Language learning strategy
Helps you plan how to learn Spanish to the level you need.
Build a Spanish-learning plan that fits the move: target levels, where to study, exams for work and study, speaking practice, self-study, a plan over time and Spanish for work.
- topics
- 10
- articles
- 66
- of reading
- 7 hours
Begin with
Spanish goals and levels
You will know which level of Spanish you need, how far you are from it and how long the road realistically is.
How much Spanish you need for the life you want in Spain · What Spanish levels A1 to C2 mean in real situations · How long it takes to reach B1 or B2 in Spanish
More in language learning strategy
9 more topics in this section, about 7 hours of reading in all.
Choosing where to study Spanish
You will know which kind of Spanish class suits you, what it costs and how to find one where you live.
Where to learn Spanish in Spain: your options compared · What Spanish classes cost and who can help pay · Finding Spanish classes in your town or region
Public and free Spanish classes
You will know which public or free Spanish class you can join, when to apply and what to bring.
Official language schools (Escuelas Oficiales de Idiomas) for learning Spanish · Applying to an official language school (EOI), placement tests and waiting lists · Public adult-education Spanish classes (CEPA): when they fit better
Private, online and immersion courses
You will know how to pick and vet a private or online Spanish course and whether an immersion stay is worth it.
Private Spanish academies: what to expect and how to choose · Private tutor or group class: which gives more progress? · Online or in-person Spanish classes after you move
Spanish exams and certificates
You will know which Spanish exam your purpose needs, how it works and how to book and prepare.
Which Spanish exam do you need: DELE, SIELE or an EOI certificate? · How the DELE exam works: levels, booking, cost and results · How the SIELE exam works and when it beats DELE
Speaking practice and language exchanges
You will find people to practise with and learn to keep conversations in Spanish.
Keeping the conversation in Spanish when people switch to English · Finding and using language exchanges (intercambios) in Spain · Free conversation groups and practice spaces in Spanish towns
Self-study resources and methods
You will build a self-study toolkit that fits your level and avoids common traps.
Building a self-study toolkit of books, apps and websites for Spanish · Learning from Spanish TV, radio and podcasts at each level · Spanish grammar traps that matter most when living in Spain
Your Spanish study plan
You will leave with a concrete Spanish study plan that fits your timeline and constraints.
Should you learn Spanish before you move or after you arrive? · What to study before the move, in month one and year one · Building a weekly Spanish plan that mixes classes and practice
Getting past intermediate Spanish
You will understand why your Spanish stalled and have steps to move on.
Stuck at intermediate Spanish: moving from survival to real conversations · Why living in Spain does not automatically make you fluent · Keeping up your Spanish after you stop formal classes
Spanish for work
You will know what Spanish your job market needs and how to communicate at work.
How much Spanish you need to get hired in Spain · English-speaking job or Spanish-speaking job: the career trade-off · Working in Spain before you are fluent: what to expect
Other sections in Language and integration
Everyday language survival
Helps you get by in everyday Spanish from day one.
Regional and co-official languages
Helps you work out how much a regional language matters where you live.
Administrative, healthcare, and school language
Helps you communicate safely when a misunderstanding has real consequences.
Friendship, community, and belonging
Helps you build friendships and a local social life.
Need certainty before you act?
For important relocation decisions, speak with a qualified human specialist.
Always verify important information with the relevant official authority or a qualified adviser before acting. This website uses large language models together with various public data sources, official government documents and other established sources. Due to the amount of data on this website, some information might be wrong. Information may also be incomplete or outdated.