A realistic study plan for the regional language alongside Spanish

Key rules

• Order: Reach about A2 in Spanish first, then add the regional language, unless daily life or work needs it sooner.
• Weekly load: Aim for 3 to 5 hours of Spanish and 1 to 3 hours of the regional language each week.
• Basque: Basque takes far longer than Catalan or Galician, so start earlier and plan over years.
• No second language: If your region has only Spanish as an official language, this plan does not apply.

Hour estimates and weekly routines are general guides, so confirm exact course hours and levels with the language school or regional language body you choose.

The order to follow

Reach about A2 in Spanish first, then add the regional language. If daily life or work requires the regional language from the start, begin it in parallel. This happens most in Catalonia and the Basque Country.

Spanish comes first because it is spoken everywhere and you need it for paperwork. It also speeds up everything after it, because Catalan and Galician share a lot of vocabulary with Spanish.

The timeline below shows the steps in order.

A weekly load you can keep up

Treat Spanish as your main track and the regional language as a smaller second track.

• Spanish: 3 to 5 hours a week of structured classes or study.
• Regional language: 1 to 3 hours a week, in short sessions of 30 to 60 minutes spread over several days.
• Everyday exposure: local radio, TV and street signs, plus a weekly conversation exchange.

Many official courses meet two or three times a week, so one course may already cover most of a track.

At beginner level, avoid starting both languages from zero in the same month. Two new languages at once is the quickest way to burn out.

How long each language takes

Official bodies estimate roughly 60 to 120 guided hours each for A1 and A2. The hours rise for B1, B2 and C1. Official language schools usually spread a level over 120 to 150 hours. In Catalonia, courses are organised in modules of around 45 to 50 hours. Check the exact numbers with the course provider you choose.

Catalan and Galician are close to Spanish. If you already speak Spanish, they feel relatively easy. If you are an English speaker, they are moderately easy. Catalan is usually harder than Spanish because of pronunciation and verb forms.

Basque is unrelated to Spanish. Its grammar and vocabulary are very different, so it takes far longer. Reaching C1 usually needs well over 1,000 hours of study. If you will live in a Basque-speaking area, start earlier and plan over several years, not months.

Adjusting the plan to your goal

• Daily life only: Spanish to A2 or B1, then a basic course in the regional language for greetings, shops and neighbours.
• A job that requires the regional language: start both early. Keep Spanish as the larger share until you can handle administration.
• Long-term settling with children in school: begin the regional language once Spanish is steady, and keep to the weekly load above.

If your region has no second official language, this plan does not apply. Put all your time into Spanish.

The questions below cover who can join public regional language courses and whether you can study online.

Timeline and deadlines

Study plan: Spanish first, then the regional language

• Start Spanish and build up to about A2: first, before adding the regional language

• Add the regional language in parallel if daily life or work requires it: from the start, if you need it for work or daily life

• Start Catalan or Galician once you reach about A2 in Spanish: after Spanish reaches about A2; these are close to Spanish, so expect roughly 24 to 30 weeks (600 to 750 class hours) of study for a Romance language

• Start Basque with a longer plan: after Spanish reaches about A2; Basque is much harder for Spanish and English speakers, so plan for a much longer timeline than Catalan or Galician

Quick answers on regional language courses

Do I need legal residency to join a public regional language course?

No, public regional language courses are generally open to anyone who enrols, with no legal residency requirement. Online and municipal courses usually ask only for an ID or passport number. Some subsidised courses give priority to people registered at an address in the municipality or region (empadronados), so ask the provider about places.

Can I join a course if I am in an irregular situation?

Usually yes, because municipal courses and those run by language-normalisation bodies such as the Consorci per a la Normalització Lingüística in Catalonia do not normally exclude people in an irregular situation. Rules differ by region and provider. Ask the provider before you enrol.

Do I need good Spanish before starting a regional language course?

No, good Spanish is not formally required for most beginner courses. Beginners are taught in the regional language, with Spanish as support where needed, and some providers also teach in English or other languages. Higher levels are taught almost entirely in the regional language.

Can I take a regional language course online from another region or country?

Yes, many regional language courses can be taken online from anywhere, though some tutor-led courses charge fees or have limited places. Examples include Parla.cat for Catalan, the online offer from HABE and the Euskaltegi for Basque, and online courses from the Xunta for Galician. Free self-study resources are open to everyone.