Studying abroad in Spain is not the type of experience you want to rush into unprepared. Most students travel abroad in their sophomore or junior year of college, which leaves plenty of time to get ready for your semester abroad. There are some exercises you can do in addition to language classes. It is recommended that you do some work every week to maintain your progress.
Speaking a language in its native country is different from speaking in an American classroom. Spaniards may have less patience than your classmates, and they speak faster. Here are several ways to learn how to listen to native speakers so that you do not misinterpret everyone you encounter on your trip.
America has a high Spanish-speaking population, so you can certainly find people to practice with who will be more tolerant since they are aware of your situation. While conversing, try to develop a natural response in Spanish instead of translating your thoughts from English to Spanish. Talk about simple subjects and start out speaking naturally within your knowledge instead of reaching outside of your vocabulary.
Go to an ethnic restaurant that may have Spanish-speaking staff and order in Spanish. This way, you will be more comfortable with the nights out you will have while studying abroad. Your server will most likely respond in Spanish and then you can work on small conversations without the nervousness involved in a thorough discussion.
Watch a foreign movie in Spanish over and over again. Start with subtitles so that you can visualize what you are hearing. Eventually, watch without the subtitles. By then, you will know what to expect from the movie and can better understand the actors. This will train your ear to pick up fast-paced speech that will surround you in Spain.
Read books in Spanish. Start simple, perhaps with a children's book and then move on to more advanced texts. Some people like to linger on every word and figure out the direct translation, but just as you can do in English, you can pick up words in Spanish from the context instead of having to look them up in a dictionary. Try skimming the text and test your ability to figure out the gist of the story.
When you have classes taught entirely in Spanish, you will have to follow everything the teacher says, copy notes from the board, and keep up with homework, which will likely include dense college-level reading. You will also want to comfortably socialize with friends without having to resort to English. Although many people know English, speaking your first language will hinder your advancement in Spanish. Once you are in Spain, you will learn the slang that was never covered in class.
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