Spanish Strategies

Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition (CARLA)

I'm looking for a strategy that someone has used successfully to learn a specific grammar form. Moods Subjunctive Imperfect subjunctive Conditional Conditional perfect and pluperfect subjunctive Commands Pronouns Relative pronouns Simultaneous use of direct and indirect object pronouns Direct and indirect object pronouns in affirmative and negative tú commands Reflexive pronouns in present perfect constructions Tenses / Aspect Preterite Imperfect Preterite vs. imperfect Ser and estar Por vs. para Gender / Agreement Gender of nouns Gender and number agreement Other Demonstrative adjectives Lo + adjective Hacer and desde in time expressions Negative words Superlatives I'm looking for strategies that match my learning style and that can apply to various grammar forms. Auditory Rhymes Songs and chants Talking to native speakers Visual Color coding Decision maps Drawings / Mental images Note cards Playing with verbs Quasi-math formulas Quick grammar references Kinesthetic Physical behaviors Writing it over Memory aids Acronyms Initials as a vehicle for mnemonics Phrases as memory aids Phrases as vehicles for syntax Cognitive English sentences with Spanish syntax English sentences with Spanish words inserted Focusing on meaning Learning material as a chunk Learning grammar by explaining it Using archetypical sentences Using L1 to keep forms and functions straight Context-based Making associations Observing use in context Other Avoiding avoidance Combining perceptual modes What's the reason for using one strategy or another? Spanish grammar sites Glossary

A rhyme

By learning this rhyme, the student is able to remember two of the principal contexts for using estar: for describing feelings (which are temporary) and for talking about location.

Examples: Hoy mi novia conocer a mis padres. Estoy nervioso. Mi madre est ansiosa pero mi padre est tranquilo. Vamos a cenar a un restaurante que est en el centro de la ciudad.

An addition from Linda, who says she learned a second stanza:

"For WHO you are and where you're FROM,
then use Ser - the other one."

I teach my students that "who you are" encompasses occupation, personality traits, nationality and relationships, and "where you're from" covers origin.

I'm looking for a strategy that someone has used successfully to learn a specific grammar form.

I'm looking for strategies that match my learning style and that can apply to various grammar forms.

A rhyme