It is true that nobodys perfect. Even in speaking a language, Spanish for instance. In fact, even native speakers commit some mistakes once in a while. This is purely normal particularly for language learners. However, this doesnt give you, or anyone for that matter, an excuse to commit the same mistakes over and over, especially those that are otherwise easily avoided. To be able to communicate like a smart person, it is very important to take note of the common mistakes when learning Spanish language. Although you are still likely to slip up in some occasions, it is nevertheless helpful to keep them in mind and have them handy during real-life conversations.
Here are some of the Spanish no-nos. Remember them as you converse whether with a fellow learner or with a native speaker.
1. Construct your sentences according to English sentence structure.
Although in many cases, English sentence structure applies to Spanish, there are some instances when doing so makes grammatically unsound sentences. For instance, ending sentences with prepositions is not accepted in Spanish. The preposition should be always followed with the object it refers to.
2. Ignore the articles.
Many Spanish learners usually end up confused with article usage and interchange el, los, la, and las. Although they know the articles by theory, they cant seem to properly use them in actual conversation. And many think this is forgivable. Yes, it is, and you can in fact still be understood when held up in this situation. But keep in mind that article usage is a basic Spanish lesson, and your lapses may not reflect your interest in Spanish favorably.
3. Overlook the use of right preposition.
Learning Spanish preposition is perhaps one of the most challenging parts of your learning language experience primarily because Spanish prepositions usually have multiple English equivalents. But learning their usage, and learning them expertly, is important to have an effective communication.
4. Mispronounce words.
Spanish pronunciation and accent is generally strong; however, it is easy to master. Because Spanish words are usually pronounced as spelled, there will hardly be any confusion as to how the words should sound. In order to capture the right tone, inflection, stress, and rhythm of Spanish words, try to converse with a native speaker as often as you can or see Spanish movies or soaps.
5. Neglect noun genders.
Remember that when learning to speak Spanish, genders should be one of your focal lessons since mastering genders will enable you to determine which article to use. It is also equally important to find out the words exempted from the gender rule, which by the way are quite numerous.
6. Speak monotonously.
When practicing the language, some Spanish learners often sound like a language rule book, very rigid and compliant to the rules. While there is no inherently wrong about it, this can sometimes yield robotic and monotonous tone. When learning Spanish language, do not entirely concentrate on the rules, but try to integrate the linguistic trend and tone used in daily, conversational Spanish.
