How to learn Spanish: tips and tricks

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 almost 560 million speakers worldwide, Spanish is one of the most practical and widely spoken languages. It’s e

ither the official or national language in 21 countries, mostly in Latin America, and it’s the second most widely spoken language online. So that means learning Spanish will give you the ability to speak with a very large part of the global population.

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

• Expanding your job opportunities
• Travelling will be easier and more fun
• The possibility to work 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

Dialects

Spanish has many regional dialects, which means the vocabulary, pronunciation, and even grammar can vary depending on the country or region. Even within Spain itself, you’ll find multiple variations of Spanish. For example, the way people speak in Madrid is different from how they speak in Andalusia, Catalonia, or the Canary Islands. 

And that’s just Spain. Across Latin America, you’ll encounter even more differences. From Mexico to Argentina, from Colombia to Chile. Each country and each region has its own version of Spanish, with unique pronunciation, expressions, and idioms.

Verb tenses

Spanish has a wide range of verb tenses, and choosing the right one for each situation can be quite tricky, especially for learners whose native language has fewer tenses. You don’t just need to learn when to use the present, past, or future. Spanish also includes multiple past tenses (like pretérito indefinido, pretérito imperfecto, and pretérito perfecto), each with a slightly different nuance.

Gendered nouns

One of the tings that many learners struggle with when they start learning Spanish is gendered nouns. All nouns have a gender, they are either masculine or feminine. At first, you might think, “Does it really matter if I say el flor instead of la flor?” Yes it does! In Spanish, gender affects much more than just the noun. Articles, adjectives, and pronouns all have to match the gender of the noun they describe. If you get the gender wrong, your whole sentence can sound off, and it’s one of the easiest ways to notice that someone is not a native speaker.

While there are general rules like nouns ending in -a are often feminine, and those ending in -o are usually masculine, there are many exceptions. Words like el día (the day) and la mano (the hand) break the pattern, so in many cases, you simply have to memorize the gender.

Subjunctive

The subjunctive can be tricky because it’s not used as frequently in many other languages, so it can feel unnatural at first. While the indicative mood is used to talk about facts and certainty, the subjunctive mood expresses things like wishes, emotions, doubts, hypotheticals, and recommendations.

For many learners it’s a challenge, because you need to recognize when to use it, not just how to conjugate. In the beginning, it might feel a bit abstract and unnatural. Over time, the subjunctive will start to feel more natural, especially if you practice in context, through conversation and real-life situations.

Tips and tricks to learn Spanish

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.

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.

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

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 a “bonus”, it’s the core of what we do. Our conversation classes are designed to simulate real-life situations, so you can learn by doing, not just studying. We believe in social learning, because it keeps you motivated, accountable, and engaged.

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.

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.

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.

Instituto Cervantes

The Instituto Cervantes is a public institution created by the Spanish government in 1991 to promote the teaching and use of the Spanish language worldwide, and to spread Hispanic cultures internationally. It operates under the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and collaborates with leading institutions around the world to ensure high-quality standards in Spanish education.

The institute focuses on the linguistic and cultural heritage shared by all Spanish-speaking communities, and it’s active in over 100 cities across 54 countries, making it the global reference for Spanish learners.

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!