Texas Dallas Mission

Coming out of the MTC, you're going to think that Spanish is pretty easy, but then getting to the field, especially in Texas where most people speak English, it is extremely difficult or harder than you thought it was. So someone gave me this tip in the MTC where I carried around a notebook that was different from my prosliding notebook or my personal study, and I kept notes of words that I heard in the lesson or words that I wanted to work on, and I just flipped through that notebook when we were walking or when my companion was driving in the car, and I just would try to memorize those words. So that can grow your vocabulary pretty fast.

I would say my best advice for language would just be to speak it as much as possible. Have fasted from English and work with your companions, set goals. It's so much easier when you don't do it alone and just try as much as you can. The members love it and they're so willing to give advice if you ask for it.

One thing I would tell future missionaries about learning a new language is do not stress about learning it right away. As long as you focus on loving the people and trying to immerse yourself in the culture, the gift of tongues will come.