Translation of accent in Spanish

I'm looking to move to Spain in the summer and hoping to visit my friend in Barcelona before then so I was hoping to have the basics done by then. I've always wanted to learn another language, but we are not pushed enough in the US.
I hope, you'll not be disagreeing with me, if i tell you the fact that Italian is very similar to Spanish. i keep my fingers crossed for you! Good luck in your exam and I hope to communicate with you after that.
I think I have to switch back to English. It will take me two years until I write an entire letter in German and I suppose I do not have the time for it. Does that mean that I am not serious about learning?