Become a better Spanish learner in 5 minutes a week
Every Saturday, you’ll get practical tips, insights and learning strategies to get your Spanish unstuck.
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Targeted tweaks for a learning routine that keeps you engaged
Read Previous Editions of Saturday Spanish
When possible, I upload previous editions of the newsletter. Here is a small sample of the 100+ editions so far:
3 Surprising Lessons I Learned in Mexico
I was hoping the hospital in Mexico wouldn’t be too expensive. To be fair, a…
A surprisingly effective trick to improve your Spanish accent
We’re in la dimensión desconocida (the twilight zone) between Christmas and New Year’s, so I’ll keep this week’s…
How to keep your Spanish alive during the holidays
As nice as the holidays are, they are unfortunately where many Spanish learning dreams go…
The PTV Method to Master Direct/Indirect Objects
¡Te la llevo mañana!” “Se lo dije mil veces…” “¿Me lo prestas?” “Nos lo compró…
A simple way to grow your active vocabulary in Spanish
One of the hard things about learning Spanish is that the more you learn, the…
Written vs Spoken Spanish
In the first pages of the classic novel Cien años de soledad, this description appears: —Al ser…
3 (easy) tweaks for natural Spanish
I might lose some of you with this reference, but I swear it’s relevant to…
The 4/3/2 Technique for Better Spanish
The first time you talk about something, it’s always a challenge. It can be demoralizing,…
This makes speaking Spanish 10x easier
Buenos días, In a recent survey to students and readers about their struggles with Spanish,…
How to create memorable experiences in Spanish
Years ago, I went to Peru. Hiked to Machu Picchu, had ceviche and pisco sour,…
Bad for your sanity, good for your Spanish
Some of you know I became a dad last year. My daughter is almost 1…
Read this if you freeze when speaking Spanish
If you freeze when it’s time to speak Spanish, you’re not alone. Today, I want to talk…
Making mistakes “below your level” in Spanish?
Today I want to answer a question I got from a recent survey I sent…
How I would learn Spanish (if I could start over)
I know this sounds a little dramatic, but it’s true: The WAY you learn Spanish…
Try this, it’ll make Spanish pronunciation easier
A while back, I posted a video about how to roll your R’s. Today, it’s…
Will AI *actually* help you get fluent?
When I first started learning Spanish, the term “artificial intelligence” mostly conjured up images of…
Every Spanish learner needs these 3 things
Hola! This is the 100th edition of Saturday Spanish (!!). Thank you so much for…
How to STOP translating in your head
Pop quiz: Can you understand the sentence below without translating it in your head? Esta casa es…
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,…
Spanish sounds fast, until you understand this
Please don’t fact check me on this… But here’s something I suspect native speakers of…
Spanish for introverts
So you need practice speaking Spanish…. But you’re not the most extroverted person. Or maybe…
6 cultural recommendations to boost your Spanish skills
One of the best things about learning Spanish is discovering a new, parallel world to…
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…
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… …
Successful Spanish learners understand this
Spanish is a language with tons of tips and resources. Many are great. But it’s…
The simple trick to make anything in Spanish easier to say
Do you ever come across phrases in Spanish that you can’t say right? I’m not…
How to speak FASTER Spanish
View Post Spanish speakers speak fast… And if we’re trying to speak more like them……
Why you repeat mistakes when speaking Spanish
Learning Spanish means building thousands of tiny habits. If you underestimate the time it takes…
Stumped on Spanish grammar? Try this.
If you’re reading this, you know enough English to have a big head start when…
A More Fun Way to Learn Spanish Conjugations
Learning Spanish verb conjugations is a pain. I learned them the old school way: lots…
One phrase a day for more fluid Spanish
There are so many parts to learning a language that it can feel overwhelming. But…
The R’s my Spanish teacher never told me about
If you’ve been around this newsletter for long, you’ll have heard me tout the value…
Hate flashcards for Spanish? Try this instead
Flashcards can be great if done right. And while some of you enjoy them… I…
SS #83: 17 years of Spanish learning advice in 5 minutes
Ever wish you could go back and give your Old You some pointers? Help them…
SS #82: Why can I understand this Spanish accent but not that one?
Just behind Mandarin Chinese, Spanish has the second-most native speakers of any language. Source It’s…
SS #81: Immersed and organized in 5 steps
Today I want to walk you through a simple solution to two problems most learners…
SS #80: A snapshot of my own language learning
When I was around 15, I read a classic of the language learning genre: How…
SS #76: Spanish isn’t phonetic?
In classes, we often learn that Spanish is a phonetic language. And it’s mostly true! …
SS #75: Are you listening well?
I mentioned in a recent YouTube video that listening is the most important part of your learning process….
SS #52: An exercise that makes speaking Spanish easier
Have you ever been to a wedding where a toast goes on… and on… and…
SS #51: 17 journal prompts to build fluency
There’s a mistake most learners make that keeps them frustrated. It might be making you…
SS #20 – 5 Ideal Podcasts for Upper Beginners
You already know how important listening is to your Spanish progress. The hard part is…
SS #19: Can you learn Spanish from TV?
Tell me if this sounds familiar:You learn Spanish for several months (or even years), then…
SS #18: 4 Language Learning Lessons From My 2022
Now that we’re in a new year, but not far enough in to have given…
Saturday Spanish #17: Make the progress you want in 2023
Learning Spanish — especially after the first few months — can feel amorphous. The more…
Saturday Spanish #16: Avoid these 7 False Cognates
English speakers learning Spanish are lucky in that the two languages share thousands of similar…