Most effective strategy to improving Spanish and getting fluent?

[Bob]

What strategies have you all found most effective for improving your Spanish?

I genuinely want to become fluent, but since I work from home, I don’t have many opportunities to interact with people and practice the language in everyday situations. I’m currently taking classes at a Spanish academy here in Villa Crespo for two hours a day, Monday through Friday. I enjoy the classes, but I sometimes feel like it’s still not enough.

I’ve been studying for about a year and a half, and my level is around A2/B1. I understand that learning a language takes time, but I’d love to accelerate my progress if possible. I truly love living here in Argentina — especially the people and the culture — and I believe that if I can achieve fluency, I’ll be able to integrate more fully and contribute meaningfully to this country.

For those of you who’ve reached fluency or made significant progress, what worked best for you? Thanks in advance!

 

[Vero]

The best way is to find a girlfriend and only speak Spanish with her. That is always the best way to learn. If you have friends here that speak English ask them to speak in Spanish. You must practice in order to get better.

Watch shows on Netflix or the news in Spanish. On Netflix turn on English subtitles but listen to in Spanish and try to understand it. Most of my friends that want to learn struggle because their Argentine friends want to practice their English or speak English well.

 

[Betsy Ross]

The best way is to find a girlfriend and only speak Spanish with her. That is always the best way to learn. If you have friends here that speak English ask them to speak in Spanish. You must practice in order to get better.

Watch shows on Netflix or the news in Spanish. On Netflix turn on English subtitles but listen to in Spanish and try to understand it. Most of my friends that want to learn struggle because their Argentine friends want to practice their English or speak English well.

Good advice to date a local. That helped me a lot. Also watching Netflix in Spanish over and over helps. Also try to read the local newspapers and write down words that you don't understand and you can use Google Translate or Google lens to translate real time. You have to practice and also learn vocabulary. Watch some telenovelas too.

 

[Finance Prof]

All good advice. Consider picking up a hobby where the classes are conducted in Spanish — something like art, yoga, tennis, or another activity that interests you. It’s especially helpful if it’s a relaxed environment, where you can naturally overhear conversations and have the opportunity to ask questions when you don’t understand something. Being immersed in the language while learning a new skill makes the experience more engaging and less pressured.

 

[bapal]

What strategies have you all found most effective for improving your Spanish?

I genuinely want to become fluent, but since I work from home, I don’t have many opportunities to interact with people and practice the language in everyday situations. I’m currently taking classes at a Spanish academy here in Villa Crespo for two hours a day, Monday through Friday. I enjoy the classes, but I sometimes feel like it’s still not enough.

I’ve been studying for about a year and a half, and my level is around A2/B1. I understand that learning a language takes time, but I’d love to accelerate my progress if possible. I truly love living here in Argentina — especially the people and the culture — and I believe that if I can achieve fluency, I’ll be able to integrate more fully and contribute meaningfully to this country.

For those of you who’ve reached fluency or made significant progress, what worked best for you? Thanks in advance!

I know its been really popular in the past but have a bad name attached to it now, but FREE language exchange meets like MundoLingo, MateClub etc. have been helpful in the past.

Besides that I think other options have already been suggested here. I am following this too.

 

[MikeYoung]

Try to get a private tutor. There are a ton on Preply. Also try the Langua app. It will blow your mind away! You can even pick the accent you like and level. Amazing!

Become fluent with the world's most advanced AI language coach • LanguaTalk

Traditional apps don't prepare you for real conversations. Langua builds speaking confidence through immersive practice with human-like AI.

languatalk.com

 

[MikeYoung]

I know its been really popular in the past but have a bad name attached to it now, but FREE language exchange meets like MundoLingo, MateClub etc. have been helpful in the past.

Besides that I think other options have already been suggested here. I am following this too.

How are the Mundo Lingo @bapal? I went to some a long time ago but haven't been in a while. Mostly it was people there trying to hook up with one another! Which is NOT a bad thing but it was more foreigners vs. locals. Everyone in my group hooked up with one another.

 

[Wally]

Agree you have to submerse yourself in it or you won't get fluent. Great idea to only speak in Spanish with someone you're dating or friends. I did that with my wife and local friends. Most of the locals wanted to speak English with me but I made them speak Spanish. When you are out and about only speak Spanish.

Watching movies and TV in Spanish all the time is good too. I also recommend the Practice makes Perfect grammar books which helps if you're a visual learner. I needed to see when I was learning how it was all structured and how the words were spelled. I practiced with those eery day and made my wife only speak Spanish for a year. It was tough because her family all speaks fluent English but she got them to also speak to me only in Spanish. But give those books a try!

Amazon.com : practice makes perfect grammar

 

[MikeRoss]

I'd recommend an in person tutor too. I liked that vs. online. I used Gisela and she was great! But the best way is like they all mention. Find a girlfriend and only speak Spanish with her.

Gisela Giunti | Learn Spanish in Buenos Aires

www.giselagiunti.com

 

[jbeas176]

if you congagate well, its important, throw in as many nouns as possible and start doing everything thing listed. listening does come from practice and your vocabulary. throw in cnn espanol. different set of words. numbers are still one of my biggest challenges

 

[Ashton]

Some great comments here. I think a combination of all of these are good. I took some in high school but the Spanish here is different so I'd recommend an Argentine tutor so you learn the vos. The key is to practice every single day. Also recommend to learn as many words as possible so your vocabulary is strong. I loved https://www.clozemaster.com/

It helped a lot. Also you can practice with ChatGPT. Just put in the prompt that you want them to be an Argentine tutor and you can talk back and forth with it.

 

[Surfer]

Check out the Cafe con Idiomas

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[jbeas176]

i use duolingo. you can practice as much as you want. the chatgpt sounds good

 

[Daniela]

For me, the biggest improvement came from actively starting conversations whenever I could — in taxis, Ubers, cafés, shops, anywhere really. I began by practicing practical, everyday language: ordering food and coffee, buying clothes, asking simple questions. I also use ChatGPT to help me with basics and clarify things I don’t understand.

When I’m in a taxi or Uber, I usually keep conversations focused on topics I’m comfortable with or that relate to my life — family, food, hobbies, interests. That helped me stay confident in the beginning. Over time, I started going deeper into conversations. I listen carefully, ask people to speak more slowly, and occasionally ask them to explain a word or two.

At first, my comprehension was much stronger than my speaking. But now I feel more confident every day. I can spend hours talking with people. I don’t understand every single word, but my brain has learned to fill in the gaps, and I’ve picked up a lot of new vocabulary naturally this way.

I also started working with a tutor last week, and I think that’s going to help refine my skills. In our first lesson, they were able to identify exactly where I struggle and guide me through those areas.

Watching your favorite movies in Spanish is another great strategy. And finding music you enjoy and learning the lyrics really helps too - singing along improves pronunciation and fluency more than you’d think.

 

[BarryBloomWwf]

This is a tip I read on this forum and it's really good. When you wake up, look around and name everything in the room you can see. Anything you don't know the word for, make a note of it and make it your days mission to learn it so you can do it tomorrow

 

[Johnny]

This is a tip I read on this forum and it's really good. When you wake up, look around and name everything in the room you can see. Anything you don't know the word for, make a note of it and make it your days mission to learn it so you can do it tomorrow

I'm learning now and all of these are good ideas. My friend Mike told me the most important thing is vocabulary. He bought me a pack of 500 notecards and told me to write down every thing in my house. He told me to go room by room and don't move onto the new room until I mastered all of the things from the first room. I started in the kitchen and wrote everything you could possible have, then living room, then bedroom. It has been the single biggest help. Even if my Spanish isn't perfect I know what everything means.

When I mastered my house, I started in restaurant and so forth. It is very good. I will have to check out the ChatGPT trick!

 

[ElQueso]

I'm learning now and all of these are good ideas. My friend Mike told me the most important thing is vocabulary. He bought me a pack of 500 notecards and told me to write down every thing in my house. He told me to go room by room and don't move onto the new room until I mastered all of the things from the first room. I started in the kitchen and wrote everything you could possible have, then living room, then bedroom. It has been the single biggest help. Even if my Spanish isn't perfect I know what everything means.

When I mastered my house, I started in restaurant and so forth. It is very good. I will have to check out the ChatGPT trick!

That is a great idea! Smart to master one room at a time. Obviously start with the bedroom. 🤣