Go Grocery Shopping en español!

One of the first things I do when I go to a Spanish-speaking country is go to the grocery store. I typically don't have anything in mind I need to buy, but I simply walk up and down the aisles and read the labels and signage. Why? This gives me a quick, easy way to pick up any region specific food and drink vocabulary without interference. I can just wander around reading at my own pace. I love it! I get to discover new words and food and take in a new culture. I typically buy lots of candy and snacks; it's a win-win. It also gives me a guaranteed, simple conversation in Spanish when I eventually check out (also that conversation gives me insight into money vocabulary, formal vs. informal greetings, commerce, etc. that might be region specific). So, you should do the same! Even if you're not in a Spanish- speaking country, you can replicate this experience in your own community. Here are some tips on how:

1. Go to the international food aisle at your grocery store and read the food labels. The products produced for a Spanish-speaking market are typically in English and Spanish or just in Spanish. It's a great way to learn nutritional facts and branding.

2. Look at the signage for local businesses. Sometimes a business's signage is bilingual and all in Spanish. Read it and see what you comprehend. Additionally, a lot of big box retailers have bilingual signage within their stores, especially hardware stores. If you feel safe doing so, walk around the store for a while and read the different signs. Take your notebook and write down new words you encounter.

3. I did an Instagram post a few weeks ago about supporting local Latinx businesses. Go to one! Walk around. Browse their products. Read the signs. Talk with the employees. Ask questions. Absorb the language. Experiencing language in this way will help you remember it longer.

So your challenge for the rest of the week is to choose one of these tips and do it! I promise you won't regret it and you'll probably find some awesome candy or snacks in the process. ¡Disfruta!

Interested in more tips or acquiring Spanish? Check out Kinda Bilingual's online, immersive, Spanish classes or give us a follow on Instagram (@kinda.bilingual)!