Kick butt in Spanish
You know most Spanish classes teach you everything… but when you finish you can’t do anything.
It’s all there in the class, all the verb conjugations, subjunctive modes, irregular verbs and on and on and on. Yet, not 1 out of 20 people who take those classes get to speak any real Spanish.
Everything is covered theoretically but there is no practical mastery. So you can’t actually use what you learned to make your life better.
Theory is great if you want to pass an exam. Plus, you get a nice certificate to put on your wall. But if you want or need to speak to anybody, theory is the smallest part of the Spanish puzzle.
If you want to visit a Spanish speaking country it won’t help you very much.
And if you live in Spanish speaking country, thinking about theory can make you so hesitant and slow at speaking that it’s a real effort for anyone to listen to you.
Having a certificate is all good and well, but having command of Spanish is really what it’s all about.
Being able to say what you want to say in Spanish is fantastic.
Why be a wallflower too scared to open your mouth? When command of Spanish would give you the confidence you need to express yourself.
So how do you get this command of Spanish?
I had a really good aha moment about this in my karate class last night.
I know it sounds strange but learning to speak Spanish boldly is a lot like learning karate. The confidence to speak up comes from knowing you can do it. And knowing you can do it comes from having done it.
Makes sense right?
Last night in the class, we spent the whole night practicing just one block and one counter punch.
You’d think practicing just two moves would be boring, but it was one of the most enjoyable classes I have ever had…
I came away feeling great.
Instead of learning 20 different blocks and countering with a punch, kick, chop, elbow, etc., and doing them all badly, we just got really good at doing one thing.
And you know what?
I feel sure I could apply it if I got in a nasty situation.
Now hopefully you won’t ever need your Spanish in any nasty situations. Learning Spanish is a more likely to bring you great joy. It’s a great skill to have, a way to meet new people, make new friends and live new adventures.
But to get everything that speaking Spanish can bring to your life you need command of the language.
And the only way to do it is a lot like the way I learn karate.
Instead of trying to learn everything and learning nothing, like with typical verb charts. You just need to master small parts of the language that really matter. Then before long, you’ll find yourself speaking more and more Spanish in clear and flowing sentences.
You don’t need to learn all of 100 plus verb conjugations at once. Most of them you’ll never use anyway. Instead why not learn first the ones that get you speaking the most Spanish.
In fact, just a handful of the most common Spanish verb patterns are used in 80% of conversation.
By learning the frequently used patterns first, and learning them well, all the confusion disappears from learning Spanish. And so does the 19 out of 20 failure rate.
That’s right, 19 out of 20 people who take traditional Spanish classes never get to speak the language. Yet, by learning one common verb pattern at a time, anyone can learn to speak fluent Spanish.
Best of all, just like the block and counter I learned to execute in the karate class, you can learn to use Spanish verbs instinctively. You can learn how to say what you want to say instantly.
Right now, I am going to show the first very easy step…
We’ll start slowly with just one simple verb conjugation, that way you’ll get a feel of really using the language. Best of all, once you master this easy step, you can use it with 80% of the verbs you already know.
To do this lesson… this is all the theory you need to know
AR verbs change to O to make the first person, for example…
Ar verb | 1st person | ||
Trabajar | To work | Trabajo | I work |
Tomar | To drink | Tomo | I drink |
Comprar | To buy | Compro | I buy |
Gastar | To spend | Gasto | I spend |
Llegar | To arrive | Llego | I arrive |
Cocinar | To cook | Cocino | I cook |
Preparar | To prepare | Preparo | I prepare |
Here’s the first Bola de Nieve Spanish video lesson for you.
Now go speak some Spanish, it’s easier than you think to build fluency. Then let me know your thoughts on this easy approach to Spanish verbs conjugations by leaving a comment below.
A very useful gift, it has some words that I have not yet become familiar with. Thank you very much. I will now try your suggestion of 1000 times in practice. At 88 years old, my ability to recall is deteriorating, but I have great hopes of better results using your method. If you should have some more ideas for mastering the Spanish language I would be grateful for the opportunity to use them. Once again Maestro, many thanks.
Alan.
Warwickshire, U.K.
La lección es buena. He conocido todas las palabras. ¡Gracias!
Jeanne
Very effective way to learn by repeating and progressing slowly a little at a time.
Hi Marcus
I’m very thankful to helping me and I did exactly as you said.evryday 20 minutes and I can tell you even I started not long ago (November 2016) I speak already Spanish, since then I was 2 times in Spain and I was proud of myself and off course it was all with your Help.
Muchos gracias por ayudarme
Bahman jaberzadeh
Zürich, switzerland
Thanks, I like your approach. But you know the saying with the difficulties teaching old dogs. I always have had to learn the grammar when studying language. Therefore, I feel like beeing in deep water if I don’t know how for example how to conjugate a verb, in particular when reading and when I’ve got time to try to translate the text in front of me.
I’m grateful for your continued assistance to my cause even though I have not purchased any of your lesson plans.
But know that with a continuum of intercessary prayers go out to you and your family. Please except my apology for that. Because of your goal of helping others to become I believe the LORD will effect your work and bless your business.
gracious Nuevo senor Marcos
Many Thanks
Excellent way to learn, I can see it would be much easier easier. Love that you use everyday terms
holo Marcus , thanks again sounds easy enough will get bola de nieve soon anne
Thank you for your teaching strategies. I am just beginning to learn my culture language. Both of my parents were native speakers. Unfortunately, I was not taught this beautiful language of mine….now I am. To learn my language is a gut-wrenching desire. Un dia, yo voy hablar este lenguaje de espanol con perfecion.
Many thank yous!
I have 100% belief you will succeed in your goal.
I am learning pronunciation very quickly when speaking with phrases…Thank you so much
I absolutely love this program as I now live in a Spanish country. These lessons are a tremendous help in communication. Thanks
Thank you. This makes sense.
Estoy apunto de complir 86 anos And I am learning a lot from you. I use all of the patterns you teach, to increase my Spanish and I can carry on a fair conversation with my Spanish speaking friend. Trying hard to speak Spanish before my 19 months old grand-daughter who is half Mexican, but I think she is winning.
I really enjoy your emails and when I take the time to listen to your little lessons I get a lot out of them. Your approach makes a lot of sense. I am a senior, age 69, who has studied Spanish off and on for the last 16 or so years at the college level, but I don’t feel confident in everyday conversation. I plan to listen to more of your offerings because I believe they will help me.
Thank you!
Perdon Sr. Marcus Santamaria, la link no funcióna. Necesito su ayuda con la sesion ¨Kick Ass¨, por favor. Gracias.
My spanish has come along in leaps and bounds. Brilliant and so much more enjoyable to learn this beautiful language.
Really enjoy your lessons and in particular your audio video lessons. I am learning a lot from you and look forward to your emails. Keep up the excellent work. I like in particular the video lessons as I like to see the words printed while I repeat them. Thanks again for all your good work.
Ian 72 years old I have tried to Learn Spanish I founded very difficult I had a lot of books and dictionary plus videos but still I can’t manage. Thank you.
Thanks so much! I can’t believe I don’t come here more often. You really DO make learning…and using Spanish so much easier for me!
COULD YOU MAKE A VIDEO ON THIS LESSON PLEASE.
IS THEIR A VIDEO FOR THIS LESSON?
YOUR SPANISH LEARNING IS FUN AND EFFECTIVE I LOVE IT I HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH.
this d most shortest and interesting way of learning spanish
Web page would not open.
http://www.synergyspanishsystems.com/blog/downloads/SpanishVerbConjugations.pdf
http://www.synergyspanishsystems.com/blog/kickbutt-spanish/
These should work.
This is an excellent program. I like your teaching method, because I effortless learned 50 Spanish words in 12 minutes.
If all your lessons are this good, I could be a fluent Spanish speaker in less than 24 hours. Please send more information about your program.
Absolutely fantastic. Thoroughly enjoyed the 12 minutes. Wanted it to continue, i’m having such fun!
Makes sense. How much is the course?
Details of the program are on this page:
http://www.synergyspanishsystems.com/sidewaysfluency.html
Fabulous! What about 2nd and 3rd person singular and plural ( simple present tense) ?
Yes, there is a sequence that makes it easy to learn those just as easily as these lessons.
More on the approach on this blog post:
http://www.synergyspanishsystems.com/blog/why-spanish-verb-charts-cause-failure/
Very interesting..
Muchas gracias por el informacion..
Jack
I like the synergy way of teaching spanish Marcus. Muchas Gracias.
LOVE YOUR APPROACH,,,DO IT SLOWLY AND OWN IT…THE ONLY PROBLEM I HAVE IS NO ONE TO SPEAK TO IN SPANISH EXCEPT MY DOG AND HE UNDERSTANDS MORE THAN ME,,,IF HE COULD ONLY TALK,,,BUT I LOVE THE LANGUAGE,,,I DO KNOW SOMEONE THAT I SEE DURING THE MONTH AND SHE IS FROM MEXICO,,,BUT THAT IS NOT GONNA HELP ME TOO MUCH AS I DON’T SEE HER THAT MUCH…BUT I’M STILL GONNA WORK ON IT AND TALK TO MY DOG…THANK-YOU SO MUCH FOR SENDING ME THIS SITE… :>)) BABS
I like the karate analogy, es da puta madre….thats one everyone should be fluent in…. ostea
ps i will give you some money for your input one day, it’s just i am skint and have been trying to learn off the natives, but i can see you’ve got your head screwed on ………….if you you email me with the equivalent idiom of head screwed on in spanish i will cough up for your course..and cough up in spanish. i know in leon when they say they are skint they say estoy pelado, i like that….sorry i’m rambling (mi andando con rodeos).
it would be so helpful to know how to pronounce spanish letters for instance G and C.
thanks
These videos will help you with pronunciation:
http://www.synergyspanishsystems.com/blog/red-faced-in-a-foreign-country/
I spent last weekend with some Spanish friends, I was very nervous beforehand as my Spanish is not very good (I thought) but to my surprise, I understood ALL that was being said and held conversations in Spanish all weekend, it´s amazing how it can all fall into place just by taking it little by little as you suggest, thank you for everything you do, I am becoming more and more confident as time goes on. I enjoy your daily emails and am getting better at Spanish, thanks again.
thank u for teaching easy way
I like it very much. I only have one problem, I am bad of hearing and sometimes I don’t quite hear the text but that is my problem not yours. Your lessons are excellent.
Dear Marcus
Nice, very interesting, challenging and enjoyable teaching
Adelante yo quiere aprender más!!!
Please continue. I need all the help I can get. Thanks, Thanks!!!
A piece of cake ! If only I could afford your full lessons
Brilliant, such a simple single trick produces so many extra words, no learning required
This is a interesting an indeed a easier way of learing Spanish.
gGreetings,
tThe example iis simple but very effective,ccan’t wait to see more
your step by step approach to teaching the language is very useful & practical.
Thankyou Marcus, something so simple and so helpful
Pauline x
This is very interesting story becourse i have been rtying to claming all the verbs, but now with this methord iwill rearly arrive at the roots of this sescreat.gracia
Dear Marcus
Thank you for sending me the free information, I am finding it very helpful, I am due to go in a Spanish Hospital next month for an operation on my kidney, so I would rather take my learning slowly a little at a time, when I feel up to it.
Many thanks
from
Doreen
Extremely interesting, makes understanding verbs simple.
what about future and past any suggestions?????
The secret to getting comfortable with the different tenses is exactly the same as the ideas on the post above.
You might also want to check out this post for more on this idea.
http://www.synergyspanishsystems.com/blog/why-spanish-verb-charts-cause-failure/
excellent