The last Friday of every month I am privileged to be a key note speaker  at the Association of Residents  Seminar. The topic I talk about is “Learning Spanish.” Most of the audience is made up of people thinking of retiring or going into business in Costa Rica. I stress the importance of learning at least a survival level Spanish in order to get the most out of the country and be able to communicate effectively with the locals.

By survival level Spanish I mean being able to handle most daily situations like going grocery shopping, banking, taking a taxi, asking directions, ordering food in a restaurant, etc.  With these basic language skills you will be able to get by. Actually the more Spanish you learn the better off you will be.

One of Costa Rica’s greatest treasures are its wonderful people and culture. Without knowing at least some  Spanish you won’t truly be able to experience everything this lovely country has to offer.

One way to motivate yourself to learn the language is to try and make the experience fun. You are not getting graded nor being pressured to perform, so try and enjoy the experience. Take Spanish classes but don’t be in a hurry to learn the language too quickly. Take a couple of classes a week but don’t overload yourself or it will become drudgery and you will lose interest. If you like music, start listening to songs in Spanish. You will pick up some new catchy words. If you like to dance then take Latin Dance classes at one of the local dance academies. Everyone has a hobby or interest. Try to learn the appropriate Spanish vocabulary that has to do with your hobby. If you like sports or sewing learn all of the terms that go along with these activities.

Walk down the street and look in the windows of stores and look for words you don’t know. Jot them down and look them up when you get home. Try to learn five new words a day.

Find a Spanish speaker who wants to learn English and exchange lessons. I know an American  woman who lives in a gated community in Heredia and gets together with her Spanish speaking neighbors a couple times a week so they can practice their English and she can practice her Spanish. She says everyone has a great time during their gatherings.

You can learn a second language at any age if you make an effort and make the activity enjoyable as possible.

“To know another language is to know another world.”
-Cervantes

Also I recommend to visit my blog about tips for learning english: Guide to Costa Rican Spanish