8 tips for the best way to learn Spanish
Getting past my slow start to language learning
My first year of learning Spanish was pretty fruitless. I took a course at my university for a year, studied hard and got good grades. But at the end of the first year, there was no way I could hold a conversation in Spanish, listen to a Spanish song and understand the lyrics, or watch a TV show without subtitles. From what I’ve heard, this isn’t an uncommon experience.
I wish had asked for advice from people who were fluent in their second language at the time because it would have sped things up for me which is why I’m writing this article for you. I am now 2.5 years in and am sitting at a B2 level in Spanish - but my beginning was very slow. This article is all about the best way to learn Spanish and what I would have done differently if I were starting again.
Bonus tip: start by setting a measurable goal
After a long hiatus from language learning, I decided to take a trip to Spain. I was three months out from the trip and had a goal of having a conversation in Spanish in Spain (not just asking for directions, an actual conversation). I kicked things off like most people do on Duolingo.
Speaking Spanish in Spain for the first time with my friend Paco (he was more impressed than he looks - promise! haha)
As the trip was inching closer, I was speaking with a friend about my frustration about not feeling like I was getting much better at speaking Spanish (I’m a big fan of Duolingo for building up grammar and vocabulary, but for speaking practice it is severely lacking) when he recommended HelloTalk.
This app changed everything for me and helped me achieve my goal of having a conversation in Spanish in Spain after just 3 months of coming back to practicing! In fact, I had quite a few memorable Spanish-speaking experiences on that trip.
Read on to discover my top 8 tips and in my opinion the best way to learn Spanish. It all starts with:
1 Downloading HelloTalk
What is HelloTalk?
HelloTalk is an app where you can meet people from across the world and essentially do an online language exchange.
How much does HelloTalk cost?
The most important (and best) feature of the app, is connecting with language partners and this part is free.
How to get started?
Simply set up a profile with your target language listed and you will receive messages from people who would like to learn your native language.
As a woman, I’ll admit, I was pretty overwhelmed with how many people contacted me - I’ve heard from men who use the app that this wasn’t the case for them. However, you can simply choose who you’d like to speak with and form as many (or as few) connections as you’d like.
Next to each user’s profile image you’ll see a flag of where they’re from (weird interest: I’m now very into flags and geography) and if you click on their profile image you will see a map of their city.
What level should I start practicing speaking to people?
I would say it’s never too early to start speaking however I was proven wrong the other day when I met someone at an in-person language exchange event who had never learned a single word of the language they were trying to acquire.
So, if you know how to ask and answer basic questions (e.g. name, age, location) you’ll be off to a good start and in my opinion, it demonstrates that you have begun to make an effort to learn their language so they’re likely to be more willing to help you.
In the app, you can select what level you are at so that people who are at similar levels are more likely to connect. Plus, there are translate features built-in if you get stuck that apply to both messages and voice messages.
I’m nervous about speaking to strangers - how do I get started?
Hello, fellow introvert! Don’t worry, people usually list their interests and places they’d like to visit - so if all else fails, you can speak about that. Plus, you can select what language level you are at so that people who are at similar levels are more likely to connect.
I’m still not convinced - should I get the app?
Completely up to you, but I have found having online language partners through HelloTalk to be the second biggest thing to improve my Spanish. More on the biggest later.
2 Making a playlist
One of the things I love about having a language partner is having a whole new world of music open up to me. Before Rosalia and Bad Bunny became huge worldwide, there were very few Spanish language artists I had heard of bar Shakira.
Learn the lyrics and what they mean… then sing the songs!
Now, one of my favourite things to do is sing to Karol G, Kali Uchis or The Marias full blast, windows down in the car. So my tip is, to start a playlist of songs you like in your target language, spend some nights studying the lyrics, and play it regularly to learn the songs. You’ll start to pick up on some phrasing that you could even use in real life. “¿Qué más?”
3 Comprehending comprehensible input
What is comprehensible input?
‘Comprehensible input’ is acquiring a language through a method where you understand some of the words but not all of them. For instance, if you have been studying Spanish for one month, and you try to read Harry Potter in Spanish it will likely be too difficult, however, if you tried to read a book for toddlers, you are likely to understand what the book is saying without needing a translation. As you acquire more language, the type of book you can read will gradually advance.
Comprehensible input a fancy way of saying, don’t get ahead of yourself.
What is an example of comprehensible input?
A great example of comprehensible input is this video series where Fabulaudit uses simple drawings on a whiteboard to tell a basic story. It uses almost no English translations because they aren’t required to tell the story in Spanish. Comprehensible input is the best way to learn Spanish and this free series by Dreaming Spanish is broken down by level to make it even easier.
If you’re learning French, I found Luca from French Comprehensible Input really good. While I’m listening, sometimes I try to repeat their pronunciation or use some of the phrases as the class progresses in my own context. Yes, I recently started learning French too - I couldn’t help myself!
4 Buying a beginner book
This brings me to my next point - buy a beginner ‘learn Spanish’ book (or take one out from your local library). You don’t need to spend money to learn a language, but if you do choose to invest a little, I recommend buying some beginner books to kick off your reading journey in your second language. This will make your understanding of how words are used in context skyrocket. Some recommendations I have in Spanish include the books by Ollie Richards.
As a language learner, there is nothing more satisfying than finishing page after page of a book and understanding the story in your target language. Plus, there are comprehension activities at the end of each chapter to test whether you understood. Are you geeking out, I know I am!
5 Keeping a diary
There is another method of language learning that focusses around storytelling. Whether you record video diary or keep a written journal, learning to tell the stories of your day-to-day life is essential in your second language to build connections with people later.
Putting words in your target language to the types of activities you like doing, things that have happened to you throughout the day, your daily routine, your career, and other important features of your life will help you to build up your vocabulary of self. This will help you to more naturally bring it out in conversation at a later date as you’ve already practiced putting words to things that you’re thinking and feeling.
A bonus is that it will truly demonstrate to you just how far you’ve come when you look back on these entries. You’ll be in for a delightfully cringeworthy time as you realise just how far your sentence structure and pronounciation has come in 3, 6, 12 months time!
“The more you move, the easier it is to keep moving. Maintain the momentum.”
6 Maintaining my streak
The Duolingo owl will haunt your dreams if you don’t do this one. But for good reason! Practising each day (whether on Duolingo or another similar app - Falou is also awesome!) helps your brain to familiarise itself with the words it’s hearing and therefore place more priority on storing the information. Repetition is key! For those who are fans of Atomic Habits by James Clear (I am!), there’s something to be said for the momentum that even 5 minutes of language learning a day can have on keeping up a habit.
7 Levelling up with a tutor
When I said you don’t need to spend money to learn a language, I meant it. However, if you do want to invest a little money to speed up your language-learning journey, and you can’t afford a plane ticket to a country that speaks the language you’re learning, the next best thing is getting a tutor.
Getting a tutor can help you to hone in on consistent errors, explore concepts that you’re confused about in more depth and just practice having a conversation, solely in that language, across many different topics for an hour or two straight.
If you’re in Australia, I found my tutor on an app called SuperProf but ask your friends and family if they know anyone who is qualified first to save on the sign-up fee.
This photo was shot through a potato (kidding).
A picture of me (left) at a language meet-up with friends.
8 Joining an in-person exchange
You may not realise this but there are likely loads of free language exchange events happening across your city each week. The problem is, how do you find them? If you’re in Australia, you can use an app called MeetUp to track down an event near you. These free events are great for meeting potential language partners who you can meet up with on an ongoing basis.
Language exchanges are also a great way to meet new people, get better at identifying accents and hone your listening and speaking skills. The group I have joined, asks you to speak for 15 minutes in Spanish only, followed by 15 minutes in English only, to force people to get comfortable saying things in their target language and pushing through any unknowns. It’s so easy to default to your native language (I’m so guilty of this) so this can help to force you to push through.
If you’re an introvert like myself, you may want to go with a language-learning friend as a security blanket for your first few meet-ups. Or you could be super brave and just dive right in. Everyone I have met is very friendly, so either way it will be a good (and educational) time!
Note: this blog links to external websites but is not affiliated with them. All opinions are my own.
