So… What is that dreaded linguistic phenomenon that can do so much damage?

It’s called …. fossilization.

Scary, right?

Anyway, the “British Council” describes it as follows:

Fossilization refers to the process in which incorrect language becomes a habit and cannot easily be corrected.

British council, https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/article/fossilization

Or, put more bluntly:

If you make the same mistake in Spanish enough times (especially as a beginner), you’ll make it forever.

Lukas, saying it more bluntly

FOREVER?

Don’t worry, it’s not THAT bad. And there’s an easy way to avoid it. More on that soon.

First, let’s take a look at how fossilization happens in practice, so you know what to look out for.

Fossilization: A Recipe For Spanish Disaster

Many people (and traditional courses and language schools) think the best way to learn Spanish is by what I call a “recipe for disaster”

  • Step 1: “Learn a lot of words”. There are some people that say that by knowing the 1000 most frequent Spanish words you’ll already understand 85% of Spanish. (I mean, seriously? Just studying long lists of words will make you speak fluent Spanish? I wish it were that easy!)
  • Step 2: Then learn some grammar rules too so you can use them to piece together sentences. And do mindless grammar drills until you get it right.
  • Step 3 (my favorite): “Also, just start speaking Spanish from day one. You’ll make some mistakes but people will understand you and you’ll get better and better!”

Now, listen. While this might get you over your fear of speaking, it will NEVER make you actually speak natural, correct Spanish!

Because even if in the best-case scenario you get over your fear of speaking and you manage to memorize some Spanish words…

It takes you ages to construct sentences, you draw a blank… and you sound more like a caveman.

It’s like having all the ingredients for a delicious cake, and even a step-by-step recipe to bake something…

But you end up baking something that looks and tastes… well, wrong.

I’m sure that has happened to you before, right?

Now, why does that disaster happen?

To make up for your lack of knowledge of what Spanish looks like beyond words and grammar rules, you’ll be trying to make sentences with the only frame of reference your brain already has: English sentences.

Which leads to tons of mistakes and “Frankenstein Spanish”.

And these mistakes are sticky. VERY sticky.

By lack of alternative, they get imprinted on your brain (they literally ‘fossilize”)… and it’s super difficult to get rid of them later on.

That doesn’t sound good, does it?

Now, let’s be honest: who wants to have a fossilized brain, making beginner mistakes all day long…

If there’s an alternative that can help you have fluent, natural Spanish sentences roll off the tongue and impress native speakers?

If possible, you’d choose the alternative, wouldn’t you?

Well…

Here at Spring Spanish, we’ve developed that alternative.

An alternative that counteracts fossilization… (and even uses it to your advantage!)

An alternative that avoids memorizing words and grammar (so there are no situations anymore where you can make mistakes or translate in your head!)

An alternative that helps you chat away in Spanish and focus on the interaction with your conversation partner, without the fear of being misunderstood.

Once you understand how it works, it changes the whole language learning game. Makes it easier, too.

Click the button below to continue and find out how it works…

Continue…

Next: Part 3 (of 5): Avoid Fossilization and Speak Fluent Spanish Through Chunking