Ditch the Textbooks and Apps: 10 Fun Ways to Improve Your Spanish
I learned Spanish as an adult. And I didn’t do it in the classroom. I did through countless fun memories, experiments, and intentional and accidental learning opportunities alike.
I’ve come to believe that if you’re not having fun learning a language, you’re probably not going about it the right way. Sure, it may be uncomfortable, scary, and breathtakingly frustrating, but it shouldn’t be boring. Learning Spanish will be hard and uncomfortable at times, but if it feels like a chore, you’re going about it the wrong way.
I think you’re wasting time learning Spanish the traditional way.
Classrooms aren’t designed for true language learning. You can’t memorize a language like a history lesson or a math equation. As Irish polyglot Benny Lewis says, “The problem is that you can’t ever truly ‘learn’ a language, you get used to it.”
Forget classes, forget the same old tired advice about flashcards, or learning ten words a day, or downloading the latest language-learning app.
Learning Spanish not only can be fun, but it should take place in fun, immersive contexts (whether traveling or not.)
As I’ve written about, you can learn as an adult and in today’s world you can do it without traveling.
The times my Spanish has improved the most I also look back as the most… fun
It was the late nights out with friends in Barcelona, the weekend trips to the mountains where we ate and laughed and played cards.
When not traveling it became the binge-watching TV shows I’ve grown to love or spending my solo lunches watching chess streams from Spanish-speaking chess masters.
It’s the nights in New York where I decided to go to place like La Marqueta in East Harlem to eat Puerto Rican food, listen to live salsa music, and chat with Spanish-speaking friends.
These are the ways I learned. The fun ways. It’s how, I’d wager, you’ll learn too.
The Overarching Principle For Having Fun Learning Spanish: “Skill Stacking.”
One concept that’s been instrumental in my language learning journey is something I like to call skill stacking. It’s a modified version of what James Clear talks about in his book Atomic Habits, where he introduces the idea of habit stacking. The premise is simple: pair a new habit you want to build with something you’re already doing. In my case, I sought opportunities to improve my Spanish while simultaneously working on other skills or passions.
For example, when I was 20 years old and spending the summer in Barcelona, I joined a chess club. Every week, I sat through lessons with a local master and a small group of students, where I wasn’t just sharpening my chess game, I was also deepening my Spanish understanding. I learned how to think about strategy and tactics in Spanish, gaining the vocabulary I needed to understand and discuss chess in a new language. This was a perfect example of stacking two skills—language and chess—and both improved as a result. Language learning lends itself exceptionally well to skill stacking.
There’s A Lot Out There for Pure Beginners, and Not Enough For Those With The Basics Down
When I started learning Spanish, even once I was conversationally fluent, I realized how big a gap there was between that and mastery. Yet, so much out there provides tips for Spanish focuses on the bare basics. Sure, Duolingo is a fine start if you’re at level zero, but it’s not going to get you thinking and dreaming in Spanish alone. These tips are mostly for those beyond level zero, but struggle to get to conversational fluency, all the way to those who speak it decently well, but need strategies to keep improving.
With this context out of the way, I’ll offer some concrete ideas for fun ways to learn Spanish, which will also be the best ways.
1) Do Something You Do For Fun Anyway, But in Spanish
One of the best ways to make language learning enjoyable is to weave it into activities you already love. If you’re already passionate about something, do it in Spanish.
For example, if you love yoga, try taking a yoga class in Spanish. There are plenty of online classes that cater to various levels, so you can deepen your practice while learning vocabulary related to health, body movements, and mindfulness. You’ll be surprised how much you absorb when the language is secondary to something you’re already familiar with.
If you cook, instead of your usual recipe sources, follow Spanish-language cooking tutorials or take a cooking class in Spanish. Not only will you get to make delicious food, but you’ll also learn food-related vocabulary, kitchen terms, and the cultural nuances behind the dishes. You could even organize a dinner night with friends where everyone follows a Spanish recipe and practices together.
Play soccer? Find a pick up league in the Latin part of town near you.
Another idea is to join a club—not a club designed for practicing Spanish, but rather a club based on an interest where Spanish happens to be spoken. This could be a salsa dancing group, where you immerse yourself in Latin music and culture while picking up conversational Spanish.
Or maybe you could find a book club that focuses on Latin American literature, offering the chance to discuss the stories and broaden your vocabulary in a relaxed, enjoyable setting.
U.S. Cities Have More Possibilities Than You Think
The United States has over 60 million Spanish speakers. That’s more Spanish speakers than Spain itself. You’ll find Spanish-speaking communities in almost every single metro area in the country.
Explore stuff in-person, as it’s obviously the best place to learn. Today, you often don’t need to travel far to speak Spanish in person.
2) Use Dating Apps
Dating apps might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about learning Spanish, but they can be a surprisingly effective tool for improving your language skills. For me, that were an essential bridge when I was learning Catalan, and the same principle applies to Spanish.
Before one of my trips to Barcelona, I decided to get creative with my language learning. I updated my dating app bio to say, “I’ll teach you English if you teach me Catalan,” and I upgraded to a premium membership so I could start matching with people in Barcelona while still in New York. I viewed it like paying for a gym membership. It was a small investment that gave me regular practice sessions.
The texting format on these apps is perfect for language learners because it allows you to take your time with responses. You can think through your sentences, look up vocabulary if you need to, and ease into conversations without the pressure of real-time speaking. I started with simple exchanges: “Hi, how are you? What do you do for fun?” These eventually evolved into more complex discussions.
What’s great about this method is that you’re not just learning textbook Spanish. You’ll get exposure to slang, local expressions, and the kind of casual language people actually use in daily life.
Texting in Spanish on dating apps helps you see how the language is spelled and structured in informal settings, which can be less intimidating than reading a book or formal article. You’ll pick up useful conversational phrases, greetings, and even regional dialects that might not show up in traditional study materials.
And if you happen to visit a Spanish-speaking country, those conversations can easily turn into real-life meetups, where you can continue practicing your language skills face-to-face.
This principle can still apply elsewhere. Maybe you have a friend who speaks Spanish and is willing to text you back and forth, or you could take advantage of language exchange apps that pair you with native speakers. Either way, this method allows you to learn the language in a fun, low-pressure environment—while others are mindlessly swiping, you’ll be getting real practice.
3) Watch Your Favorite Niche YouTube Content, But in Spanish
Another fun way to immerse yourself in Spanish is by diving into YouTube content that caters to your interests, but with a twist. Instead of sticking to content in your native language, explore videos in Spanish that align with your hobbies or passions.
For example, I’m a big fan of chess, so one of the ways I improved my Spanish was by watching chess streams and tutorials from Spanish-speaking chess masters on YouTube. Not only did I get better at chess, but I also picked up a ton of useful vocabulary related to the game. Terms like jaque mate (checkmate), torre (rook), and alfil (bishop) became second nature to me because I was learning them in a context I was already passionate about.
Plus, listening helped train my ear to understand conversational Spanish at a natural pace.
Because you’re already familiar with the subject matter, you won’t feel overwhelmed by the language. You can focus on key terms related to your hobby while gradually picking up more general vocabulary. And since you’re engaging with content that interests you, it doesn’t feel like studying at all.
YouTube also offers the advantage of letting you adjust the speed of the video, so if the speaker talks too fast, you can slow it down without losing the context.
You can also turn on subtitles (in Spanish) to follow along and reinforce your learning. The more you watch, the more accustomed you’ll become to hearing Spanish in real-world situations, making the transition to actual conversations much smoother.
4) Reread Your Favorite Books in Spanish
Reading is magic. For so many reasons. Learning languages is just another one of those.
One of the most enjoyable and effective ways I’ve found to improve my Spanish is by rereading my favorite books in the language. When I got back from Spain, I decided to reared the Harry Potter books, alternating between English and Spanish.
Rereading a beloved book in Spanish offers several benefits. First, because you’re familiar with the content, you don’t need to stop and translate every sentence. You already know what’s happening in the story, so you can focus on how the language is structured, pick up new vocabulary, and notice how familiar phrases are expressed differently in Spanish. It’s a comfortable way to stretch your language skills without feeling overwhelmed.
For example, while revisiting Harry Potter, I found myself learning magical terms like hechizo (spell) and escoba (broomstick), all in their Spanish versions. But beyond the magical vocabulary, I gained a deeper understanding of everyday language and expressions that came up throughout the series. Seeing these words and phrases repeatedly helped reinforce them, and since I was already emotionally connected to the story, it made learning much more engaging and memorable.
You can apply this same method to any book you love.
Plus, rereading a familiar book gives you the opportunity to notice the nuances of the language and how translations are handled. You’ll see how idiomatic expressions are translated, how cultural references shift, and how humor or tone is adapted for a Spanish-speaking audience.
If you’re looking for a way to deepen your language skills while still enjoying the process, I highly recommend giving this a try. This tip may not be for beginners, but it’s great for those who can hold their own in conversations and need a way to keep improving.
Here are some more tips about reading in Spanish.
5) Have a Weekly FaceTime with Your Spanish-Speaking Friends
One of the most enjoyable and consistent ways to practice a language is through regular conversations with friends who speak it. My girlfriend, Shylin, has a weekly FaceTime call with our friend Ivét from Spain, where they help each other practice Spanish and English.
What makes this kind of practice so effective is the casual, low-pressure environment. There’s no formal lesson or strict structure to follow; instead, it’s just two friends having a conversation. They swap stories, share jokes, and occasionally correct each other’s mistakes, which helps them build fluency while staying engaged.
6) Explore Your City/Metropolitan Area
One of the best ways to immerse yourself in Spanish without leaving the country is to explore your own city or metropolitan area. The U.S. has over 60 million Spanish speakers, making it easier than you might think to find pockets of Spanish-language culture right in your backyard. And the experience can be as exciting as any overseas adventure.
For example, my dad is from El Salvador, and I’ve always had a love for pupusas. As I’ve traveled around the U.S., I’ve found that there’s a pupuseria in just about every major city. Step inside one, and you’ll find yourself surrounded by Salvadoran culture. More often than not, they hardly speak English. Ordering food, chatting with staff, and absorbing the atmosphere in these spaces is an opportunity to immerse yourself in Spanish, whether you’re in Los Angeles, New York, or anywhere in between.
This approach isn’t just about seeking out restaurants. This could be markets, festivals, shops, and entire neighborhoods where Spanish is the primary language.
While language meetups and Spanish practice groups are often recommended, I believe they can miss the mark.
They tend to focus too much on the technical aspects of learning a language, which can feel forced or artificial. Instead, I encourage you to dive into environments where Spanish is naturally spoken—where the language is alive and essential to the experience. It’s in these moments that you’ll absorb more than just words; you’ll pick up the culture, the rhythm, and the context of how Spanish is spoken in everyday life.
7) Curate Your Social Media: Follow Spanish-Language Creators
My Instagram feed these days is mostly a mix of Spanish, Catalan, and French creators.
Frankly, if you’re an English-speaking creator, it’s tough to crack my feed. Look, if I’m gonna be addicted to these app, I might as well sharpen my other languages.
Following Spanish-speaking creators is one of the most passive ways to improve your Spanish. While I do follow a few language-learning-focused accounts, I’ve found that the real magic happens when you follow creators you genuinely enjoy who just happen to create content in Spanish. This kind of learning places you in real, everyday contexts that are much more engaging than traditional lessons.
Think about the types of content you already consume on platforms like Instagram, YouTube, or TikTok.
Are you into travel, fitness, fashion, or comedy? Find creators within those niches who speak Spanish.
By surrounding yourself with content you naturally enjoy, you’ll absorb the language in an organic way. You won’t even realize you’re learning. Plus, social media creators most often use subtitles in their videos.
8) Engage with Spanish-Speaking Communities Online
In addition to curating your social media, another great way to learn Spanish is by engaging with online communities where Spanish is spoken. There are countless forums, Facebook groups, and Reddit threads dedicated to every topic imaginable.
Just like the YouTube tips, find the communities you enjoy anyway that happen to be Spanish language groups.
9) Listen to Spanish-Language Podcasts and Audiobooks
Podcasts and audiobooks are fantastic tools to integrate Spanish into your daily routine, especially if you’re commuting, working out, or just taking a walk. There are thousands of podcasts across every genre—news, storytelling, comedy, science, history—that are produced by native Spanish speakers. This allows you to listen to a variety of accents, speeds, and tones, while exposing you to both casual conversation and more formal language.
You can also follow along with Spanish-language audiobooks, especially if you’ve already read the book in English. The combination of hearing the words and knowing the story helps reinforce the language naturally.
10) Play Video Games in Spanish
This tip comes from my best friend in Spain, who keeps his English sharp by making sure his video game default language is English.
Many popular games offer Spanish as an option for both subtitles and audio, allowing you to immerse yourself in dialogue and in-game texts while focusing on gameplay.
Make Spanish Learning Fun and Meaningful
At the end of the day, learning Spanish, or any language, doesn’t have to be boring or feel like a chore. If anything, it should be the opposite: fun, immersive, and part of your everyday life.
The Key Is To Make it Part of Your Routine
Remember, language learning is more about getting used to the language than memorizing words or grammar rules. By making Spanish a part of your daily routines, passions, and social interactions, you’ll find that the process becomes not only more enjoyable but also more effective. You’ll stop thinking of Spanish as something separate that you need to “study” and instead see it as something you live through, laugh with, and experience every day.
So, forget the traditional textbooks and repetitive exercises, and start having fun with your learning journey. Try out different methods, stack your skills, and most importantly, enjoy the ride. You’ll be amazed at how much you can learn, and how much faster you’ll improve, when you’re having fun along the way.
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