11 Ways to Improve Your Spanish Speaking Skills

If you google how to improve your Spanish speaking skills, you will see that almost every website talks about language fluency and how to speak Spanish without pausing or stuttering. And that’s great!

However, we feel the need to point out some more important ways that will help you relax in this language-learning process.

We are not writing this article to offer you some language fluency tips or a step-by-step on how to learn to speak Spanish faster. Well, OK, that too.

But what is important is to have in mind that, if you want to learn to speak Spanish properly, it’s an individual process and you must find a way to enjoy it.

We are here to support you in it with these Spanish-speaking tips!

Check them out!

Take Online Spanish Classes or Tutoring

Without a doubt, this is the easiest way to improve and boost your Spanish speaking skills! Taking online Spanish classes and speaking with natives will help you learn to speak Spanish correctly because tutors, besides being graduated teachers, are also trained to impart knowledge.

Now, we are not judging, however, we always suggest a tutor who is a native speaker or at least someone who lived in a Spanish-speaking country long enough that their accent is impeccable!

One-on-one classes are the best option because native tutors correct not only your grammar but your pronunciation as well, which makes it easier to learn how to speak faster in Spanish.

A good thing about online Spanish classes is that you don’t need to waste time and money commuting and almost every online tutor offers a free trial class.

This also gives you an opportunity to choose a teacher who suits you best! Don’t be shy! You have every right to test your options.

Learn Common Introducing Phrases

When we talk about Spanish speaking skills, we are not just referring to mastering vocabulary and grammar. One of the Spanish speaking tips we like to give is mastering common introducing phrases first. What do we mean by that?

Well, first things first! To learn how to speak Spanish, baby steps are a must. That means learning how to talk about some basic things, like asking or telling your age, asking where someone is from, and what they do for a living.

These apparently simple questions seem silly at first. But if you repeat them a few times, your brain will get used to both asking a question and answering it, so, in time you can develop a story around them.

Don’t Worry About the Grammar too Much

We at ConvoSpanish advocate speaking from day one rather than learning grammar rules first.

Sure, you need to know some basic grammar. Start by learning how to say something in the present tense. But speak! You won’t learn to speak Spanish fluently if you don’t.

Teachers at private schools usually encourage students to endlessly rerepeat phrases, which we find tiring and somewhat useless. It’s probably not the best way to improve your Spanish speaking skills.

No matter the language level you may have, speak! You will learn to speak Spanish only if you speak it! Give explanations with your arms and legs, just do it!

Read out Loud to Improve Your Spanish Speaking Skills

If you think reading out loud will make you look ridiculous, you can’t be further from the truth. Speaking Spanish fluently requires not just one thing.

Yes, we can tell you Take classes and you will learn in time. However, there are other additional and significant things you can do without anybody’s help in order to learn how to fluently speak Spanish.

Read, read, read! As much as you can and as often as you can! And make sure you do it out loud. Hearing your own voice might not be something you will enjoy at first, but it is crucial for you to hear your pronunciation and learn to speak Spanish properly.

Start with some simple texts or short phrases. But even the elaborated ones can do the work because what matters is that you hear yourself pronouncing the words. You can also play some audiobooks and pause to repeat the words you are not familiar with.

Listen to Music in Spanish and Sing Along

Besides releasing happiness hormones, learning how to speak Spanish by listening to Spanish music will help you learn new vocabulary too!

This one is similar to the Spanish speaking tips we gave you in the second bullet point. People usually memorize a language better through songs that trigger emotions.

After hearing a song they like, they look up the lyrics and there you go! A new way to grow your vocabulary!

Speaking Spanish fluently does not depend on how many Spanish songs you know by heart. But it’s a great way to memorize some common phrases and expressions.

Try and see it for yourself!

Go to Language Exchange Meetings

Another tip that will help you polish your Spanish speaking skills are studying programs and language exchange meetings!

Do you know about the au pair sitter or Erasmus study programs? Au pair programs were very popular at the beginning of 2000. And they still are!

Register on their website and apply for the sitter job. A family that likes your profile hires you and invites you to their home. They pay for your food and stay, and you take care of the kids.

This is a great opportunity to travel on a low budget and learn how to speak Spanish because, usually, an au pair family doesn’t speak English. And why would you want to speak English if you came to learn to speak Spanish, right?

Now, the Erasmus study program is great for students and young people who want to go abroad to study and, at the same time, learn how to speak fluent Spanish.

One of the main purposes of both these programs is to improve your Spanish speaking skills while studying or working.

On the other hand, in the process of speaking Spanish fluently, meeting apps can be of great help! We personally tried the MeetUp app to get together with people and practice our English and help them learn how to speak faster in Spanish.

All you need to do is to register on the MeetUp website and search for the language exchange gatherings in your city, if there are any.

Use Language Apps

Language apps such as Duolingo or Babbel can help you expand your vocabulary and improve your Spanish speaking skills overall.

These websites can assist you in creating simple sentences. But some of them, such as Duolingo, also have AI voice recognition that grades how close to original your pronunciation is.

Give a Speech in the Mirror

This one is actually very practical! If you don’t have anyone to practice your Spanish speaking skills with, the mirror is your next best friend!

We are joking, of course, but not completely. This kind of practice can assist you with certain segments, like improving your pronunciation, but after some time you will need to either practice with someone who is either a native or a teacher. Or both!

Stick to one Spanish Variety

If you really want to learn how to speak fluent Spanish, you should stick to one Spanish variety only!

Why are we telling you this? Because if you haven’t mastered the language yet, you can easily get confused with different Spanish variations.

The vocabulary and usage of tenses in Mexican and Castillian Spanish are not quite the same. Of course, Spaniards and Mexicans understand each other, however, there are some significant differences between Latin American and European Spanish.

That’s why we recommend sticking to one Spanish variety if you want to learn how to fluently speak Spanish.

Travel or Move to a Spanish Speaking Country

Whenever we’re exposed to a language, our subconscious mind starts memorizing words and expressions, whether we like it or not. This will happen to you if you go to any Spanish speaking country for a longer time.

That’s why traveling to any Spanish speaking country is one of our most recommended Spanish speaking tips.

Even if you don’t put a lot of effort into it, learning how to speak Spanish is much easier when you’re exposed to it! If everybody around you speaks the language, you will learn it by default. But bear in mind that this also depends on the way your brain acquires knowledge. It can take from 6 to 12 months before you learn to speak Spanish.

Now, imagine if you do put effort into it! Speaking Spanish fluently will eventually come as a result of you being immersed in it.

Listen to Spanish Podcasts and Watch Spanish Movies

You don’t need to be Einstein to start speaking Spanish fluently! No one is!

What you can do to start and gain confidence is listen to Spanish podcasts and watch Spanish movies.

It’s OK if you don’t understand everything. We suggest you put Spanish subtitles to watch a movie on Netflix. This will put your mind at ease because Spaniards speak very fast and it is often difficult to understand them.

If you are into a more relaxed approach, you can try our Spanish Short Film Worksheets. These worksheets are interactive and will help you improve your vocabulary and Spanish speaking skills in general!

Final Thoughts About Improving Your Spanish Speaking Skills

Whichever way you decide to pursue, be reminded to take it easy when it comes to boosting your Spanish speaking skills.

The process of learning a language is individual and whatever you do to learn how to speak faster in Spanish, don’t criticize yourself!

Make sure you recognize your progress as well as be realistic regarding your expectations. In the end, it all depends on how much effort you are ready to invest in learning Spanish.

In time, you will learn to speak Spanish, but also, don’t forget to enjoy the process!

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