Life can get hectic. Between work, Zoom calls, workouts, doomscrolling, and whatever else you’ve got going on, finding time to learn Spanish can feel impossible. But the good news? You don’t need hours a day to make progress.
Here are 7 fun, easy ways to sneak Spanish into your daily life—no textbooks or flashcards required.
1. Turn Your Commute into a Language Lab
Whether you’re driving, walking, or just making coffee in your kitchen-office, throw on a Spanish-language podcast. A couple of our faves:
- Coffee Break Spanish (bite-sized lessons)
- Hoy Hablamos (natural conversation)
You’ll be amazed how much you pick up just by listening passively.
2. Change Your Phone’s Language Settings
It sounds scary, but it’s actually genius. You already know where everything is, so switching your phone or favourite apps to Spanish forces your brain into thinking in Spanish—with zero extra time required.
3. Watch Shows With Subtitles—But Switch It Up
Netflix and chill? Make it Netflix y español. Start with English subtitles, then switch to Spanish subtitles once you’re feeling brave enough. Eventually, try watching without any at all!
Some binge-worthy Spanish series:
- La Casa de Papel (Money Heist)
- Smiley (Never has a misdirected voicemail led to so much drama!)
- Élite (High school class warfare)
- Las de la Última Fila (queer-friendly, heartfelt, and beautiful)
4. Talk to Yourself
While you’re cooking, getting dressed, or walking the dog, narrate what you’re doing in Spanish. It sounds silly, but it builds speaking confidence fast. Try:
- “Estoy preparando café.”
- “Voy al trabajo ahora.”
- “Tengo que lavar los platos.”
5. Make a Spanish Music Playlist
Language learning with rhythm? Yes, please. Create a Spanish playlist and listen during workouts or while you’re ironing. Singing helps with pronunciation and vocabulary.
Queer-friendly artist recommendations:
- Bad Bunny (Puerto Rican icon)
- Rosalía (flamenco-pop goddess)
- Javiera Mena (LGBT+ Chilean synthpop)
- Pablo Alborán (beautiful voice, out and proud)
6. Follow Spanish Creators on Social Media
Turn your daily doomscroll into a language lesson. Follow creators, artists, or meme pages in Spanish. Try commenting on posts or reacting if your level is good enough.
Bonus: Many LGBT+ creators and influencers from Latin America and Spain bring an amazing mix of culture, style, and activism to your feed.
7. Make It Personal
Learning is always easier when it matters. Try journaling in Spanish about your day, texting a friend who’s also learning, or writing affirmations like:
- “¡Puedes hacerlo!” (You can do it.)
- “Aprendo algo nuevo cada día.” (I learn something new every day.)
- “¡Por fin puedo pronunciar el erre!” (I can pronounce rr at last!)
Remember: progress, not perfection.
