🎨 Following a passion: My journey to master Spanish

At a glance:

• Rekindle your passion and master a language with a story of dedication and daily improvement.
• Discover a personal journey of learning, filled with practical tips and the joy of reconnecting with a beloved language.
• Ready to transform your approach and see progress? Let's dive in.

I’ve always had a thing for Spain. Dreaming about living there, speaking Spanish like it’s no big deal, and soaking up Barcelona’s sunshine every day has been my goal for the longest time. Every day, I take a little step towards making this dream a reality, focusing on really nailing the language so I can chat away comfortably.

My story: Getting back on track

Ever since I was little, I’ve been drawn to Spanish. It all started from my passion for FC Barcelona, then finally in high school I started learning Spanish and kept going through college. My big break came in my second year of university when I got to spend six months in Spain on a student exchange. I thought it was going to be the dream life. But looking back, I see I could’ve done more to really dive deep into the culture and language.

Sure, I got pretty good at Spanish and even aced a B2/C1 test, but I still felt like I was missing something. After finishing college, I gradually stopped using Spanish, only dusting it off for the occasional vacation. As the saying goes, if you don’t use it, you lose it. And that’s exactly what happened - I ended up forgetting so much of what I’d learned over six years. That hit me hard, so two years ago, I decided to turn things around and work my way back to fluency.

This whole experience taught me a valuable lesson, one that I’m keen to share with my niece. Last summer, while we were walking the dog along the river, we got talking about learning languages. I told her she’d be thanking me in 20 years for this nugget of wisdom. I even saved a note of it in my phone to ask her in 20 years - let’s see if she remembers…

My approach: Making Spanish a part of my life

I figured the best way to get Spanish to stick was to make learning as easy and fun as possible, making sure I was getting a daily dose of the language. So, I started weaving Spanish into pretty much every part of my day.

My goal? To put in at least 10 minutes of study every day. Like James Clear says, improve by just 1% daily, and by the end of the year, you’ll be 37 times better!

My Learning Toolkit:

• Speaking+Writing+Vocabulary: Twice a week, I chat for an hour with native speaker on Preplay (an online platform). I also try to speak Spanish with my customers whenever I can, even though I’m still making plenty of mistakes.
• Writing: I write in my journal in Spanish every morning.
• Listening+Vocabulary: I tune into the Español Automático podcast a few times a week.
• Speaking+Writing+Listening+Reading: On weekends, I go through some solid exercises I got from Karo Martinez at Español Automático, like question-and-answer games, storytelling, and fluency drills.
• Writing+Reading: I go back over the grammar rules I learned before using the Gramática de uso del español books.
• Listening+Vocabulary: When it’s Netflix time, I only watch shows or movies in Spanish, with English subtitles for a bit of help (or without any for kids' movies).
• Vocabulary: I’ve stuck post-it notes with Spanish words all over my place.
• Listening+Vocabulary: My go-to music for driving around is all in Spanish.

Takeaways for You

Here’s the deal: don’t make the same mistakes I did. Don’t give up on your dreams or things you’re passionate about. I encourage you to follow these steps:

• Reignite old flames: Reflect on something you once loved but have since abandoned. Whether it's an old hobby, a dream, or a language like Spanish, it's never too late to pick it back up. If nothing specific comes to mind, challenge yourself to learn something new. Keeping your brain engaged is always a positive step.
• Incorporate it into your daily life: Aim to improve by 1% each day. It might sound small, but these tiny gains add up fast. My learning toolkit is open for you to use and adapt. See how you can integrate similar activities into your routine, making learning a seamless part of your day.
• Take the first step: Don't wait for the perfect moment to start. Begin with what you have, where you are. Every journey starts with a single step, and the sooner you take it, the faster you'll see progress.
• Reflect on your progress: After a few months, take some time to look back on how far you've come. Celebrate your achievements, no matter how small, and use them as motivation to keep pushing forward.

If you're interested in trying Preplay for language practice, I’ve got a special invite link that gives you a 70% discount on your first class. And if you're looking for a fantastic Spanish tutor, I highly recommend Maite. Her lessons are fun and really effective in boosting your language skills.

Closing remarks: Keep pushing forward

In the last two years, diving back into Spanish taught me more than just language skills—it showed me the power of persistence and the joy of reconnecting with a lost passion. Every bit of progress, especially the moments when my friends notice my improved fluency, reminds me why this journey is worth it.

This experience isn't just mine to keep; it's a beacon for anyone looking to rekindle an old flame or ignite a new one. Whether it’s mastering a language or any other pursuit, the lesson is clear: keep at it. Embrace the small daily steps and learn from the missteps. They're not setbacks but lessons that fuel our growth.

So, keep at it with whatever it was you loved or start something new. Your journey is only beginning—embrace it, and celebrate every step forward. Trust me, your future self will thank you for it.