Some language learners are fond of doing grammar exercises and memorizing verb tenses. Others just hate anything grammar altogether. And probably will tell you that you don’t even need to study it: ‘Why would I bother? I’ve never really cared about grammar in my native language, and I got good at it anyways. Why should I waste my time learning Spanish grammar? I prefer to learn it naturally’
When I learn a foreign language, I enjoy studying and practicing grammar. Ideally, I will get books written in the same language I’m learning and do a mix sentence-mining, reading, and exercises. What works best for me is creating my own flashcards on Anki with the items I want to remember. Yes, it takes time, but the mere act of writing down the cards and picking the sentences helps in the process.
As I prefer to study grammar once I feel comfortable in the language, I don’t do it when I’m just getting started. Eventually, I think it’s a good idea to do a little bit of grammar regularly. That’s how you get to know what you don’t know.
I believe the active study of grammar plays a vital role in language learning. I agree: at times, it can be dull. But it can also be beneficial. In any case, I think everyone should reflect on the role of grammar in their own language learning journey, and deliberately decide how much time (if any) they’ll put there.
What’s your plan to improve your Spanish grammar?
