How to Learn Spanish without Even Trying (part I)

I have to start with an apology today. I may have made it seem in some of my posts that I think that trying to learn Spanish without putting in much effort is an acceptable way to behave. What I meant to get across was that at times you can do it with absolutely no effort at all.
I am not suggesting that I learned the language without ever looking up a dictionary or stewing over a problem, but it very rarely felt like a chore, and here are a few ideas so that you can feel the same way.

Enjoy it

If you want to learn Spanish or any other language I imagine that you enjoy speaking it and listening to it. Personally I was charmed by the rhymes and the undulations in a tongue which was completely unknown to me when I arrived in South America. If you fall in love with the language then it is going to be far easier for you to pick up new words.

Speak to People

One of the big problems which tourists find when they come to South America with a group of friends is that no locals speak to them. You are far more likely to learn from an interesting conversation if you are alone. When I was with a group of Brits in Ecuador I used to try and find time now and then to wander off on my own and see where this led to. It usually led me up a dead end to be fair, but I also picked up a few new words and phrases.