The 10 Most Common Spanish Learning Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)

If your child is learning Spanish, don’t let these common mistakes slow them down! Learning a second language is an exciting journey, but sometimes, minor errors can add up and create unnecessary frustration.

Luckily, once you know what to watch out for, these mistakes are easy to fix!

Stick around until the end for a free PDF guide: “Common Spanish Mistakes & How to Fix Them,” which includes practical tips to make Spanish learning smoother for your child!

Join 559 million people on the planet who speak Spanish!
Sign up for your free trial Spanish class today. ➡️

1. Translating Word for Word

One of the biggest mistakes new learners make is translating English directly into Spanish. It’s crucial to know that Spanish grammar and sentence structure are different. For example, in English, we say, “I am 10 years old,” but in Spanish, it’s “Tengo 10 años” (literally, “I have 10 years”).

Fix It: Encourage your child to learn phrases in Spanish rather than just individual words. Using resources like Spanish Playground can help them grasp natural expressions.

2. Ignoring Accent Marks

Spanish accent marks aren’t just decorative; they change the meaning of words! For example, papa (potato) vs. papá (dad), or tú (you) vs. tu (your).

Fix It: Practice reading and writing words with accents. Online tools like FluentU have interactive lessons to reinforce accent rules.

3. Mispronouncing Common Sounds

Spanish has sounds that don’t exist in English, like the rolled “r” in perro (dog) versus pero (but). Moreover, many learners also mispronounce the “ll” and “j” sounds.

Fix It: Listening practice is key! Watching Spanish cartoons like Pocoyó or using Forvo for native pronunciation can help.

4. Sticking Only to Classroom Spanish

Textbook Spanish is great, but real-world Spanish is different! Kids who only learn Spanish in the classroom may struggle to understand spoken conversations.

Fix It: Introduce everyday Spanish through songs, TV shows, and games. Try Duolingo ABC for a fun, interactive approach.

5. Confusing “Ser” and “Estar”

Both ser and estar mean “to be,” but they’re used differently. Ser is for permanent traits (Ella es inteligente – She is smart), while estar is for temporary states (Ella está cansada – She is tired).

Fix It: Teach kids simple mnemonic tricks like DOCTOR (Description, Occupation, Characteristic, Time, Origin, Relationship) for ser, and PLACE (Position, Location, Action, Condition, Emotion) for estar.

6. Avoid Speaking Out of Fear

Many kids hesitate to speak Spanish because they fear making mistakes. But mistakes are part of learning!

Fix It: Encourage a mistake-friendly environment. Try practicing with Spanish-speaking tutors from Homeschool Spanish Academy, who offer supportive 1-on-1 lessons.

7. Forgetting Gendered Nouns

In Spanish, all nouns have a gender: el (masculine) or la (feminine). Mixing them (e.g., la problema instead of el problema) is a common mistake.

Fix It: Teach kids to memorize words with their article (e.g., la mesa instead of just mesa). Flashcards from Quizlet can help reinforce this.

8. Overusing English Sentence Structures

Spanish has a different word order than English. For example, instead of “The red car,” Spanish says “El auto rojo” (literally, “The car red”).

Fix It: Encourage full-sentence practice rather than just memorizing vocabulary.

9. Skipping Listening Practice

Many learners focus on reading and writing but struggle to understand spoken Spanish.

Fix It: Have your kids listen to audiobooks, watch Spanish cartoons, and engage in conversation. Check out LingQ for immersive listening exercises.

10. Not Sticking to a Routine

Consistency is key! Learning Spanish once a week isn’t as effective as small, daily practice.

Fix It: Set up a Spanish learning routine with small daily activities. A planner like our free PDF guide can help!

Get Your Free PDF: “Common Spanish Mistakes & How to Fix Them”

Want a handy guide to reinforce these tips? Download our free PDF: “Common Spanish Mistakes & How to Fix Them,” and help your child avoid the most common pitfalls in Spanish learning!

• Simple pronunciation and grammar corrections
• Fun exercises to reinforce learning
• Printable cheat sheet for quick reference

Click here to grab your free guide now! (COMING SOON)

Final Thoughts: Mistakes Are Just Stepping Stones!

Learning Spanish should be fun and rewarding. By avoiding these common mistakes, your child will build confidence, speak more naturally, and enjoy the language-learning journey.

Remember, mistakes aren’t failures; they’re proof of progress!

So why wait? Start building your child’s college-ready Spanish skills today!

Join one of the 40,000 classes that we teach each month and you can experience results like these

Want more free Spanish lessons, fun content, and resources? Check these out!

• 9 Free Homeschool Curriculum Options with Daily Lesson Plans
• The 10 Most Impressive Spanish Books to Read Before College (And Why They Matter)
• 10 Simple Spanish Words Your Preschooler Can Learn This Week
• 9 Ways to Keep Your Middle Schooler Engaged in Spanish (Even if They’re Already Fluent)
• French vs Spanish: 7 Reasons Spanish Could Be a Strong Long-Term Investment
• 7 Creative Ways to Maintain Spanish Fluency at Home — Perfect for Elementary Kids
• Raising a Bilingual Child: 10 Must-Have Resources Every Parent Needs
• 5 Proven Strategies to Help Your Middle Schooler Excel in 1-on-1 Online Spanish Classes