Learning Spanish as an adult is challenging, but it’s not impossible. In this blog post, I’ll share some of the tips and tricks I utilized to become a proficient Spanish speaker.
My Early Fascination with Spanish
I can’t quite recall when I became fascinated by the Spanish language, but I’m pretty sure it was before the age of five. My father, a Mexican-American man, would speak Spanish with his family, and I always thought it was so cool. Even at that young age, I was entranced by the idea that there were different combinations of words, syllables, letters, sounds, accents, and all of these things that made up an entirely different language. And that people could learn to speak more than one language, and sometimes multiple languages!
I wanted to be one of those people.
It would seem appropriate that I would ask my dad to teach me Spanish and learn it at home from a very young age, propelling me into achieving my bilingual dream. The end.
Sadly, that’s not what happened. When I was six, my father was murdered, and I was robbed of a father, the Mexican culture, and the Spanish language. With the death of my father, familial ties between my mother and his family became, to put it simply, complicated. I believe I saw them on only a couple of occasions after my father’s passing.
After his death, my sisters and I lived a very typical American existence where English was the only home language, and I rarely spoke with anyone who spoke another language. But I still remembered my childhood dream to one day speak Spanish and possibly live in Mexico. Just because my father died didn’t mean my dream had to die as well.
Fast forward almost 30 years or so, and there I was: getting older, monolingual, and living a very American life very much in America. I still had not forgotten my dream, but the possibility of me achieving this goal was becoming more and more remote. As mid-life loomed, I decided I would take action to achieve a life goal.
Taking Risks and Facing Fears
There are a lot of reasons why people avoid learning a second language as an adult. One such reason is risk. As we get older, people as a whole become more risk-averse. Learning how to speak a second language as an adult means that you MUST take risks. You must put yourself out there. You are going to make mistakes, say things wrong, and people will, from time to time, laugh at you. It’s not easy. But it will get easier, the more you do it.
I’m not without embarrassing experiences. After completing three weeks at a language school in an immersive experience, we celebrated with a very fancy dinner in a place reminiscent of Fogo de Chao. As we were enjoying this fine dining experience, surrounded by the administrator and other students in the program, we all began to discuss what we’d enjoyed the most about our stay. Some said they liked the nearby museum, where they went every afternoon to complete their homework and enjoy the view of the city. Others said they enjoyed tours of various museums.
When my turn came to speak, I said confidently in Spanish, “Me gustaba montar los caballeros.” An immediate silence fell over the table, and I recall the look of horror, astonishment, and amusement on everyone’s faces. One guy actually paused with his fork in mid-air to his mouth.
The administrator cleared his throat and asked a clarifying question. “Did you mean caballos?” he asked cautiously, wondering if what I really enjoyed about my trip was riding the horses or riding the local gentlemen. People began to snicker.
I, on the other hand, almost died.
This was also the same language school experience where I told my host mother, the anfitriona, for my house stay, that I was “muy excitada” to go to Mexico City with her and her friend for the day. She looked at me, horrified, and told me very sternly, “No say that,” and wouldn’t talk to me for about an hour. Later, I discovered that I had apparently told this older Catholic woman that I was very horny. (What I should have said to communicate my excitement was, “Estoy muy emocionada.”)
I’ve learned to think of it this way: if you aren’t saying things that embarrass you in Spanish at least once in a while, are you really putting yourself out there? Are you really trying to learn the language?
Because here’s the deal with learning Spanish as an adult: it’s uncomfortable. It likely isn’t free. It definitely isn’t easy. It requires a dedication of time, energy, and cognitive ability.
And did I mention that it’s uncomfortable?
But…it’s totally possible. And rewarding. And worth it.
My Top 5 Secrets for Learning Spanish as an Adult
Focus on Pronunciation In a rush to learn Spanish, many gringos focus more on vocabulary acquisition or verb conjugation. Learning the vocabulary is very important, but one of the most common complaints I hear from locals is how hard it is to understand gringos when they speak Spanish. If no one can understand what you are saying, then what does it really matter?
Take the time to slow down and pronounce the words correctly. Spanish is a phonetic language, meaning the sounds created by the letters actually match. Working on building those weak and lazy muscles of the tongue and mouth at the beginning of your language journey will pay off later.
Consider Spanish Language Schools and Immersive Experiences Many of us took Spanish as a foreign language in high school. When I decided on an immersive language school experience in Cuernavaca, I thought I had a pretty good foundation. However, I quickly learned how little I actually knew. Language schools provide direct instruction, opportunities to practice what you’ve learned, and chances to communicate with locals who don’t speak English.
After my first immersive experience, I did two more: one in Puebla and one in Oaxaca. Personally, I believe the best program is SIPuebla. Their structured program, with classroom instruction, one-on-one time with your guía, outings into the local community, and staying with host families, tremendously accelerated my Spanish abilities in just a few weeks.
Hire a Tutor Hiring a tutor shows that you understand the importance of correcting mistakes and learning the correct way to say things. It’s your responsibility to review your mistakes and work on improving your areas of weakness. Ensure your tutor speaks Spanish as their first language and is an actual teacher. Personally, I prefer online lessons for their efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Listen to and Read in Spanish To learn a language, you’ve got to hear it. Start by adding subtitles in Spanish when you watch movies at home. As you progress, switch to watching Spanish movies with English subtitles. Listen to music in Spanish and explore different genres. Attend cultural events or language cafes to immerse yourself in the language.
Reading in Spanish improves your receptive language skills, expands your vocabulary, and deepens your understanding of the culture. Newspapers, magazines, children’s books, and young adult books in Spanish are excellent resources. Bilingual books, with text in both English and Spanish, can also be very helpful. If you prefer, try immersive reading experiences with audiobooks.
Travel to Spanish-speaking Countries Visiting Spanish-speaking countries while learning Spanish is an excellent way to improve your abilities in authentic settings. You are forced to use Spanish to get through daily life, and you learn more about the culture. Take advantage of language schools and cultural activities, such as local excursions, dance classes, and cooking workshops.
The Takeaway
Learning Spanish as an adult has not been easy, but it has been worth it. It requires commitment, but it’s totally possible. Learning your second language is a journey that doesn’t have a destination. Every day, I learn more Spanish, more dichos, and more beautiful things that continue to impress me yet remind me of how much I still don’t know.
But I can look back and admire the progress I have made. Am I bilingual? Others say I am. Locals, friends, and family comment on how much Spanish I know. I translate conversations frequently. I don’t feel completely bilingual, but learning Spanish will always be a journey. I also know that I tend to be my own worst critic.
The most important thing, like any journey, is to START.
So mount your horses (or gentlemen, no judgment here!) and get started on your journey today!
Gringa in Mexico 