comprehension killer

Avoid this and your Spanish comprehension will improve

If you’re reading this, you probably want to understand native Spanish speakers.  Maybe you’re close, maybe you’re a ways off.  Either way… there’s something that might be holding you back.  It’s difficult to avoid (I still catch myself doing it).  But it’s a critical comprehension mistake to avoid because it zaps your motivation faster than … Read More

How to speak more Spanish

Spanish for introverts

So you need practice speaking Spanish…. But you’re not the most extroverted person. Or maybe just the idea of speaking Spanish turns you into an introvert.  A foreign language can exacerbate feelings of shyness (speaking from experience).  Doesn’t exactly make you thrilled to speak.  And it’s hard to get better at speaking without… speaking.  In … Read More

Predictable vs Unpredictable

Practice these 3 things for smoother Spanish conversations

Most conversations are unpredictable. We don’t know exactly where they’ll take us.  It’s part of the challenge when learning a new language: We can’t prepare for all possible scenarios.  But many scenarios are very predictable.  Extremely common.  So common, in fact, that we often forget about them until we’re in the moment, grasping for words we should know.  It’s … Read More

Subjunctive made simple(r)

How to think about the Spanish Subjunctive

You’ve seen it around:  Phrases like espero que tengas, no creo que pueda, or es como si fuera…  It’s the… [insert Jaws music]… Subjunctive!  On top of all the other conjugations, there’s this whole other “mood” to learn, with its own set of verb endings.  It is kind of a pain… But it doesn’t have to drive you … Read More

The attitude you need

Successful Spanish learners understand this

Spanish is a language with tons of tips and resources.  Many are great.  But it’s an “arma de doble filo” (a double-edged sword)… The quantity invites doubts. It can make you question the way you’re doing things.  And yep, the way you learn does make a difference… But beyond the learning strategies themselves, a huge part of … Read More

How to speak FASTER Spanish

View Post Spanish speakers speak fast… And if we’re trying to speak more like them… We need to speak fast too. ¿Verdad? Well, yes and no. Yes, we want to speak at a pace that sounds natural. But “speaking fast” is about as clear a goal as saying “I want to run fast”. It’s not … Read More

The four phases of fluent Spanish

Why you repeat mistakes when speaking Spanish

Learning Spanish means building thousands of tiny habits.  If you underestimate the time it takes for those habits to form, you can end up frustrated and questioning your own learning abilities.  But the truth is, there’s nothing wrong with you as a learner.  Sure, there are likely things you could do more effectively (that’s the … Read More