Deciding to learn Spanish, for beginners, can be super overwhelming. But it can be equally as exciting, especially if you have the right tools to help.
I had the help of my Spanish teachers since I first learned in a classroom. However, many people like to learn Spanish from home, and it can be hard when you lack direction.
In this blog post, I’m breaking down the reasons why you should learn Spanish and how to do so.
Before we get into it, this post contains affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you make a purchase at no extra cost to you. Read my full disclosure policy to learn more.
Why Learn Spanish
You probably already have some reason to learn if you’re here. But let me give you a few reasons why learning Spanish is so worth it.
For one, it’s one of the top five most spoken languages worldwide, and it’s an official language in over 20 countries. That means you have tons of travel opportunities.
Its popularity also means you’ll have no trouble finding Spanish language media. Think books, movies, TV shows, and more, all of which can help you learn.
One of my favorite parts of Spanish is the ease of pronunciation. It’s a very phonetic language, unlike English, so you don’t need to learn complex pronunciation rules.
Is Spanish Hard to Learn?
Learning Spanish for beginners can be easy in some aspects and hard in others. On the one hand, you have the aforementioned phonetic spelling.
But, especially for us English natives, verb conjugations can be tricky. We only have a few conjugations in English, but there can be dozens in Spanish.
You might also struggle with grammatical gender, particularly the words that don’t follow the standard rules. Most words ending in O are masculine and most ending in A are feminine, but not all.
Steps to Learn Spanish for Beginners
If you want to learn Spanish, I’m excited for you, and I know you’ll do great. But there are some steps I suggest you take when first starting to give yourself a leg up.
Study the Basics
Before you can start having conversations, you need to understand some basics in Spanish.
Start by learning some common greetings and introductions. That way, you can introduce yourself to others and get to know them.
As you do this, you’ll want to learn and memorize the Spanish alphabet along with pronunciation rules. Just because it’s a phonetic language doesn’t mean the letters sound the same as in English.
Input Before Output
Another essential step to learning Spanish as a beginner is getting a lot of Spanish input, like reading and listening.
I’d particularly recommend focusing on comprehensible input. This is where you’ll understand at least 80-90% of what is written or said, which can make it easier to learn what you don’t know by context.
One thing I love about auditory input, specifically, is the flexibility. You can listen to Spanish in the car or while you do chores around your home.
Let Grammar Come Naturally
Try as best as you can to learn Spanish like you learned English: naturally and with time. You don’t have to study and memorize a long list of grammar rules.
In fact, trying to do that can slow you down. It’s better to learn with context and input, and to look a few words up here and there.
I know it sounds silly, but try to learn grammar by what feels right. You can still learn the basic grammar rules, but combine grammar study with overall study for a well rounded learning experience.
Practice a Little Every Day
I work a full-time job and don’t have a ton of time to study Spanish. But I try to do a little each day, and you should too.
It’s better to learn a little every day rather than try to cram a bunch into one weekly study session. Your brain needs time (i.e. sleep) to truly process what you’ve learned.
Shorter study sessions more often can help you reinforce what you’ve learned. And you might start to advance more quickly than you expect.
There’s a reason apps like LingQ and Duolingo use daily streaks, and it’s not just gamification.
How Long Does It Take to Learn Spanish?
I’ve been learning Spanish for over 18 years, and I’m still not a perfect speaker. Granted, I’ve taken long breaks here and there.
Either way, you can’t expect to become a native-level speaker in a few months or even a few years. Sure, you can start speaking within months, and you can get quite far.
However, you have to remember that learning a second language is a long-term commitment. Don’t let yourself quit if you aren’t super advanced after a few weeks.
The time it takes to reach milestones depends on your schedule and how much time you can spend studying. It also varies if you already speak another romance language, like Portuguese, since the vocab will come more naturally.
Tips to Learn Spanish Effectively
We all learn differently, so what works for me may or may not work for you. However, here are some of my favorite tips to easily incorporate your Spanish studies into your already busy life.
Listen as You Drive
I have a short commute, so I only have time to listen to a few songs. But if you have a longer drive to work, put on a Spanish language learning podcast.
You can use the audio to get exposure to the language and to learn new vocabulary. Start with beginner friendly podcasts just for Spanish students, like Pimsleur.
As you advance, you can start to listen to podcasts and audiobooks for natives.
Swap the Language on Streaming
I don’t know about you, but I love coming home from work and watching one of my old comfort shows. A lot of these are Disney Channel shows (I grew up in the late 90s and 2000s).
Disney+ allows you to switch the audio and subtitles to languages like Spanish. For beginners, I’d recommend using Spanish audio and English subtitles.
If you’re more advanced, ditch the subtitles entirely. I wouldn’t recommend Spanish audio and subtitles because the subtitles are often different from the audio due to translation differences.
Make Studying Part of Your Routine
When I was actively trying to learn a lot of new Spanish vocab and grammar, I made it a part of my daily routine. I know, you’re not supposed to wake up and immediately check your phone.
But instead of checking emails and social media, I would pull up a Spanish language learning app. You can use apps like Babbel to help you learn new concepts and words.
Even a few minutes in the morning can help you stay on track. You can always do a longer study session when you have more time later in the day.
Final Thoughts
If you want to learn Spanish, you may not know where to start. Luckily, there are more options than ever to make learning Spanish for beginners easy and fun.
Be sure to use the ideas I suggested in this article. And don’t forget to check out our free Spanish flashcards for more vocabulary practice.