Effortless Ways to Practice Your Spanish

Quick Answer

Ever heard the phrase, if you don't use it, you lose it?

One of the biggest concerns that language-learners face when they’re learning a new language is “losing” the language. Perhaps you’ve just arrived home from a study abroad experience in Spain and you’re terrified that all that hard-earned Spanish knowledge is going to evaporate over time. Perhaps your college semester just ended and you’re afraid that by the time your fall Spanish classes start up, you will have forgotten everything you just learned. Fortunately, there are many ways that you can effortlessly incorporate Spanish into day-to-day life. In this article, we’ll share a few of our favorite ways that you can practice your Spanish without having to think twice about it.

Watch Movies in Spanish

If you’re not already a crítico del cine hispano, or Spanish-language film critic, pay attention. Over the last few decades, the Latin American and Spanish film industries have produced a wide array of fantastic películas, or movies across many genres. Perhaps you’d like to start with Y tu mamá también, a Mexican movie about two best friends that go on a road trip with an older woman whom both are trying to woo. Or if you’re more into el realismo mágico(magical realism), we suggest El laberinto del fauno, which tells the story of a girl living in 1940’s Spain and a fantasy world that she discovers while staying with her stepfather, who is also an officer in the Spanish army. Whatever your gusto, or taste, is in film, there’s sure to be something out there for you! Looking for a list? Here’s one that has some of the highest rated Spanish-language films of all time.

One strategy we recommend is to watch a movie that you’ve already seen in English in Spanish. Already understanding the plot will allow you to focus more on the language and how it is adapted to the film. If you’re looking for a place to get started, pop in a Disney movie that you particularly love. Disney movies such as Moana or Frozen are localized so well that even the songs have their own Spanish version.

Change Your Phone Settings

Changing the language that your social media accounts are presented in is a quick way to surround yourself with the language. Here are some ways to change the settings on different phones and social media accounts:

On iPhone

Go to the Settings app.
Click on Language and Region.
Click on iPhone Language.
Click on Español, Español (EE. UU), Español (México), or Español (Latinoamérica) to change your language to the Spanish of a particular region.
Click Done in the top right-hand corner once you have selected your language.
iPhone will prompt you to confirm your choice. Once you do, all of your iPhone’s settings, options, and even some apps (including apps like Instagram and Snapchat) will convert from English to Spanish!

On Android

Open Settings by pulling the top menu overlay down and selecting the gear icon.
Click on Languages and Input.
Click on Languages.
Click on Add a language.
Select Español (Estados Unidos), or another regional option if you have them.
Drag “Español” above “English”.
Note that these instructions may vary, depending on the brand of your device.

For Your Facebook Account

While logged in, click on the small downward-facing triangle in the top right-hand corner.
Click on Settings.
Click on Language listed in the left options bar.
Click on Show Facebook in this language and a drop-down menu will appear. Select Español or Español (España). Then click Save Changes.

For Your X Account

While logged in, click on the circle representing your profile in the top toolbar, prompting a drop-down menu to appear.
Click on Settings and privacy.
Under the Account menu, look for the drop-down menu next to the Language option.
Select Español - Spanish from the list of options.
Once selected, scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on Save changes.
X will prompt you to enter your password to confirm the changes. Enter your password into the pop-up window and select Save changes.

Oye, Siri

Looking for an extra challenge? If you have an iPhone, you can also change the language that Siri listens and responds in! To get Siri to talk to you in Spanish, first:

Go to the Settings app.

Click on Siri.

Click on Language.

Select Spanish (Chile), Spanish (Mexico), Spanish (Spain), or Spanish (United States) from the list of options. Once selected, Siri will automatically change languages!

Expand Your Culinary Horizons

If you’ve just come home from a Spanish-speaking country, one great way to relive the glory days of your time abroad while also practicing your Spanish is to learn to cook the food of Spanish-speaking countries. Whether it’s tortilla españolafrom Spain, huarachesfrom Mexico, or ají de gallinafrom Peru, learning how to cook your favorite dish is a surefire way to keep rolling your Rs while also pleasing your palate.

To maximize your exposure to the language, make sure you shop for your ingredients at Hispanic food markets, find recetas, or recipes that are in Spanish, and when you’re done cooking, find restaurants that serve your new favorite dish and order your food in Spanish.

Need some ideas? Below is a list of some of our favorite dishes to cook and their recipes:

Dish	Description	Country	Recipe in Spanish
Tortilla española de papas y jamón al horno	Baked Spanish tortilla with potato and ham	Spain	Recetas de Laylita
Chilaquiles rojos	Fried tortilla, chicken, cheese, and red salsa	Mexico	Qué Rica Vida
Pupusas de chicharrón con queso	Cornmeal pancakes stuffed with pork and cheese	El Salvador	El Salvador mi país
Llapingachos	Potato pancakes filled with cheese	Ecuador	Recetas de Laylita
Ají de gallina	Spicy creamed chicken over rice	Peru	Comedera
Alfajores de maicena argentinos	Dulce de leche cookie sandwiches	Argentina	Recetas Gratis
Mofongo	Stuffed ball of mashed plantains	Puerto Rico	Sazón Boricua

Listen to Music in Spanish

Salsa, merengue, bachata, reggaeton. Whole genres of music open up when you start listening to music in Spanish. Once you’ve got a song stuck in your head, we recommend that you look up the letra, or lyrics, online. Then you’ll be able sing along to your favorite Spanish-language hits. Before you say, I’m just not into those genres, be aware that Spanish-language music doesn’t begin and end with Prince Royce or Daddy Yankee. Spanish-language music also transcends its traditional genres. If you’re into rock and roll, Manu Chauand Santanaare good artists to check out. If you love rap music, look for Ana Tijouxand Calle 13.

Now you have some strategies that will keep you speaking Spanish between classes. Using all four strategies together will help you practice even more! Need to put that mofongo back in the oven five minutes longer? Just tell your phone to set a timer in Spanish! ¡A practicar!