoun that expresses respect. Similar to usted / ustedes, po is used when speaking with someone you give respect to.
Example:
Spanish is perhaps one of the easiest foreign languages that can be learned by Filipinos. I can see 2 main reasons why. First, for the many Filipino words loaned from Spanish, Filipinos have the edge in the vocabulary part. We’re more familiar with Spanish words because a lot of Filipino words mean actually the same in Spanish. Second, since most syllables in Spanish are pronounced the way they’re spelled and have less silent syllables (aspects that are similar in Filipino too) and Spanish isn’t as nasal as French or German, so it’s a lot easier for Filipinos to learn it.
Also read: Filipino Phrases Borrowed from Spanish that You May Find Amusing
If you plan to learn Spanish, or have started learning it, here are some tips that may help you learn Spanish in a snap:
Do not be afraid to ask
Filipinos are very timid. We have questions in mind, but we don’t ask it out loud. We tend to compromise to get the answers on our own, but it isn’t the best solution all the time.In learning a language, when in doubt, ask a question. Never keep a question to yourself. What if something you thought was right is wrong all along just because you don’t ask? It might remain wrong not until you ask to check it’s correct or not.
Commit mistakes, and learn from them
Through the course of mastering a language, committing a mistake is really part of the way. It's very expected, so don’t feel down if you might be wrong. Don’t get ashamed because the very reason why you’re learning is that you don’t know everything yet.If you’re learning Spanish through an academic institution, the classroom is the best avenue to commit mistakes. The teachers are there to correct you. Meanwhile, if you’re self-studying Spanish, try your best to talk with the natives. Speaking with them helps you absorb the native accent, which is something that you might not be able to learn if you’re only reading or using an app to learn Spanish. Don’t feel intimidated that you aren’t as fluent as them. Instead, feel proud that you’re trying to speak their language (and may even know more languages than them!).
Stay away from memorizing
Filipinos tend to memorize, a habit that we got from the memorization-driven learning system in the Philippines. When you memorize, you get stuck at what the learning material says, thus learning becomes limited. There’s really nothing wrong with memorizing, but when it speaks of languages, you become more flexible when you memorize less.In Spanish job interviews, for example, some Filipino applicants memorize the interview questions and its corresponding answers instead of practicing how to confidently respond in an interview. The chances are, if the question changes or gets rephrased, they get lost because they just memorized.
Write as often
Writing helps you master spelling in Spanish. The fact that Spanish orthography consists of tildes (symbols used to note the accented syllables in Spanish) makes the structure a bit different from Filipino or English grammar.Also, writing helps you master the gender of nouns, another aspect of Spanish language that’s hugely different from Filipino or English. There may be a set of rules on gender of nouns, but at times these rules don’t apply. it would be better to get familiarized with it.
Also read: Filipino and Spanish Words: Spelling the Difference
Tip: When answering fill-in-the-blank or multiple choice type exercises, rewrite the entire the sentence instead of just writing the answer. It’s a good way to recall Spanish words as you write them. The idea is similar to muscle memory in sports: when you write often, your brain remembers and recalls it easily.
Using usted / ustedes is a similar idea with using po in Filipino
In Spanish, there are 2 ways to address a person: the formal and informal way. Knowing its difference particularly helps you conjugate the verbs correctly. As general rule, the formal way is used when talking with someone you give respect to or someone you don’t know. The informal way is when you speak with people you are close to, such as friends, siblings, and other people you know very well.In Filipino grammar, it’s a similar idea with the use of po, a Filipino word attached before or after the subject pronoun that expresses respect. Similar to usted / ustedes, po is used when speaking with someone you give respect to.
Example:
| Informal | Formal | |
| Spanish | Dónde tú vas? | Dónde usted va? |
| Filipino | Saan ka pupunta? | Saan po kayo pupunta? |
| English | Where will you go? | |
Notice that from informal to formal, the subject pronoun changes as the verb changes too. This applies to both Spanish and Filipino, thus making them a lot similar compared to English.
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Shelly C. Dimaculangan is a language translator in the Philippines. She finished AB Journalism at University of Santo Tomas in Manila where she took her first Spanish classes. After college, she continued learning Spanish at Instituto Cervantes de Manila.
Do you have other tips to Filipinos who are learning Spanish? If you're a Filipino learning Spanish, what struggles do you face in studying Spanish?
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Shelly C. Dimaculangan is a language translator in the Philippines. She finished AB Journalism at University of Santo Tomas in Manila where she took her first Spanish classes. After college, she continued learning Spanish at Instituto Cervantes de Manila.
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