Learning Spanish for Beginners

Teachers have typically started foreign language classes by assigning lists of vocabulary words to memorize, followed by verb conjugations.   There’s a great reason for this, at least from the teacher’s standpoint. They have a lot of students and it makes grading homework assignments and tests a breeze.  Even teachers want to have a life!  Not to mention that students who can memorize well will get straight A’s so the teacher and a few lucky students feel like they’re doing a great job. 

What’s wrong with that?  Not a thing except that most of the class, often even those who ‘succeeded’ might want to use the Spanish they ‘learned’ a few years later. Perhaps they decide to vacation in Central or South America. They passed their Spanish classes in High School or college. They are ready. Until they realize they know several random nouns and verbs but just can’t string any of them together to form sentences.

Why not start right away with simple sentences that can be built onto gradually.  Begin by memorizing just one word. Just one!

"Quiero"  which means  "I want"

Next, compile a list of words you want to know.  Taxi (Uber, bus or donkey), money, bank, restaurant, hostel, or a towel, for you travelers.  For construction workers - hammer, nails, drill, pliers, rest.  Insert those words after the word Quiero and you have a complete sentence.  You can get anything you want.  Woohoo!!!