If you're taking a luxury holiday in Spain, tailor-made for rest and relaxation, you might not be too concerned about putting a huge amount of effort into learning Spanish while you're there. But when you're in a foreign country, it's far easier to learn their language than it would be back home.

Here are a few handy tricks you can use to greatly improve your vocab within a satisfyingly short space of time. You don't need to walk around with a big dictionary or spend your evenings swotting up to make some good headway into learning Spanish on holiday.

1) Make use of what you already know

Don't worry about getting things wrong. If you have already been learning Spanish words or phrases, say what you can say. You will find the Spanish appreciate the effort you make to speak their language and are usually very kind. Once you start speaking the language, you won't be able to stop!

2) Spend time with Spaniards

To practice, put yourself in normal Spanish situations as much as you can. Places that can help you to learn Spanish on holiday include the market, shops and public transport. Spend your evenings in Spanish-run bars or restaurants.

3) Listen to the young

Although you can expect excellent service on a luxury holiday in Spain, tailor-made packages don't include an option to make the Spanish slow down so you can understand what they're saying! If you have the opportunity, listen to children, who tend to speak more slowly, simply and clearly.

4) Read the newspaper

Buy a Spanish newspaper and try to pick out phrases you have already been learning. Spanish newspapers will help you become interested Spanish life and you might begin to pick up more by taking an interest in current events.

5) Notice the written words around you

Read advertising fliers and look carefully at road signs and posters. It will help you to learn Spanish if you try and decipher the common words and phrases they will use.

6) Turn on the Spanish radio

Listen to local radio, where you absorb unconsciously more than you may think. Learning Spanish by listening to it being spoken is a tried and tested method.

8) Turn on the telly

If you're on a tailor-made holiday in Spain, luxury hotels generally have versatile Televisions, which can help you learn Spanish in a short space of time. Watch the adverts, where key words are often repeated. If you're planning a night in on your Spanish holiday, watch a Spanish film on TV, using teletext to supply subtitles provided for the deaf.

9) Keep it simple

Never translate a complicated English sentence in your head. This can be detrimental to learning Spanish as the difficulty might just put you off.

10) Be determined

You must have a positive and determined approach, as any kind of language learning does not come naturally to adults - it is a lot easier for children. But once you start to really learn Spanish you will be glad you made the effort, and it will come back to you easily on your next Spanish holiday!