Without a doubt, total immersion in any culture is the ideal way to learn a language quickly and fluently. The advantages include enveloping a suitable accent, learning the common use of the language (how it is spoken locally) and providing a clearer understanding of the semantic and grammatical nuances of it. For a widely spoken language like Spanish, there's no faster way to learn it!

This approach to your linguistic studies begins by traveling to, and living in an area where Spanish is the official and (hopefully) primary language. You're not just going to pick it up by living there though, so make arrangements for regular classes or private instruction by someone qualified to teach non-native speakers. This part of learning Spanish is simply to understand the basic constructs of the language and develop simple grammar skills.

By living within the culture itself, you'll have access to practice speaking to a wide and diverse group of people. It's often helpful to concentrate on speaking with children and older residents, who will enjoy "teaching" you and can provide a level of conversational Spanish that will provide you with a richer vocabulary.

Oftentimes, being immersed in a culture reveals special insight insofar as the subtle nuances of Spanish. You'll gain a "feel" for the use of idioms and other expressions that just can't be translated into a dictionary. Literally within days you'll be speaking Spanish in simple sentences, but communicating effectively with the locals, who will be quick to correct your mispronunciations!

While your main goal may only be to speak Spanish fluently, immersion also provides an opportunity to learn to both read and write effectively as well. Private tutoring generally works best for this, especially if you have a friend who is a native speaker and can help you. Re-reading your favorite books (the Spanish edition) will help you polish your reading skills as well as improve vocabulary rapidly.

Remember too that during immersion, you really need to avoid the use of English (or your own native language) so that you may force yourself to think in Spanish. It's very difficult to learn a language if you're constantly translating back and forth in your mind, so press yourself to use it instinctively.

If you are on the fast-track using this methodology, say for career reasons, you should also supplement what you're learning with audio tapes or CD's and even through the Internet. By combining immersion with the typical home-study process, you'll not only learn Spanish fast, but you'll enjoy a far greater appreciation of the culture as well.

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