How to learn Spanish

Do you dream of speaking fluent Spanish on your next trip or making a good first impression at a job interview? Learning Spanish opens doors to new opportunities, from traveling to Spanish-speaking countries to improving your career prospects. But how do you start learning? These tips and tricks will help you start your learning journey.

Why Spanish?

With over 560 million speakers worldwide, Spanish is:

• Official in 21 countries, including Spain, Mexico, and much of Latin America
• The second-most spoken language online
• A gateway to new careers, study abroad, and cross-cultural communication

Whether you want to travel, expand your professional opportunities, or explore a new culture, Spanish opens countless doors.

Besides the fact that Spanish belongs to the top 10 of most spoken languages worldwide, there are countless more reasons for you to learn Spanish:

• Expanding your career opportunities
• Travelling will be easier and more fun
• The possibility of working in international companies
• Expanding your social network
• Improving your cognitive skills
• Immersing yourself in a new culture
• …

Is it easy to learn Spanish?

Learning Spanish may seem challenging and hard, but Spanish is actually quite simple to learn. Of course, Spanish has its challenges, but compared to languages like Chinese, it’s actually quite manageable.

What makes Spanish easy to learn?

• Pronunciation: Spanish is a phonetic language, meaning words are pronounced the way they’re written. This makes it much easier to speak and understand compared to languages with complicated pronunciations.
• Similarities with Latin languages: If you already speak a Latin-based language, like Italian or French, you’ll find many familiar words and structures in Spanish.
• Grammar: Spanish has regular grammar rules that are straightforward and predictable, making it easier to learn once you understand the basics.
• Clear and logical sentence structure: The sentence structure in Spanish is quite simple and follows a logical order, making it easier to form sentences.

Some challenges for learners

Dialects:

• Spanish varies greatly across countries and even within regions.
• Vocabulary, pronunciation, and even grammar can shift depending on location.
• Example: The Spanish spoken in Madrid differs from that in Andalusia, Catalonia, or the Canary Islands.

Verb tenses:

• Spanish includes many verb tenses, especially for past actions.
• Learners must distinguish between:
  • Pretérito indefinido (completed past)
  • Pretérito imperfecto (ongoing or habitual past)
  • Pretérito perfecto (recent or relevant past)
• These subtle differences can be confusing for learners whose native language has fewer tenses.

Gendered nouns:

• Every Spanish noun is either masculine or feminine.
• Gender affects articles (el, la), adjectives (bonito, bonita), and pronouns.
• Mistakes in gender make sentences sound unnatural to native speakers.
• While rules exist (-o endings are usually masculine, -a feminine), there are many exceptions:
  • el día (the day) – masculine
  • la mano (the hand) – feminine
• You often have to memorize the gender of each noun individually.

Subjunctive:

• The subjunctive is used for wishes, doubts, emotions, and hypotheticals.
• Unlike the indicative (used for facts), the subjunctive handles uncertainty or subjectivity.
• It’s challenging because:
  • You must learn when to use it (not just how).
  • It doesn’t exist in many other languages or is rarely used.
• Over time, and with practice in real conversations, it becomes more intuitive.

5 Key tips to learn Spanish effectively

Learning a new language can be overwhelming and difficult. But it doesn’t have to be! With the following tips and tricks, you’ll be ready to start your learning journey.

1. Build a personal learning plan

Many beginners make the mistake of simply jumping without a plan. While enthusiasm is great, it often leads to frustration if your Spanish lessons don’t match your level or address your specific challenges. That’s why the first step to learning Spanish effectively is creating a plan that’s made for you.

At coLanguage, we don’t believe in one-size-fits-all. Every student is different, not only in level, but also in time, goals, and motivation. Our teachers guide you, periodically measure your progress, and adapt your learning plan.

2. Immerse yourself in the Spanish culture

Learning Spanish is more effective when you experience the culture behind the language. Spanish culture is rich in traditions, music, food, and regional expressions, which help bring the language to life.

How to immerse yourself:

• Listen to Spanish music, podcasts, or audiobooks daily.
• Watch Spanish-language movies or series with subtitles.
• Cook traditional Spanish recipes and learn cultural vocabulary.
• Practice with native speakers in real-life scenarios.

Immersion recommendations

• Spanish series: Elite, La Casa De Papel, Narcos, Vis a Vis,  La Casa De Las Flores, ...
• Spanish newspapers: El País, BBC Español, El Mundo, 20 Minutos, ...
• Spanish podcasts: Coffee Break Spanish, Nómadas, Spanish Obsessed, News In Slow Spanish, …
• Spanish music genres: Latin pop, Bachata, Salsa, Flamenco, Merengue, …
• Spanish books: First Spanish Reader: A Beginner’s Dual-Language Book, Short and Easy Spanish Novels for Beginners, Aura

3. Speak as much as possible

It may feel intimidating at first, but speaking is one of the most powerful ways to truly learn a language. While grammar exercises and vocabulary lists have their place, real progress happens when you put the language into practice, especially in real conversations.

Why? Because language isn’t just about memorizing rules. It’s about connecting. It’s about being understood, reacting in the moment, and feeling confident enough to try, make mistakes, and improve.

At coLanguage, conversation isn't an extra. It’s the heart of how we teach.

Our classes are designed to:

• Feel like real-life situations
• Help you learn by doing, not just memorizing
• Keep you engaged, motivated, and consistent

And yes! You can start speaking even if you're a beginner. We use practical sentence patterns, easy vocabulary, and repeatable formats to help you build confidence step by step. The sooner you speak, the sooner you’ll feel like you're actually learning the language.

4. Learn with a teacher

While apps and textbooks can help, learning Spanish with a professional teacher offers structure and support that self-study often lacks.

Benefits of learning with a teacher:

• Personalized feedback to improve pronunciation and accuracy
• Guidance in practical situations like travel or work conversations
• Customized learning plans tailored to your level and goals
• Teachers can answer questions about grammar
• Regular speaking practice to build fluency

At coLanguage, we select experienced and professional teachers to guide you in the conversation classes. With experienced teachers and flexible online classes, you can progress consistently and confidently.

5. Consistency is key

Consistency is key when it comes to language learning. It’s important to dedicate small, regular chunks of time to practice every day. Even 15 to 30 minutes per day can make a huge difference over time.

Tips for staying consistent:

• Read short articles, stories, or news in Spanish
• Listen to Spanish music or podcasts while commuting or during breaks
• Practice speaking with a teacher or language partner daily

At coLanguage, we understand that real learning happens when you build a consistent routine that fits your lifestyle. Our mission is to provide short revision materials and interactive social lessons to ensure you stay on track, no matter how busy life gets.

Our structured learning plans are designed to fit into your schedule, with personalized lessons that can be practiced in short sessions. Whether you’re at home, on your commute, or during a lunch break, you’ll have access to interactive materials that you can use anytime, anywhere.

Official guidelines

At coLanguage, our Spanish courses follow the official curriculum guidelines of the Instituto Cervantes, the worldwide reference for Spanish language education. This means our learning materials, grammar topics, and vocabulary development follow the CEFR levels (A1–C2) as defined by Cervantes, ensuring a clear and structured learning path for every student.

CEFR Levels:

• A1 – Beginner: You can say simple things about yourself and ask basic questions.
• A2 – Elementary: You can talk about everyday topics like family, shopping, or work in simple sentences.
• B1 – Intermediate: You can handle travel, daily life, and talk about plans or past experiences.
• B2 – Upper-Intermediate: You can join longer conversations and explain your opinions in detail.
• C1 – Advanced: You can speak fluently and understand complex topics at work or studies.
• C2 – Proficient: You can understand everything easily and speak clearly, even about deep or abstract ideas.

Start learning with coLanguage

Our approach is designed to keep you engaged, motivated, and on track. This way, you can reach fluency without feeling overwhelmed. Here's how we do it:

• Personalized guidance from experienced teachers
• Clear and structured course plan following official language guidelines
• Practical conversation classes
• Flexibility in lesson format and timing
• Short supportive revision materials for reinforcement

Each CEFR level at coLanguage consists of 6 modules and can be completed in 1-2 months. You’ll learn 800 new words per level, covering key vocabulary, grammar, and real-world dialogue. 

We make sure you’re not only learning the language but also ready to prove your skills with a recognized certificate. Whether you're aiming for the DELE, SIELE, or another certification, we ensure you have the tools to succeed.

Don’t wait any longer and start your learning journey with coLanguage! Sign up and start today!