Mastering English as a Spanish Speaker: Tackling 5 Common Hurdles with Solutions!

Learning English might be challenging for Spanish speakers, but it’s definitely possible and has been achieved by many people worldwide.

When you learn a new language, it’s hard for various reasons. A big part of the difficulty comes from the language you grew up speaking. Your first language affects how you understand languages in general. For example:

• Word Order in Sentences- The way words are arranged in a sentence can be different in English compared to Spanish. In Spanish, you might say “I like pizza” while in English it’s “Me gusta la pizza.”

• Letters and Sounds- Some letters in English may make sounds that are not present in Spanish. For instance, the English “th” sound in “this” or “think” can be tricky for Spanish speakers.

• Context of Vocabulary- Words in English may have different meanings or uses compared to Spanish. For example, the English word “actual” means “real” while the Spanish word “actual” means “current” or “present.”

Many Spanish speakers face similar challenges when learning English because of these language differences. However, understanding how your native language influences the learning process is the first step to becoming fluent in English.

Continue reading to find out the best methods for Spanish speakers to learn English and uncover the secrets to becoming proficient in English as a second language.

Is English difficult for Spanish speakers?

Absolutely, learning any new language can be tough! For Spanish speakers, it’s generally easier to pick up other Romance languages like Italian, Portuguese, or French. However, when compared to languages such as Mandarin, Japanese, or Korean, English might be considered more manageable.

The good news is that there are some advantages for Spanish speakers learning English as a second language. Both languages share a similar alphabet, have over a thousand cognates (words spelled similarly with the same meaning), some similar grammar constructs, and share many sounds.

Even though learning English can be tough for Spanish speakers, it’s a realistic and achievable goal. Many people around the world have successfully learned English as a second language.

What’s the toughest part of learning English for Spanish speakers?

From my years of teaching English to folks from Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Nicaragua, and other Latin American countries, I can say the trickiest thing for Spanish speakers learning English is the common challenge everyone faces when picking up a new language. They tend to apply the rules and logic of their native language to the one they’re trying to learn.

For example, many of my Spanish-speaking students struggled with remembering to use the auxiliary verb “do” in open-ended questions (like “Where you work?” instead of “Where do you work?”). In Spanish, there’s no auxiliary verb used in these questions, so they repeatedly made this mistake by trying to convert Spanish questions into English questions.

Similarly, pronouncing the ‘S’ in third person singular present tense verbs ending with a consonant (like “She walk” instead of “She walks”) was challenging. In Spanish, consonant clusters like these don’t exist, and an ‘S’ at the end of a word follows a vowel sound (for example, “fotos,” “casas,” “cables”).

So, for Spanish speakers learning English, the key is to examine the basic elements of both languages—grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation—and understand the differences in constructs, words, and sounds. The list below is a great starting point for this journey, helping Spanish speakers identify the various challenges they might encounter.

5 Common Difficulties for those Learning English from Spanish 

1. Pronunciation

Even if your English grammar and vocabulary are perfect, unclear pronunciation can still hinder communication.

For Spanish speakers, this challenge is amplified because Spanish is a phonetic language. In Spanish, you can pronounce a word just by reading it, as each letter’s sound remains consistent in almost all situations. For instance, the letter ‘E’ in Spanish always sounds like the ‘E’ in “bet.” In contrast, English has three different ways to pronounce the letter ‘E,’ as seen in “edit,” “eat,” and “enough” (or it might be silent, as in “take”). This inconsistency is confusing for native Spanish speakers accustomed to more uniform pronunciation rules.

Furthermore, English includes sounds that don’t exist in Spanish at all (e.g., ‘TH’ in “think,” ‘V’ in “vote,” ‘A’ in “cat”). Spanish speakers may find it challenging to produce these unfamiliar sounds. Here are some common pronunciation mistakes to be aware of:

1. Adding an ‘E’ sound before words starting with ‘S’ followed by a consonant (e.g., “eschool” for “school,” “estrike” for “strike,” “esport” for “sport”).
2. Pronouncing the ‘TH’ sound as ‘T’ (e.g., “tirsty” for “thirsty,” “bote” for “both,” “broter” for “brother”).
3. Pronouncing the ‘V’ sound as ‘B’ (e.g., “bery” for “very,” “eber” for “ever,” “bictory” for “victory”).
4. Deleting consonants at the end of words following a consonant (e.g., “tas” for “task,” “lof” for “loft,” “firs” for “first”).
5. Pronouncing vowels as if speaking Spanish, not English (e.g., “heet” for “hit,” “fot” for “fat,” “gote” for “got”).

To overcome these challenges, consider general strategies like recording yourself, slowing down your speech, and practicing in front of a mirror. Identify specific pronunciation aspects that are challenging for you, preferably with the help of a tutor or language buddy. Once you pinpoint your struggles, search for targeted resources online, including tips and examples tailored for Spanish speakers in articles and YouTube videos.

2. Words with Multiple Meanings

In both Spanish and English, many words have multiple meanings. For instance, the Spanish word “cola” can mean a line of people or cars, the tail of an animal, or glue, depending on the context.

However, it’s uncommon for a single translated English word to encompass all the meanings of a Spanish word. Watch out for these common mistakes:

1. Make/Do: In Spanish, “hacer” means both “make” and “do.” Spanish speakers may use “make” when they should use “do” (e.g., “make your homework” instead of “do your homework,” “make business” instead of “do business”).

1. Lose/Miss: In Spanish, “perder” means both “lose” and “miss.” Spanish speakers may use “lose” when they should use “miss” (e.g., “lose the bus” instead of “miss the bus,” “lose the interview” instead of “miss the interview”).

1. Story/History: In Spanish, “historia” means both “story” and “history.” Spanish speakers may use “history” when they should use “story” (e.g., “tell a history” instead of “tell a story,” “a fantasy history” instead of “a fantasy story”).

1. Know/Meet: In Spanish, “conocer” means both “know” and “meet.” Spanish speakers may use “know” when they should use “meet” (e.g., “know new people” instead of “meet new people,” “know my friend’s brother” instead of “meet my friend’s brother”).

1. Listen/Hear: In Spanish, “escuchar” means “listen,” and “oir” means “hear,” but they are used interchangeably in certain contexts. Spanish speakers may use “listen” when they should use “hear” (e.g., “Do you listen me?” instead of “Do you hear me?”).

3. Literal Translations

When learning a new language, it’s common for learners to try translating directly from their native language to English. However, translating phrases and expressions word-for-word from Spanish to English can result in grammar errors. Here are some typical examples of these mistakes:

• “I am agree” (Estoy de acuerdo) instead of “I agree”
• “I said that no” (Dije que no) instead of “I said no”
• “For how much time?” (¿Por cuánto tiempo?) instead of “How long?”
• “Depends of the weather” (Depende del clima) instead of “Depends on the weather”
• “Six and a half in the afternoon” (Seis y media en la tarde) instead of “Six thirty in the afternoon”
• “The people is beautiful” (La gente es hermosa) instead of “The people are beautiful”
• “She has five years” (Ella tiene cinco años) instead of “She is five years old”
• “It’s the car of my sister” (Es el auto de mi hermana) instead of “It’s my sister’s car”

How to overcome it…

It’s crucial to be aware of common translation errors early on to avoid forming bad habits. Consider keeping a journal of phrases you notice that don’t directly translate from Spanish to English, helping you track and avoid these tempting mistakes!

4. False Friends

Thankfully for Spanish speakers, there are numerous words that both English and Spanish share: actor, hotel, mediocre, popular, bar, vulnerable, chocolate, etc. These words, also known as cognates, are spelled similarly and share the same definition.

Regrettably, not all words that look the same in both languages have the same meaning; these mismatched words are what we call “false friends” because they appear to mean the same thing but do not. The following word pairs are examples of this common difficulty:

1. Actualmente/Actually: Actualmente means currently, whereas actually means the truth of a situation.
2. Carpeta/Carpet: Carpeta means a folder, whereas carpet means a floor covering.
3. Éxito/Exit: Éxito means success, whereas exit is a way out of somewhere.
4. Largo/Large: Largo means long, whereas large means big.
5. Ropa/Rope: Ropa means clothes, whereas rope means a thick cord.
6. Últimamente/Ultimately: Últimamente means recently, whereas ultimately means finally.
7. How to overcome it…

Unfortunately, there isn’t a quick way to memorize every Spanish-English “false friend”! However, one way to address this issue is to print out lists of these words to place on a desk or in a folder. Learners can then go through one set of “false friends” a day and/or check off word pairs that they encounter in conversation, classes, or reading material. Alternatively, students can use “false friend” practice exercises to identify which word pairs they are unaware of or using incorrectly.

5. Grammatical Differences

There are several English grammar concepts that prove challenging for Spanish speakers to understand. English grammar has rules with a structure quite different from Spanish. Here are a few common grammar mistakes:

1. Personal Pronouns: In Spanish, “su” can represent the English pronouns him, her, his, and hers. Thus, it may be challenging for Spanish speakers to remember which pronoun to use in English (e.g., “my sister left his jacket” vs. “my sister left her jacket”).

1. Order of Adjectives & Nouns: In Spanish, the adjective typically comes after the noun, whereas in English, the adjective usually comes before the noun. Consequently, many Spanish speakers mix up the order of these words when speaking English (e.g., “ten days more” vs. “ten more days”; “a dress ugly” vs. “an ugly dress”).

1. Subject Deletion: In Spanish, verb conjugations indicate the subject of the action, so Spanish speakers often omit the subject of a sentence because it is understood. Consequently, they may forget to include the subject when speaking English (e.g., “is a nice day” vs. “it is a nice day”; “want to go” vs. “they want to go”).

• Multiple Negation: In Spanish, the use of “double negatives” is grammatically correct. Therefore, when speaking or writing in English, Spanish speakers may use multiple negations without realizing it (e.g., “he did not do nothing” vs. “he did not do anything”).

How to overcome it… 

Grammar is one of the most challenging aspects of language learning! Instead of memorizing phrases and sentences, the best way to learn to speak English with grammatical accuracy is to take the time to learn its rules and how to apply them.

This can be achieved through websites offering explanations of various English grammar concepts or by practicing exercises for specific concepts, such as personal pronouns, order of adjectives/nouns, subject deletion, and multiple negation.

The Optimal Approach for Spanish Speakers Learning English

Mastering English is a unique and personal journey, and no single method suits everyone. Nevertheless, integrating the following strategies can greatly enrich your experience in acquiring the language.

1. Immerse Yourself: Surround yourself with English as much as possible. Watch English movies, listen to English music, and try to read books or articles in English. Immersion accelerates language learning by exposing you to real-life expressions and nuances.

1. Practice Regularly: Consistency is key. Dedicate a specific amount of time each day to practice speaking, listening, reading, and writing in English. This regular practice builds a strong foundation and boosts your confidence.

1. Use Language Learning Apps: Leverage language learning apps designed for English learners. These apps often provide interactive exercises, vocabulary building, and pronunciation practice. Some popular ones include Duolingo, Babbel, and Rosetta Stone.

1. Engage in Conversations: Find language exchange partners or join language learning groups where you can converse in English. This real-life interaction helps you apply what you’ve learned and enhances your communication skills.

1. Take Formal Classes: Consider enrolling in English language courses. Formal classes provide structured learning, access to experienced instructors, and opportunities to interact with fellow learners. Many language schools and online platforms offer tailored courses for different proficiency levels.

1. Set Realistic Goals: Establish achievable language learning goals. Whether it’s mastering a specific grammar concept, learning a set number of new words each week, or holding a conversation without hesitation, setting realistic goals keeps you motivated.

1. Learn from Mistakes: Embrace mistakes as part of the learning process. Analyze your errors, understand why they occurred, and use them as stepping stones for improvement. Don’t be afraid to take risks in practicing new language skills.

1. Utilize Online Resources: Explore online resources dedicated to English learning. Websites, blogs, and YouTube channels offer valuable tips, explanations, and practice exercises. Take advantage of these free or affordable resources to supplement your learning.

1. Cultural Awareness: Understanding English goes beyond words. Familiarize yourself with English-speaking cultures, traditions, and social norms. This cultural awareness enhances your comprehension and makes communication more natural.

1. Seek Feedback: Regularly seek feedback from native speakers, teachers, or language exchange partners. Constructive feedback helps refine your pronunciation, grammar, and overall language proficiency.

Remember, patience and perseverance are crucial on your language learning journey. Celebrate small victories, stay motivated, and enjoy the process of becoming proficient in English.