Learning Spanish Effectively – Day 14

I’m definitely off to a slower start on my learning Spanish project than I’d really like. In fact the truth is that the first week is probably the most important and I slacked. But, I have also been lining up some really kick ass tools and ides that have really been coming together.

As usual, I’m so much more interested in the structure of HOW to learn than just diving in trying to do as much as I can. I’ll find the best of the best when it comes to learning smarter and more effective vs learning harder. And now that I’m certified in NLP (Neuro-Linguistics Programming) I know so many incredibly powerful tools that I’ve already started to integrate and experiment with. Including motivation, directing attention, induction to create the learning state/flow state, language patterns, memory creation and access, eye patterns, and more. There’s so much on this and I’ll talk more about it later.

ALL LEARNING, ALL BEHAVIOR, ALL CHANGE IS UNCONSCIOUS.

So how does one access their unconscious mind? And how can one use that for the most effective and powerful learning and growth? Glad, you asked. Because that’s my mission.

Having said that, I want to illustrate what I’ve done so far:

There’s a few important concepts that I always try to keep in mind as I’m designing my strategies and ideas for learning in the most effective ways. It’s amazing to see some of these come from my 4 hour sleep project.

• Learning, training, growth is much more effective when it’s not forced. Because if one has to force it, it means there’s a mental process that is distracting, ie. worried about something else, fear of failure, frustration from other areas of life, etc. which seriously limits focus, attention and resources in learning.
• Create the mind/body state – The Learning State/Flow State – where I’m totally open and receptive (removing resistance) to pushing my limits and venturing into the discomfort zone for growth. What I’ve found is that most people don’t do this or don’t know, but this is so incredibly powerful.
• Have a goal
• Integrate it in fun, meaningful and interesting ways.
• Make it unconscious – like I said above. I’ve already started to catch myself saying words and phrases in spanish automatically without trying, or sining some Spanish tunes in my head. Now that’s cool!!!

I’ve also lined up some really great resources for me in my project

• My Housemate Carol is actually from Spain and have hired her as a tutor.
• Spanish audio lessons that I ripped to my iPod from the library (Definitely do this)
• Course book – Complete Spanish Grammer (sounds fun I know, but is actually the most effective one that Carol and I found)
• Spanish music – that I like and can even workout to, ie. raggaeton. – Powerful unconscious learning!
• Local Spanish speaking group here in Boulder – This is awesome and I highly recommend it!

Some of the best things that have worked so far, has to do with working to create an ongoing experience of immersion into the new language. But there’s a catch. Simply going for more exposure is not necessarily better, and can actually be a turn off. When I think about some of my friends who have traveled to foreign countries for only a month and had a quantum leap in their fluency in that language, my first thought is that getting immersed in all angles is the best possible way.

But I would argue that you only really learn when it’s important to you. Which means that you have to start with the purpose or intention (or necessity) of accepting the challenge. So, even if someone is living in a Spanish speaking country they’ll still only learn when they need to/really want to. It’s just that it becomes more of a necessity in order to live there, ultimately providing continuous opportunities. But I know just as many people (if not more) that traveled somewhere with no intention of learning the language, and so they didn’t. No matter how long they were there. Don’t you?

So the trick is to create immersion into specific areas that really resonate with me and where I would be more motivated to accept the challenge of learning & growing. So far, I’ve already scored with some creative ways to combine normal activities to be more of an immersion into Spanish.

• Movies? Watch the Spanish version of good movies that I want to watch (also a perfect opportunity to engage the mind/body & stretch after workouts, double whammy)
• Watch the news in Spanish, which helps because I’m interested in the topics, it’s relevent, and usually better spoken than some of the normal crap on TV.
• Listen to Spanish lessons on my iPod everywhere I can, driving, biking, running, working out.
• Listen to Spanish News Radio in my car, just like TV above.
• Talk with others. If you don’t know any find some, even easier now with the internet.

This is such a blast. Much more to come.

About my Learning Spanish Effectively Program.