If you want to learn a new language, it can be difficult to quickly pick it up when you live in a country that doesn't use this language on a regular basis. Studies have found that immersion and assimilation are the keys when it comes to learning a foreign language. There are nuances that cannot be picked up in a classroom or a book, and the only way to truly learn a language is to live it every single day.

When it comes to learning Spanish, there are many factors that can determine your success. This is a language of intricacies, and there are numerous factors that can change the meaning of a word, however slightly. It is incredibly difficult to pick up on these factors when you are not experiencing them first hand. Although it can be a bit intimidating to travel to a foreign country, you have the advantage of learning the language the best way ? from the locals ? and you will learn it at a much quicker rate.

Here are just a few of the benefits that you can reap by studying Spanish abroad.

1. Learning the natural way. When you first started speaking, you were learning constantly as you listened to your parents speak. You didn't have to sit through a complicated daily lesson on verbs or declensions, you simply listened. Moving to a foreign country replicates this experience as you are exposed to the language you want to learn every single day.

When you are audibly surrounded with a foreign language you have little choice but to pay attention. You'll start to pick up on the complexities and manners of speech that unlock the true meanings of words. While it may take a few days to start picking it up, most people find that after two weeks, they have an incredible comprehension of Spanish when they learn using this method.

2. Figuring out the nuances. A simple shrug of the shoulders, a gesture, a nod ? all of these things are vital when it comes to learning Spanish properly. This is a language that utilizes a lot of body language. You cannot pick up on this when you are using a book. Although some teachers do bring this into the classroom environment, you don't get the same level of appreciation for the nuances that make up the Spanish language.

3. It's more effective. When you hear mostly Spanish every single day, you can't help but start to pick it up. You'll be learning real phrases, not guidebook snippets. Even while you do the most mundane tasks, like grocery shopping, you are learning Spanish. This ramps up how quickly you begin to process information and makes a big difference in the speed at which you start picking up Spanish. Although you can find some communities here at home that speak Spanish exclusively, it is not the same as being totally immersed into the Spanish culture. By far, immersion is the most effective means of learning a new language.