English Exam Tips for Spanish Speakers
Spanish speakers often find English accessible due to shared Latin roots, but there are specific areas that require attention for exam success.
Common Challenges for Spanish Speakers
- False Friends: Words that look similar but have different meanings (actually vs actualmente, library vs librería) Example: "Actually" means "in fact", not "currently". "Library" is biblioteca, not bookstore.
- Subject Pronouns: English requires subject pronouns where Spanish often omits them Example: Say "It is raining" not just "Is raining"
- Adjective Order: English adjectives come before nouns, not after Example: a big red house, not a house red big
- Present Perfect vs Simple Past: English uses these differently than Spanish uses pretérito perfecto Example: "I have seen him this morning" (British) vs "I saw him this morning" (American)
Grammar Tips for Spanish Speakers
- Articles: Remember to use "the" with abstract nouns when specific, but not for general statements
- Prepositions: Learn preposition differences: "depende de" = "depends on", "soñar con" = "dream of/about"
- Gerund vs Infinitive: Some verbs take -ing, others take to + infinitive: "enjoy swimming" but "want to swim"
- Conditionals: The "if" clause cannot use "will" - say "If it rains" not "If it will rain"
Vocabulary Advice
- Make lists of false friends and review them regularly
- Learn collocations - Spanish direct translations often don't work (make a mistake, not do a mistake)
- Study phrasal verbs - Spanish tends to use single verbs where English uses phrasal verbs
- Pay attention to words with Latin roots that have different meanings in English
Exam Strategies
- In writing, avoid translating directly from Spanish structures
- For speaking, practice pronouncing consonant clusters (strengths, sixths)
- Use linking words to show argument development
- Remember English word order is stricter than Spanish
¡Ánimo! Your Latin language background gives you a great foundation for learning English vocabulary.