Four Reasons to Stop Learning Spanish Vocabulary
Learning Spanish can be challenging, especially when you’re trying to memorise long lists of vocabulary. However, simply learning individual words in isolation might not be the most effective way to learn the language. Here are four reasons why you should stop learning Spanish vocabulary in isolation and what to do instead.
Learning Individual Words can be futile
One of the biggest challenges with learning Spanish vocabulary by memorising individual words is that words can have multiple meanings. For example, the word “llama” can mean “llama” or “call” but also “flame.” Without context, it can be difficult to know the meaning of a word just sitting there. More to the point, no one is going to just say, or write “llama”.
Instead of trying to memorise individual words, try learning a couple of phrases like “Mi llama se llama José” (My llama is called José). How about “Esta llama llama mucho la atención” (This llama really stands out /calls attention). Ok, so these are some pretty weird examples, but we’re not in a formal class here, and the possibilities for meanings in context really are bordering on limitless, so try to unlearn this false notion that a word is a word. It’s not!
Learning individual words is learning out of context
When you learn individual words in isolation, you’re learning out of context. This makes it harder to remember them because your brain remembers patterns, not random lists of words. It’s like trying to remember a phone number by memorising the digits instead of grouping them into sets of three or four. Think about how you recall what you see in a book. If you read a page of a book, you should be able to explain to someone the nature of what you read fairly easily, but if you looked at a page full of words you knew, organised completely randomly, you would have very little chance of recalling the order they were written in.
Try to learn Spanish through immersion in real-life situations. Talk to native speakers or watch Spanish TV shows or movies to see how they use words in context. Start thinking of language in terms of meanings, rather than words. Words are multi-faceted, the combinations are vast and unlimited…a word is not a word… free yourself from this idea!
Learning individual words can be boring
Learning a language involves learning to communicate, not just memorising lists of words. Don’t make it a chore! When you learn individual words just floating around with no context, you run the risk of making language learning a real task, rather than what it’s supposed to be: a hobby.
Learning common phrases or idioms will not only will this help you communicate better and sound more natural, but your phrases will have more meaning, you’ll be more connected to them, and as a result, you’ll be able to remember them better. For example, instead of memorising the words “nada” (nothing), or “mente” (mind), go for the phrase “mmm, nada se me viene a la mente…” (mmm, nothing comes to mind). These words, can (as is to be expected) be combined with a number of other words to create a plethora of other meanings.
You’re learning someone else’s lists
Another problem with relying on individual word lists is that you’re learning someone else’s lists. Teachers or online resources might provide you with lists of vocabulary, but are these lists really relevant to you and your interests? I doubt it.
Make your own vocabulary lists. Choose words and phrases that interest you and relate to your life, so you’ll have more motivation to learn and remember them. For instance, if you enjoy cooking, learn food-related vocabulary. Or, if you’re planning a trip to Spain, learn travel-related vocabulary. You can write your own lists, or check out Anki or Quizlet, two online flashcard apps which can help you put your own lists of useful expressions together.
Of course, there are always going to be exceptions to these rules. You may need to learn specific vocabulary for a test or job interview. In cases such as these (which can be quite common!), it makes sense to memorise individual words. However, even in these situations, you can never really get away from the principal idea of learning phrases. Context is always key, and patterns are very important to the human brain for organising, processing and producing language.
It’s all about Communication
Learning lists of Spanish vocabulary in the form of decontextualised words usually has very little pay off. Remember, look for the patterns, the groups, and always seek context! Remember to immerse yourself and engage in a variety of activities where you are going to pick up common phrases and expressions. By making your own lists of phrases and sentences, you can make the process relevant to your interests and your personality. And yes, there are always going to be exceptions, but it’s important to remember that learning a language is about communication, not just memorisation. Ditch the idea of learning Spanish vocabulary and start focussing on acquiring your own Spanish meanings.
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