What Does it Actually Take to Become Fluent in Spanish?
Is it difficult to speak fluently in Spanish? Well, it’s easier than you might think!
If you’re learning Spanish and are at a beginner or intermediate level, we are sure that one of your goals is to achieve proficiency and fluency as soon as possible.
Though it can be overwhelming to learn grammar, conjugations, etc., achieving the fluency you desire is not so far from what it seems.
So, don’t worry. In this article, we will present you with an 8-step framework guaranteed to work. Essential and simple steps that will help you meet your expectations and set achievable goals.
Let’s begin!
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1. Why Do You Want to Be Fluent in Spanish?
This first step is when you decide that you really want to achieve fluency in the Spanish language.
You must think and analyze why it’s a goal you want to achieve soon, whether you’re just starting out or already halfway through learning the language.
It may be that your office has hired coworkers who speak Spanish, and you want to communicate in their native language to get to know them better and get closer to them.
Or maybe you’re planning a trip to a Spanish-speaking country and want to become fluent soon so you can communicate effectively with locals and feel safe.
Maybe you’ll move to a state where your kids will have the chance to interact with Latino children, and being fluent in Spanish will give them the confidence to make more friends.
So, in this first stage, we suggest you evaluate the reason why you want to be more fluent in Spanish and work from there to achieve your goals.
2. What Are Your Medium and Long-Term Goals?
Now that you have the main reason for working to achieve your goals, it’s time to draw a route to reach them little by little.
Let’s start with the long-term goal.
In this case, your final goal, therefore the long term, is to become fluent in Spanish. This is what you want to achieve upon completing your Spanish classes.
This long-term objective is the final goal. From here, you’ll develop all your medium-term objectives. It may take you one, two, or three years to get to the end, but that is where you’ll direct all your work and effort.
Let’s say that because of your job, you’ll be transferred to Panama in three years. Then, you must trace a path to speak fluent Spanish in that time.
Then there are the medium-term objectives. You must carry out and complete these actions every two months, quarters, semesters, or even every year.
Suppose your final goal is to become fluent in Spanish. In that case, your medium-term objectives may be to advance from a beginner to an intermediate level and then from an intermediate to an advanced level.
3. What Is the Very First Immediate Goal?
Now, we start planning your short-term goals. You can achieve these as best suits you. They can be monthly or weekly.
The list of your short-term goals may be very long or with many small steps, but when you add them up, you’ll see that you’ll reach your medium-term goals little by little.
To make your list, you can rely on your Spanish teacher, who will tell you what topics you’ll learn in each lesson or each month and thus put it in your planning.
One of those short-term goals can be: I want to be able to order food in Spanish at a restaurant.
Your Spanish tutor will be able to tell you the expected time in which you can complete this goal and thus schedule the following ones.
Easy, huh?
Read also: Top Cost-Effective Spanish Class Options for Kids
4. What Do You Need to Attain Your Short-Term Goals?
To work on your short-term goals, you must figure out what vocabulary you need.
Let’s take the previous example. You want to learn how to order food in Spanish at a restaurant.
First, you must know the basic structure elements that make up the precise vocabulary to speak in a restaurant.
You’ll need to learn the pronouns and some verbs like pagar, comer, ordenar. Also, a vocabulary of objects such as platos, cubiertos, silla, servilletas.
In this structure, you must also learn a few greetings like thank you, good morning, goodbye, and see you next time.
And, of course, you need to learn the correct way to string all these together.
Once you have learned everything needed, you must define a checkpoint with your teacher, with stakes where you demonstrate the level of achievement.
You can take a quiz, a text, or an exam; choose one that can grade what you have learned and show you your stage.
If you opt for something different, like doing some interactive homework, you can go to a Spanish-speaking restaurant in your area and practice.
5. Plan Out Time on Your Calendar
Perfect! The time has come for the most exciting part.
Put all your short-, medium- and long-term goals on a document in an orderly and structured way and fit them into your daily calendar.
This is the most crucial part because you’ll progressively meet your goals and achieve your final objective.
This calendar should be physical and realistic so that you can find the necessary time to complete your tasks.
In the case of your children, you must find a way for Spanish classes to fit into their school schedule and the extracurricular activities they attend.
In the case of adults, they must organize their time to work, do housework, be with their family, and take Spanish classes.
Always add some activity that helps you practice Spanish daily or weekly. These could be attending a Spanish music concert, some Latin community activity, listening to Spanish music in the car, etc.
6. Check Your Accountability – Did You Comply?
Did you complete the time on your calendar to do your activities and achieve your short-term goal?
Did you really put in the work? Did you complete your checkpoint?
Most people fail at this stage because they don’t plan their calendars and time to study and practice.
Basically, if you don’t plan out your time, you’ll not progress in meeting the final goal.
Inconveniences may happen along the way, such as when everyone at home gets the flu, and it’s time to focus on healing, resting, and taking care of the illness.
Or it could be that you had a big project to manage at work and worked overtime, so you had to cancel your Spanish classes.
And if you don’t achieve it, you shouldn’t worry or feel bad. You can continue with simple and small activities to keep practicing your Spanish.
Listen to podcasts in Spanish, watch Latin soap operas, and organize a Spanish movie night with your kids. They’re activities with which you do not need to make a great effort.
If you implement these elements in your plan and comply with them, you’ll see significant improvement as you advance with your objectives and, without a doubt, reach the final goal.
This is where we, Homeschool Spanish Academy, can help the most and provide valuable resources.
We believe that humans connect with other humans, and our methodology is based on creating a teacher/student connection that will enhance learning during class.
And part of our strategy is not to let people down. Our team is present at every stage of your Spanish learning and gives proper follow-up.
Editor’s pick: Top-Rated Accredited Online Spanish Classes for Kids
7. Evaluate Where You Can Improve and Become More Efficient
The important thing about carrying out these steps and that you consciously commit to meeting the times assigned by yourself is that you can move forward without complications.
Every time you surpass an objective, evaluate yourself. You can even take a fluency test.
But remember to not only focus on your score but also analyze how you can improve your study and learning techniques.
If you perceive any failure in your planning, you must find a way to be more efficient in organizing your time, breaking down barriers, and taking action.
For example, if it’s easier to take your Spanish classes early in the morning because you’ll pay more attention and your brain will receive the information better, talk about it with your tutor.
Maybe it’s better to have them in the afternoon or at night because that is when your children are sleeping, or you have already finished your errands and can dedicate your time to your Spanish classes without interruptions.
Have always at hand the materials that will help you with your lessons. If you prefer to use a notebook because what you write will make you memorize it faster, then always have it with you.
Make a space in your house to receive your classes. Better-lit places with a clean and clear area help with concentration and, therefore, retention of information to be successful.
8. Start Over and Repeat Steps 2 Thru 8
And just like that, you’re already on the easiest way to learn Spanish!
Every time you meet a goal, do it all over again, modifying, updating, and creating new plans and actions to achieve them.
When you learn a new language, you must speak and practice constantly. So, the more time you dedicate to speaking, thinking, writing, and communicating in Spanish, the faster you’ll reach fluency.
When you realize how much you have advanced, how much vocabulary you have learned, and that you can now interact with the Spanish-speaking community, you know it’s been worth it.
And we at HSA guarantee that if you follow this 8-step framework, you’ll quickly become fluent.
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Learn Spanish Fast and Be Fluent With HSA!
The path to becoming fluent in Spanish is easy if you work with enthusiasm.
Finding the proper structure, methodologies, and even the tutor for your Spanish classes will help you have a positive attitude, and soon you’ll embrace the Spanish language.
Homeschool Spanish Academy is a unique school that connects students with certified Spanish instructors from Guatemala through the Internet.
We offer high-quality education to children, young adults, and adults who want to learn Spanish.
Our teachers are constantly training to provide an unparalleled experience and an expert-certified curriculum and will teach you how to learn Spanish fast.
Homeschool Spanish Academy recently received an ACS-WASC accreditation for its Spanish language program. In fact, we’re one of the few language academies to achieve this prestigious accreditation.
With our highly skilled and experienced Spanish instructors, you’ll receive fun and interactive classes, 100% native Spanish lessons, flexible scheduling, and the opportunity to apply for individual or group classes.
You can sign up for a free trial class with us and let your kids and yourself experience our innovative, human-centered learning classes.
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Your bright future is waiting for you; you only have to take the next step.
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“This is the best way for your kid to learn Spanish. It’s one-on-one, taught by native Spanish speakers, and uses a curriculum.”
– Sharon K, Parent of 3
“It’s a great way to learn Spanish, from native Spanish speakers in a 1-on-1 environment. It’s been fairly easy to schedule classes around my daughter’s other classes. The best value for us has been ordering multiple classes at a time. All the instructors have been great!”
– Cindy D, Parent of 3
“HSA offers very affordable, quality, one on one classes with a native speaker. My son has greatly benefited from taking classes. We have seen his confidence increase as well as his pronunciation improve because he learns from a native Spanish speaker. HSA has quick, personal customer service. Our family has been very pleased with our experience so far!”
– Erica P. Parent of 1
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