Hey there! đ
So, youâve just returned from an adventure in Spainâmaybe an Erasmus experience or a longer stayâand youâre wondering how to continue practicing Spanish now that you’re back home. Well, youâre in the right place! Iâll share how I practice Spanish daily (post-Erasmus) with some easy, fun routines to keep my language skills alive. I hope it will inspire you to create your own daily practice too!
A bit of context!
Quick intro, since I havenât officially introduced myself: Iâm Chiara, born and raised in Italy, and for the past few months, Iâve had the pleasure of working with Nesh on her blog! Estoy muy agradecida con ella por haberme dado esta oportunidad, and Iâm excited to share some tips with you all.
So, a bit of background: I consider Spanish my second language, and I spent ten amazing months in Valencia as part of my Erasmus experience in 2022/2023. During that time, I really improved my Spanish skills, and I didnât want to lose all that progress once I got back to Italy! Thatâs when I started (without even realizing it) building a daily routine to practice Spanish. Itâs not super strict or something I have to do, but rather a few activities I enjoy that help keep my Spanish skills alive.
5 Simple ways to keep practicing Spanish daily
#1 Listen to music or podcasts đ§Â
Letâs be realâmusicâs with us all day: while working, cooking, walking, driving⊠you name it. So, why not practice Spanish with music? Iâve got a Spanish playlist I adore (and canât stop listening to). Itâs so fun because even if Iâve heard a song a million times, I sometimes go, âMadre mĂa, I finally get what X meant in that line!â The lyrics suddenly click, and itâs like a little victory every time! If youâre not into spanish music or you’re just too lazy to create your own playlist, luckily Nesh has already done the work for you! You can find her Spanish Reggaeton playlist right here. Enjoy It! đ€©
Podcasts are great, too! Spotify has tons of optionsâjust search for something you like in the language youâre learning, and youâre set. The key is to search in the target language, not your native one. đ Recently I’ve started listening to Dani Schulz’s podcast called âViene y Va con Dani G Schultzâ where she focuses on personal growth, creativity and communication. If you want something light but at the same time interesting and stimulating this podcast is for you!đ Â
#2 Watch movies, TV series, or even better, TV shows đșÂ
Youâve probably heard this one before, but itâs worth repeating because it works! Watching TV shows and movies keeps your ear trained for listening and comprehension. I know this blog already has a great list of Spanish TV series to watch, which you can check out here: Netflix series that boosted my spanish skills.
Personally, I find YouTube videos or reality TV especially helpful since they have more natural conversations. One of my go-tos was La Isla de las Tentaciones. Even when I was too tired to focus on something serious, watching a lighthearted reality show let me keep practicing without even trying. đ
#3 Read đÂ
If you really want to master a language, reading is a must, even if itâs not your favorite activity (itâs not my cup of tea either!). You donât have to read novels if thatâs not your thing. You can follow news from countries where your target language is spoken or find interesting online articles.
Another easy option is social media! If you follow a few foreign newspapers or blogs on Instagram, youâll see quick, digestible articles in your feed daily. Itâs perfect if youâre like me and enjoy reading in short bursts. Plus, if youâre researching for work, school, or just out of curiosity, try searching in your target language. In this way youâll find more info and get reading practice!
Spanish news pages on Instagram:
- El PaĂs
- El Mundo
- LevanteÂ
- Provincias (This and the previous one are newspapers from the Valencian region. Each area has its own publications, so if you’re curious about a different region, you’ll easily find options online.)
#4 Follow native-speaking creators on Instagram đČÂ
Letâs be honest, weâre all on social media all the time anyway, right? So why not make it part of your language learning? You can follow news pages, but also look for creators who share your interests. Itâs even better if theyâre from different regionsâtry a mix of accents! For Spanish, Iâd suggest creators from AndalucĂa, Madrid or even Latin America⊠It’s like getting an accent tour!
Here are some great creators I follow, that can help to spice up your Spanish learning journeyâcheck them out and thank me later! đ
Creators you can entertain yourself with:Â
- Aitana Soriano – ig & tiktok: aitanaasoriano –Â (fashion and lifestyle)
- Paula Laguno – ig & tiktok: paulisls (memes, vlogs and lifestyle)
- Elena Gortari – ig: elenagortarii – tiktok: elenagortari (lifestyle and daily life)
- Alvaro Mateu – ig & tiktok: alvaromateut (books, lifestyle and travel)
- Pablo G Show – ig & tiktok: pablogshow (comedy)
- Dani Schulz – ig: danigschulz (fashion, lifestyle and personal growth)
#5 Talk to yourself đŹÂ
Yes, it sounds a little silly, but hear me out! When I canât find a conversation partner, I practice Spanish by talking to myself. If Iâm alone in my room or doing something solo, I pretend to chat with myself about my day, my plans, or just random thoughts. This way, I keep those words and expressions fresh, and it actually helps a lot!
Little remindersâŠ
What works for me might not work for you, so donât stress if some of these suggestions donât vibe with you. And donât expect to feel as fluent as you did while you were abroadâitâs totally normal. Just focus on doing something regularly, even if itâs small.
And make it enjoyable! Find what makes you happyâwhether thatâs dancing to a new song, laughing at a reality show, or scrolling through Instaâdonât force it.
Bonus Tip!Â
If youâve made it this far, hereâs a little extra tip: while youâre out and about, try thinking of how to say the things around you in Spanish. Itâs like a mini language game that keeps your vocabulary fresh without any extra effort.
Keeping a language alive is all about consistency, but the key is to have fun with it. Hopefully, these tips help you stay connected to the language and culture you loveâwithout feeling overwhelmed. So, take it one step at a time, and enjoy the journey!
Mini DictionaryÂ
Pumped – (adjective) very excited or enthusiastic about something. (emocionado)
Keeping my Spanish alive – (phrase) maintaining or continuing to practice and improve one’s Spanish language skills, especially after a period abroad. (mantener vivo mi español)
Practical tips – (noun) useful or actionable advice that can be easily applied in daily life. (consejos prĂĄcticos)
Background – (noun) personal history or circumstances that provide context to a situation or story. (antecedentes)
Building a daily routine – (phrase) creating or developing a set of regular activities to follow every day. (construir una rutina diaria)
Stimulating – (adjective) something that encourages active thinking, interest, or excitement. (estimulante)
Lighthearted – (adjective) cheerful, carefree, or not serious in tone. (ligero, desenfadado)
Master a language – (phrase) to become highly skilled or fluent in a particular language. (dominar un idioma)
Digestible – (adjective) easy to understand, absorb, or process. (digerible)
Spice up – (phrasal verb) to make something more interesting, exciting, or lively. (darle sabor, animar)
Entertain yourself – (phrase) to engage in activities that bring amusement or enjoyment. (entretenerse)
Fluency – (noun) the ability to speak or write smoothly, accurately, and with ease in a language. (fluidez)
Consistency – (noun) the quality of being steady and reliable over time, especially in maintaining habits or practices. (consistencia)
Overwhelmed – (adjective) feeling stressed, overburdened, or unable to cope with the volume of tasks or emotions. (abrumado)
Enjoy the journey – (phrase) to appreciate the process or experience of something, rather than just focusing on the outcome. (disfrutar del viaje)
