• How to learn Spanish fast and easy for pilots and cabin crew

If you are on your way to becoming a commercial airline pilot or cabin crew, and your mother tongue is English, you already have a couple of points to gain because English is the universal language of aviation.

But speaking Shakespeare’s language is not everything. You must learn to communicate in more languages if you want your profile to shine in interviews.

That’s why, in today’s post we’ll tell you how you can learn Spanish easily, faster than you think and without investing a lot of money.

Are you interested? Read on…

Why learn Spanish

Before we get into the how, let’s talk a little bit about the why… Why is mastering Spanish so important in aviation?

Spanish is the second most spoken language in the world, with over 500 million speakers. It is the official language of 20 countries and is used by many international organisations.

Moreover, even though flight plans and communications with air traffic control are in English, learning Spanish will open doors to new opportunities for work, travel and culture.

Do you now understand the importance of learning Spanish for a career in aviation? OK, then we can get started.

Tips on how to learn Spanish fast or at least improve it

Live in Spanish

Yes, we mean that all the content you see, hear or read is in Spanish. Listen to Spanish music and aviation-themed podcasts; even switch your phone and social networks to Spanish.

In films, you can turn on subtitles at the beginning and, little by little, do without them. Plus, if you watch aviation films, you’ll be reinforcing industry-specific vocabulary, which is doubly good.

Speak without fear

Practice makes perfect! You can find people who, like you, want to practise their Spanish through apps like Tandem or HelloTalk. Join online conversation groups or even narrate your day-to-day life in Spanish when you do stories on Instagram, for example.

Read as much as you can

Look for aviation books and articles in Spanish for practice. Also, if you can read aloud, all the better. This will help you improve your pronunciation, vocabulary and, of course, your listening skills.

We suggest our Blog de Aviación, which is the Spanish version of our English blog. There you will find a multitude of articles in Spanish on specific aeronautical topics, with a great advantage! And that is that all the posts have their corresponding English version, so you already have the translations done.

Think in Spanish

Yes, we know it’s hard at first… But it’s worth the effort! Try to think in Spanish throughout the day: describe what you see, plan your schedule or try to have conversations with yourself in Spanish.

This will help you get by because, by recreating everyday situations for you in Spanish, it is easier for you to get out of any situation in a Spanish-speaking environment.

How to understand the different Spanish dialects

Depending on the zone you are in, the Spanish spoken can vary in pronunciation, vocabulary and even grammar. So, if you’re just starting to learn Spanish, this can be a bit of a challenge – but fear not! Here are a few tips:

  • Look for accents, don’t avoid them: Listen to music, watch films and series from different regions of Spain to familiarise yourself with the different accents.
  • Don’t worry about understanding everything: At first, it can be difficult to understand all the nuances of each accent. Focus on getting the general message and, over time, you will improve your understanding.
  • Make questions: If you don’t understand something, don’t hesitate to ask for it to be repeated or explained in a different way. Spanish people are always willing to help.
  • Learn about the culture of each region: Knowing the culture and customs of each region will help you to better understand their way of speaking and their expressions.
  • Enjoy the diversity: The different accents are part of the cultural richness of Spain, so enjoy discovering the different ways of speaking Spanish!

If you come to Malaga, you should pay close attention to words like ‘illo’, ‘pechá’ and ‘perita’; or expressions like ‘no ni ná’ and ‘mi arma’. Don’t be caught by surprise when you hear them in the street! If you want to speak like a real Malagueño, you have to follow Nesh on Instagram (@liveandspeakspanish) and Antonio on Youtube (@SpanishWithAntonio).

Apps to learn Spanish faster and on the go

One of the best tools for learning languages easily and quickly is always with you… We’re talking about your smartphone! Nowadays we do everything with our phones, so why shouldn’t it help you with Spanish?

We’ve already told you about Tandem or HelloTalk, but here are a few more apps that will help you with your goal.

Duolingo

A classic if you want to learn Spanish. It’s the #1 app in Education in the App Store, so there’s a reason, right?

With Duolingo you can learn any language, not just Spanish, through short and dynamic lessons. This free app allows you to practise conversation, reading comprehension, grammar or vocabulary, among others; and you can also take a knowledge test to personalise the experience even more.

Babbel

Unlike Duolingo, Babbel focuses more on perfecting your conversational skills. To do this, the method is based on recreating everyday situations to test your fluency, vocabulary and pronunciation.

It works with a 3-, 6- or 12-month subscription, and the first lesson of each course is free. What’s more, they boast that the effectiveness of their method is backed up by a Yale University study. It’s something to keep in mind, don’t you think?

Memrise

Memrise uses memorisation techniques, based on games and spaced repetition, to help you remember vocabulary and grammar.

The app offers a wide variety of courses, from beginner to advanced, and also includes community-created content so you can learn local expressions and idioms.

In addition, Memrise uses videos of native speakers so you can practise your listening comprehension and pronunciation – learning Spanish has never been so much fun!

How can I improve my Spanish pronunciation as an English speaker?

The first thing you should know is that, when learning any language, the most important thing is vocabulary; much more so than grammar. You can learn grammar rules as you go along, by trial and error. Vocabulary, however, is the backbone of a language, and without it, we would not be able to communicate.

That said, if you still like to pay attention to detail, here are some advanced tips to improve your pronunciation:

Pay attention to vowel sounds

Spanish has five pure vowel sounds (a, e, i, o, u) that are pronounced consistently, unlike English which has many variations. Practice pronouncing each vowel clearly and concisely.

Difference between similar consonants

Some consonants sound different in Spanish and English. For example, the Spanish “r” is louder and more vibrant, “j” is more guttural and “b” and “v” are pronounced the same (like a soft “b”). Listen and repeat words with these consonants to get your ear and mouth used to them.

Master diphthongs and hiatuses

Diphthongs (two vowels in one syllable) and hiatuses (two vowels in separate syllables) can be challenging. Practise words like “aire” (diphthong) and “país” (hiatus) to distinguish them clearly.

Spanish peculiarities

  • The “h” is silent: don’t pronounce it.
  • The “ñ” has a unique sound: It is like the “ny” in “canyon”.
  • The “ll” in Spain sounds like a “y”: In Latin America it can sound like a “j” or “sh”.

Intonation and rhythm

Spanish has a different rhythm and intonation from English. Listen to native speakers and try to imitate their melody and accents.

Start learning Spanish now: Don’t wait any longer!

We hope you have found this post interesting and, above all, useful. We have tried to bring together all the tips that can help you achieve your goal.

And remember that learning Spanish is a long-distance race, not a sprint. Be patient with yourself, celebrate your achievements and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Every word you learn will bring you a little bit closer to your final goal.

One last piece of advice: start today. Do you know the difference between starting today and leaving it for tomorrow? If you start now, tomorrow you will have already been learning Spanish for a day.

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