Best Ways To Learn Spanish as an Adult

Contents

• Why adults can still succeed at learning Spanish

• The benefits of learning Spanish as an adult

• Top methods to learn Spanish as an adult

• Common challenges for adult Spanish learners

• Tips for learning Spanish as an adult

• FAQs

Why adults can still succeed at learning Spanish

Despite a common belief that children are inherently better at picking up new languages, adults can also succeed. While starting at a young age may help in some aspects of language learning like pronunciation or accents, you are never too old to achieve a high level of proficiency. Indeed, we see adult students of all ages and levels achieve success on their journey to learning Spanish. 

While it’s true that you may face some different challenges as an adult learner, you also probably have some advantages over children. These include:

• A broader knowledge base to draw from, including vocabulary, cultural understanding and world experience.

• Enhanced problem-solving, critical thinking and analytical capabilities, which help when learning new language structures and contexts.  

• Greater self-discipline and an ability to set realistic goals that help sustain focus and motivation. 

The benefits of learning Spanish as an adult

There are many good reasons why you could benefit from learning Spanish as an adult. Though it may require a bit more effort to get started, there is enough compelling evidence to suggest that it is worth doing, no matter what your age.

Brain health: Just like with physical training in the gym, learning a language is a great way to keep your brain active as you get older. Research shows that language learning at any age can be highly beneficial for executive brain functions and mental health, even slowing age-related cognitive decline. There are even studies that suggest that language learning can help stave off diseases such as dementia. The older we are, the more mental effort is needed to learn a new language, so you’re giving your brain a great workout!

Professional opportunities: Having a second language gives you a significant advantage in the workplace. And in a globalized labour market, the ability to speak and understand Spanish gives you a clear professional edge as it is the third most spoken language in the world (almost 600 million people). No matter what your age is, acquiring Spanish will open up new job opportunities and a higher earnings potential, as well as the chance to live and work overseas in a Spanish-speaking country. 

Personal enrichment: Learning Spanish will enable you to communicate and connect with new people with diverse backgrounds and experiences. This enhances your ability to see the world through different lenses, supporting greater empathy and cultural sensitivity. It will also open the door to cultural discovery, where you can better understand Spanish-speaking societies and enjoy local films, books and music in their original form. 

Some adult Spanish learners chose to attend personal lessons in addition to group classes. The advantages of doing so are numerous and many students have said that the addition of private lessons has greatly improved their Spanish learning experience. By participating in one-on-one sessions with a native Spanish teacher, adult students are able to focus on the topics that interest them and they are able to completely focus on the specific language skills they want to improve.

Activities that Benefit the Adult Learner

Expanish believes that learning isn’t just restricted to the four walls of the classroom; that’s why we offer many different activities for students of all ages. When our adult students participate in extracurricular activities, they are able to meet people from around the world, make friends and get to know other cultures, all while practicing their Spanish and learning about Catalan culture. From dancing the Flamenco to cooking a rich Paella and more, Expanish offers all of our students the opportunity to get to know each other and practice their Spanish skills in a relaxed, non-classroom setting.

So whether you’ve just started your Spanish language journey or want to polish off your skills, Expanish has the perfect classes, activities, and environment for adult students learning Spanish in Spain.

Common challenges for adults learning Spanish (and how to overcome them)

We’ve seen how adult learners have some advantages when it comes to acquiring a new language. However, there are also some challenges that you are more likely to face if you learn a language later in life. Below we list the main obstacles and suggest ways to overcome them.

Fear of mistakes: Adult learners may feel self-conscious about making mistakes in Spanish, especially in social situations. This may lead to students deliberately avoiding conversations or interactions with Spanish speakers for fear of sounding “silly”. But as with any learning process, mistakes in a new language are inevitable and are actually a key part of developing better vocabulary and fluidity when speaking. Spanish in low-stress situations like language exchanges or with people you feel very comfortable with. Over time you will start to feel more confident using your Spanish in a wider variety of situations. 

Time pressures: Adults over 30 often face more time constraints than children or younger adults due to a full-time job, family responsibilities or other commitments. This can make it difficult to create time for effective language study and also lead to mental fatigue, both of which may hinder progress and lead to frustration (see below). Consistent practice is important for language proficiency so try to incorporate daily habits to improve Spanish fluency for adults. If you’re really interested in learning Spanish quickly, then it’s worth looking into how you might be able to fit an intensive course in a Spanish-speaking country into your schedule. For example, some companies allow employees time off for personal development, and in some countries, like Germany and Sweden, there are government-backed schemes to finance language learning overseas. Remember, by learning a new language you are investing in yourself.

Frustration: A common challenge is how to stay motivated while learning Spanish as an adult. A language journey is never on a straight path - there are ups and down, periods of rapid progress and then extended plateaus. Adult learners, especially those with limited time to study, may feel more pressured to make quick gains and become discouraged if fluency doesn’t come as quickly as they hope. Here it’s key to remember that consistent progress is more important than speed. Even when it feels like you have stagnated, your brain is continuing to absorb and process, and if you stick with it then you will soon see improvements again. Celebrate little victories and don’t beat yourself up about errors. 

Pronunciation: One of the hardest things for adult language learners is master pronunciation and accents - something that children can achieve more naturally. This is largely down to declining neuroplasticity and can be a key challenge when learning Spanish (for example, when attempting the rolling ‘r’ sound). The important thing is not to worry too much about this and let it affect your motivation for learning. Nobody expects a non-native speaker to have perfect pronunciation, and even as a beginner, as long as you can make yourself understood then you will be fine in most situations. Focus on getting the grammar and vocabulary right first - your pronunciation will improve naturally over time as you use the language. To speed up the process, you could work on specific pronunciation issues with a tutor and listen to Spanish (eg. radio, tv, podcasts) as much as possible to tune your ear to the correct sounds.

Tips for maximising your learning while travelling

As we’ve already said, spending time in a Spanish-speaking country - ideally taking an intensive Spanish course - is the most effective and fun way to gain proficiency in the language. Here are some tips for getting the most out of the experience:

Immersion: Nothing beats full immersion for accelerated learning. Even when you are studying in a Spanish-speaking country, it’s up to you to make an effort and consider how to immerse yourself in Spanish as an adult. The best way is just to put yourself out there - walk the streets, interact with locals and live in the language as much as possible. Some Spanish schools like Expanish offer students free cultural activities and excursions, which are a great way to practice the language while learning about local customs and traditions. 

Journal in Spanish: This is a great way to reinforce your vocabulary and grammar while learning how to express yourself in a different language. Your journal is private so you don’t have to worry about someone reading any mistakes you might make. But on that point… 

Embrace mistakes: Try to speak fearlessly and as often as you can. It doesn’t matter if you make mistakes - locals will usually appreciate the effort and help you improve. And remember, the best non-native Spanish speakers you know have probably made all the same mistakes before.

Stay consistent: Some days you might feel more motivated than others, and that’s ok. But try to maintain a consistent study routine with some daily practice, even if it’s just 15-30 minutes. Keep things interesting with a mix of active tasks (speaking, writing) and passive learning (listening, reading).  

Set realistic goals: It’s natural to hope, or even expect, quick results. But unrealistic expectations can then lead to frustration and demotivation. Set yourself achievable goals with incremental targets, and celebrate when you achieve them. Progress is more important than your actual level, so don’t give up!