Before we start, let me say something important:

If you’re reading this and thinking, “Ugh, I just can’t roll my R’s,” take a deep breath. Here’s the truth: countless English speakers pronounce the Spanish R in their own way and are perfectly understandable. An accent isn’t a mistake. It’s music. It’s identity. It’s the fingerprint of your journey with the language.

This article isn’t here to tell you you’re doing it wrong. This article is for you if you’re someone who wants to take your pronunciation one step further. If you’re curious, if you enjoy the challenge of nailing sounds with precision, if you want that satisfying feeling of your tongue doing something it couldn’t do before, then this article is for you.

With that said, let’s get to it.

Spanish has only two types of R. That’s it:

1. The Soft R (or Simple R): This is the sound you make in English when you say “butter” or “ladder” (in American English). It’s a quick tap of your tongue against the roof of your mouth. Short, like a single drum hit. 🥁

2. The Strong R (or Rolled R): This is the sound that does NOT exist in standard English. It’s a sustained vibration. Your tongue stays in the same position and vibrates for several cycles. It’s like a drum roll. 🥁🥁🥁

Your goal: Train your tongue to move in the right spot (the alveolar ridge—that bumpy shelf right behind your upper teeth) and to choose between a single tap (soft) or a sustained vibration (strong).

Step 0: The Pencil Warm-Up

Before any physical workout, you warm up your muscles. Same goes here. This exercise is a classic in speech and diction training, and it’s brutally effective at forcing your tongue to work correctly.

Exercise 0: Speak with a pencil

1. Place a pencil (or a clean pen) horizontally between your teeth. Hold it gently with your molars. Don’t bite down hard—just let it rest there.

2. Now, try to speak. Say something simple. For example: “Hi, my name is [your name] and I’m practicing the Spanish R.”

3. Now, the specific work: With the pencil still in your mouth, try saying these syllables. You can repeat the exercise several times:

   • ra, re, ri, ro, ru

   • tra, tre, tri, tro, tru

Don’t worry if you sound weird. That’s the point. You’re forcing your tongue to work. Do this for one minute before starting the rest of the exercises. When you take the pencil out, you'll notice that your tongue feels more relaxed and better able to produce the sounds we're going to practice today.

Step 1: Find the “Magic Spot” (The Alveolar Ridge)

Now that you’ve warmed up, let’s fine-tune your aim. English speakers tend to make the English R with the tongue curled back (retroflex). That won’t work here. You need to move your tongue forward.

Exercise 1: The Explorer

1. Run the tip of your tongue along the inside edge of your upper teeth.

2. Feel that small, bumpy “shelf” right behind your teeth, before the roof of your mouth becomes hard and smooth. That’s the alveolar ridge.

3. Say the word “butter“ in American English (like “buder”). Notice where your tongue hits when you make the “tt” sound? Exactly! Right there. In Spanish, every R—both soft and strong—is made in that exact spot.

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Step 2: The Soft R (Simple Tap) – The Drum Hit

This is the sound of the R when it’s in the middle of a word and NOT a double R (”rr”), or at the end of a syllable (like in amar, carta, pero). It’s a very quick sound. If you hold it too long, it turns into a strong R.

Technique: Imagine the tip of your tongue is a tiny hammer giving one quick tap against the alveolar ridge. One single hit. No sustained vibration.

Exercise 2: The Soft R Ladder
Repeat each line several times. Focus on making it a single, quick tap.

• Step 1: ara, ere, iri, oro, uru
  (Say it like: “ara” (tap), “ere” (tap)...)

• Step 2: para, pero, pirata, toro, cura
  (Remember: “pero” is NOT “perro.” It’s a single tap.)

• Step 3: Short phrases with the soft R.

  • Tengo cara de sueño.

  • El aire está caliente.

⚠️ Common mistake: Making the English retroflex R. If you feel your tongue curling backward, go back to Exercise 1 and remember the sound of butter.

Step 3: The Strong R (Rolled R) – The Drum Roll

Here comes the challenge. Your tongue does the same thing as with the soft R, but instead of a single tap, it stays in place and vibrates on the alveolar ridge. This is the sound of the double R (”rr”) as in perro, or the R at the beginning of a word like rosa.

Technique: It’s like imitating a motor or the “brrr” sound you make when you’re cold. The key is to relax your tongue. If you need to, you can repeat the exercise we did earlier with the pencil here. If the tongue is tense, it won’t vibrate. You need to push air so your tongue can vibrate freely. In short, to pronounce the strong R sound clearly, three things are necessary: the tongue in the right position, a relaxed tongue, and plenty of air. At first, you can go a little overboard with the air.

Exercise 3: Engine Warm-Up

1. Say the letter “d” repeatedly: d-d-d-d-d-d. Notice how your tongue is making quick taps on the alveolar ridge. Repeat this until your tongue gets tired, gradually increasing the speed as much as you can.

2. Now, try to lengthen that sound. Instead of d-d-d-d, try to turn those taps into a continuous vibration. Make a sound like “dddrrrrr”.

3. Try this magic word: “perro”. But say it starting very slow:

   • Pe... (pause) ...rro.

   • Pe-rrro (stretching out the vibration).

   • Finally, perro.

Exercise 4: The Strong R Ladder

• Step 1: arra, erre, irri, orro, urru
  (This is harder than the soft R version. Take your time. If it doesn’t vibrate, push more air and relax your tongue.)

• Step 2: carro, perro, tierra, arroz, ratón
  (Note: “ratón” starts with a strong R. Practice initial R with “ratón, rosa, ropa, río”.)

• Step 3: Short phrases with the strong R.

  • Mi perro es grande.

  • El carro rojo.

  • Rosa come arroz.

Step 4: The Ultimate Showdown – “Pero” vs “Perro”

Exercise 5: Minimal Pairs
Repeat each pair, focusing on the length of the R sound.

Exercise 6: Contrast Sentences
Repeat these sentences to lock in the difference.

1. Es caro, no es un carro. (It’s expensive, it’s not a car.)

2. Me gustas tú, pero me encanta tu perro. (I like you, but but I love your dog.)

3. El coro corre hacia el cerro. (The choir runs toward the hill.)

Step 5: Tongue Twisters (Elite Training)

Here we go with the final boss exercises. You don’t need to say them fast at first. The goal is precision, not speed.

1. For combined soft and strong R:

   • El perro de San Roque no tiene rabo porque Ramón Ramírez se lo ha robado.
     (The dog of San Roque has no tail because Ramón Ramírez stole it.)

2. For initial and rolled R:

   • Rápido ruedan los carros, rápido se rueda por los rieles del ferrocarril.
     (Fast roll the cars, fast they roll, along the rails of the railroad.)

3. The classic ultimate tongue twister:

   • Erre con erre cigarro, erre con erre barril. Rápido ruedan los carros, por los rieles del ferrocarril.
     (R with R cigar, R with R barrel. Fast roll the cars, along the rails of the railroad.)

   You can also say these tongue twisters while holding a pencil. It might sound weird, but you'll be surprised by the result when you read them again without the pencil.

Conclusion: Your Training Plan

Don’t expect results in one day. Your tongue is learning a new movement and needs to build muscle memory.

Your 5-Minute Daily Routine:

1. Pencil Warm-Up (1 min): Put the pencil between your teeth and repeat ra, re, ri, ro, ru and tra, tre, tri, tro, tru.

2. No Pencil – The Ladders (1 min): Repeat ara, ere, iri, oro, uru (soft) and arra, erre, irri, orro, urru (strong).

3. The Showdown (2 min): Practice the minimal pairs (pero/perro, caro/carro).

4. The Tongue Twister (1 min): Pick one of the tongue twisters and repeat it slowly, focusing on the quality of each R.

My final recommendation: Record yourself saying “pero” and “perro” today. Record yourself again in one week after practicing this routine. The difference will surprise you.

And have some tea with honey. You'll need it.

Remember: this is a workout for those who want to go one step further. If the R still gives you trouble, no worries. Your accent is part of your story with the language. But if you enjoy the challenge, these exercises will take you far.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask me in the comments.

Hasta pronto,

Leo

P.S.: Would you like to learn Spanish step by step with simple, practical explanations like the ones in this post? Check out El Curso 1, a Spanish course where I’ll guide you from the very beginning all the way to having your first conversations in Spanish:

Did you know that you can learn Spanish without spending a penny? In my Guide to Learning Spanish I share dozens of free resources. Download it now here.

Learning Spanish is like climbing a mountain. There are many paths that lead to the top. But not all paths are the same. Some are full of obstacles, making the climb harder, while others are smoother, turning the journey into a more rewarding experience. On a smoother path, you may even reach your goals faster.

Just as it’s wise to have an experienced guide when climbing —someone who knows the trail and has already led others to the summit—it’s just as valuable to have a guide when learning Spanish. Today, if that's okay with you, I’d like to be that guide for you and share what I consider to be the most effective approach. I’ll give you some tips focused on the right mindset for learning Spanish successfully.

Break Learning Into Parts

• Start with the most common words. When we speak, we don't use an unlimited number of words. On the contrary, our vocabulary is very limited. For example, in Spanish, there are 100 words that are used in 50% of everyday conversations. If you learn those words first, you will have made a lot of progress. That's the power of a good methodology. If you’d like to give it a go, you can start here:

• Learn the most important verbs. These are what are called “building block” verbs, like big branches of a tree. Once you master them, you’ll be able to build countless sentences. For example, verbs like quiero (“I want”) or tengo (“I have”) allow you to combine with infinitives to make everyday sentences: tengo que salir (“I have to leave”), quiero comer (“I want to eat”). Start here:

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Make Spanish a Fun Experience

Learning Spanish shouldn’t feel like something painfully hard, dry, or boring. Sure, there will be moments when it feels challenging, but that should never be the main feeling. Learning Spanish should feel fun, relaxing, and even freeing. When you enjoy the process, you’re more relaxed, and this makes it easier to remember new words.

How do you make Spanish fun? Celebrate small victories, focus on useful Spanish you can use right away, and, most importantly, embrace your mistakes. Not just accept them, but love them. Over time you’ll see that mistakes are your best teachers.

Use Smart and Effective Memory Tools

This is where flashcards and spaced repetition come in. Learning how to use them well can save you time and frustration while helping words stick long-term. The good news is that many apps today have this feature built in. This means that in any good language learning app, words appear with an intelligent frequency, adapted to your learning pace. Similarly, flashcard apps such as Anki and Quizlet have this feature built in.

If You Follow a Course, Follow One That Applies These Principles:

A good course should:

• Break Spanish into manageable parts.

• Focus on the most common words and verbs.

• Present Spanish as something interesting and enjoyable.

• Provide effective ways to remember what you learn.

Explore Resources That Fit Your Learning Style

We all learn differently. As a Spanish teacher, I never teach two lessons the same way. I always adapt my materials to my students’ goals, interests, and learning styles.

That’s why it’s a good idea for you to experiment with different resources until you find what works best for you. Some people learn best with videos, others with podcasts, others with books. A great place to start is the following post where I share free tools that could change the way you learn Spanish: Your Free Spanish Toolkit: 10 Essential Resources You Didn't Know You Needed. If you’re serious about learning, don’t skip it.

Y esto es todo por hoy.

Hasta pronto,

Leo

If you know someone who is learning Spanish, share this post with them. They will surely thank you for it.

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Did you know that you can learn Spanish without spending a penny? In my Guide to Learning Spanish I share dozens of free resources. Download it now here.

When life gets busy, motivation naturally dips, but good habits keep you moving forward even when willpower is running low.

Here are 10 simple habits you can start today to make Spanish part of your everyday life—and keep your momentum going.

1. Commit to a Tiny Daily Session

Forget the “I need an hour to study” mindset. This kind of mindset is what has kept me stuck in my French and guitar playing. It wasn't until I discovered the power of short sessions that my performance began to improve. Even 5 minutes a day is enough to keep your brain engaged and prevent backsliding. Small wins stack up.

2. Mix Up Your Resources

If you use the same app or book every day, boredom creeps in. Alternate between flashcards, podcasts, graded readers, YouTube channels, and language apps. You don't need to use every resource every day. You can alternate.

The important thing is smart exposure. What do I mean by this? Smart exposure means exposing yourself to the language in a way that allows you to learn something new. It's no good if you're always repeating the same content, because you won't make any progress (in this sense, Duolingo is not the best option).

3. Watch Shows or Movies in Spanish

To start with, it's best to watch graded videos that are adapted to your level. Go to YouTube and type “Spanish comprehensible input”. You will find a wide variety of resources.

If you're looking for inspiration for your next TV show, this post, in which I explore some of the best ones, may be helpful.

4. Listen to Music and Podcasts

The great advantage of podcasts over other resources is that they expose you to Spanish while you do other things: cooking, commuting, or working out, etc. I have listened to many hours of the languages I'm learning through podcasts, and they have been a great help to me. Spoken audio help your ear adapt to natural rhythm and pronunciation. Here are some of the best podcasts for learning Spanish that you can find.

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5. Set Achievable Goals

Break your learning into short-term and long-term goals. For example, practise Spanish with my favourite language app for ten minutes, read a book of short stories in Spanish, listen to a podcast every day, have two classes a week…

Every minute and hour you practise Spanish counts and ultimately creates a snowball effect. So the more you learn, the more capable you will be of learning more advanced things, and so on.

6. Immerse yourself in the language

Once you feel comfortable reading and listening in Spanish, you can start using Spanish for everyday things. This way, even if you don't live in a Spanish-speaking country, you'll get very close to that experience (it's one of the great advantages of technology).

You can follow Spanish-speaking creators in topics you love. You can read or listen to news in Spanish or set your mobile phone to Spanish. The point is not only to learn Spanish but to use it to do something you enjoy. This way you will learn Spanish without realizing you are learning it.

7. Connect with a Tutor or Language Partner

The power of having a tutor should not be underestimated. For me, it is one of the most powerful strategies or staying motivated and persevering. A tutor is not only someone who teaches you the language and with whom you practice, but also someone with whom you establish a commitment to learning.

In a way, you have to be accountable to them for what you have done, and you realize whether or not you are really making progress in your learning. In addition, having someone to practice with will give you a lot of confidence when it comes to going out into the real world.

8. Write Something Every Day

The truth is that this point will depend on your personal preferences. Some people enjoy writing, while others do not. If you like writing, then writing in Spanish will be a great help in developing fluency. In other words, you will get used to thinking in Spanish and you will also learn a lot of vocabulary (since you will often have to look up words you don't know), memorize conjugations more easily, and develop good writing skills, which are perfect for communicating in chats, something that is very common nowadays.

9. Use Multisensory Learning

Pair listening with movement. Walk while playing a Spanish podcast, or act out new verbs to anchor them in memory. This is something that some people find very useful. For example, combining Spanish with your daily exercise or walk.

10. Take Smart Breaks & Celebrate Wins

Take regular breaks. You can set aside one or two days a week when you won't study Spanish, at least not actively.

You can also use the Pomodoro method for your study sessions.

Sleep, eat well, and exercise. We feel more motivated when we are in good physical condition.

Remember: Consistency Beats Perfection

Fluency takes time but you don’t need to do it all at once. A missed day isn’t a failure, it’s just a pause. The real magic happens when Spanish becomes part of your lifestyle.

If you found this useful:

• Share it with a friend who’s learning Spanish.

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• Bookmark it for those “I’m losing motivation” days.

¡A por ello! (Go for it!)

Later, a Romanian management consultant, called Joseph M. Juran, named this the "Pareto Principle," observing it in many businesses in a different sense: a small number of problems generated a large number of losses.

With this, the 80/20 Rule became popular and transformed into an important tool for resource optimization.

Here are some examples of the principle in action:

• 80% of sales come from 20% of customers.

• 80% of problems are due to 20% of causes.

• 80% of productivity can come from 20% of the most important tasks

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Of course, this principle isn't always exact; sometimes the proportion is different, perhaps 70/30 or 90/10. But the important takeaway is this: a small part has a huge impact.

I imagine you're already sensing the connection this has to learning Spanish.

I'm now going to show you 5 areas of learning where you can apply this principle and, in doing so, maximize your results with minimal effort. This is going to save you a ton of time and energy. Ready? Let's go!

Applying 80/20 to Your Spanish Learning

1. 20% of Vocabulary = 80% of Daily Use. In any language, a minority of words (the most frequent ones) constantly appear in conversations, movies, books, and news. For example, in English, with just the 1000 most frequent words, you can understand over 80% of everyday language.

   Practical application: Prioritize learning the most common vocabulary (common verbs, connectors, basic nouns).

2. 20% of Grammatical Structures = 80% of Effective Communication. Most everyday conversations can be maintained with just a few verb tenses and basic structures: present, past, future, conditional, pronouns, negatives, questions. Practical application: Instead of studying all grammar from the beginning, first master what's most useful and common (e.g., "quiero," "me gusta," "voy a," "tengo que", etc.).

3. 20% of Study Activities = 80% of Progress. Not all study activities have the same impact. Some drive much more progress:

   1. Speaking regularly

   2. Listening to comprehensible input

   3. Writing with feedback

   4. Active review (flashcards, Anki)

   Practical application: Identify the activities that help you remember, use, and understand the language most effectively, and make them your daily priority.

4. 20% of Errors = 80% of Misunderstandings Often, a few key errors (like poor pronunciation of important sounds or incorrect use of a preposition) cause the majority of communication problems.

   Practical application: Ask for specific feedback and focus on correcting your most frequent and impactful errors.

5. 20% of Topics = 80% of Conversations Topics like introducing yourself, talking about work, food, hobbies, family, travel... represent the majority of real-life situations.

   Practical application: Intensely practice these topics before dedicating time to less common vocabulary or subjects.

Applying the Pareto Principle allows you to study smart, not excessively. It's not about working harder, but working smarter, focusing on what truly accelerates your learning.

Hasta mañana,

Leo

Why?

Because that will be the first step towards quitting Spanish altogether. You'll feel frustrated, you'll declare Spanish a scam, and you'll throw in the towel.

Reading is important. It builds vocabulary, and if you read aloud, it helps your pronunciation. But you must read books that are appropriate for your level. I will not get tired of saying it.

Think about it. If you had tried to read many of the books that interest you today when you were in middle school, you probably would have given up on reading entirely. Not because those books are bad, but simply because you weren't ready for them.

In the same way, books written for native speakers are not designed for beginners. Reading them will be the fastest way to stop learning Spanish.

And that's why today I want to tell you about a different kind of book you might not know about: graded readers. These books are also known as "lecturas graduadas" in Spanish.

Why are they called that?

Because they are adapted to a specific language proficiency level. You'll find graded readers from beginner to advanced levels. These books strip away all the language complexities to give you the essence of the story. So you get all the best parts without the difficulty that comes with a book for native speakers.

You might be wondering how you'll progress if you read these books, thinking that if they're for beginners, they'll be too easy and you won't learn "real" Spanish. Nothing could be further from the truth!

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These books are specifically designed to help you progress in the most effective and fastest way possible. They do it by:

• Presenting you with the most important vocabulary, leaving out secondary words you don't need right now.

• Including numerous repetitions. Did you know studies suggest you need to see a word in context at least 7 times before you memorize it? Well, in these books, you'll see important words more than 7 times.

• They also repeat grammatical structures, helping them imprint in your mind.

• They are stories. This is crucial because it means you'll learn the vocabulary you need without having to memorize word lists, just by having fun... by reading!

For these and other reasons, I absolutely recommend that you turn to graded readers to start reading or to advance your Spanish.

You'll see this reflected in the article I wrote about it: Best Spanish Books for Your Level

There, you'll also discover:

• How to know your current level.

• More about the 5-finger rule (which I'll talk about in more detail tomorrow).

• A list of my essential graded readers for each level.

• As well as a recommendation for a community where you'll find many more suggestions.

I'm always here to help, so please don't hesitate to email me if you have any questions at all.

Buen lunes y hasta mañana,

Leo

Do you like what you read? Feel free to share. You help me a lot.

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At least, that's what happens to me with French. When I read, I feel incredibly fluent, and when I hear people speak, I get a huge urge to open my mouth, but to no avail, because I say nothing at all, haha.

As I mentioned the other day in this post, speaking is the number one skill we want to develop when learning another language. That's why I disagree with the part of the comprehensible input movement that leaves speaking for a late stage in learning. Frankly, it makes no sense to put off conversation.

Conversation is something you can practice from minute one, and it's one of the things that makes learning a language most fun.

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Because when you speak, that's when you truly realize you're learning.

And if you're learning, you're motivated.

And if you're motivated, you'll keep going.

Now, this doesn't mean you'll be ready to speak fluently overnight. There are several conditions.

What do you think they are?

Pause for a moment and consider.

If you haven't thought of it, the first condition is having vocabulary.

Yes, it seems obvious, but I have come across beginner students who would already like to talk about economics, politics and philosophy, but cannot yet order a coffee. Therefore, it is important to underline: you need vocabulary. From the general to the specific.

For example, even if it's just to greet or say goodbye, you need this minimum:

• ¡Hola! (Hello!)

• ¿Cómo estás? (How are you?)

• Bien, ¿y tú? (Good, and you?)

• Bien, también. (Good, too.)

• ¡Adiós! (Goodbye!)

If you haven't learned these words, it's not possible to have that conversation.

But knowing these words by heart or understanding them on paper isn't enough. You also need to practice speaking. You need to be fluent with them. And that's what fluency really is. Fluency isn't about knowing many words; it's about being able to use the words you do know with agility.

To dive deeper into this issue, I invite you to read my article: Why Can I Read Spanish Better Than I Speak?

In this article, I give you practical tips to overcome that gap and start speaking once and for all.

Once you have read it, come back here and tell me which strategy you found most meaningful to improve your conversation. I'll be happy to read it.

Nos vemos mañana con más,

Leo

That's why I want to give you 5 strategies you can start applying today to dramatically improve your ability to communicate in Spanish.

1. Talk out loud. Even when you're just reading, it's incredibly beneficial for developing conversation skills to say the words out loud. Beyond that, you can also talk to yourself. For example: "Ahora voy a llamar a mi amiga" (Now I'm going to call my friend), "Ahora quiero comer" (Now I want to eat). It might sound a bit silly, but it's a strategy some students have found quite useful.

2. Do language exchanges. Did you know there are tons of websites out there for finding a language exchange partner? HelloTalk and Lingobongo are just a couple of the platforms my students use to connect with exchange partners.

3. Record yourself. Again, this might sound odd, but it's a fantastic way to be objective about your pronunciation. When you listen to yourself from an outsider's perspective, you can pinpoint what you're doing wrong and improve. This is something I really enjoy about Rocket Languages. In every audio exercise, my voice is recorded, and I can listen to myself and compare it with the model. It's a tremendously effective way to improve pronunciation.

4. Do role-plays. Whether it's with your exchange partner, your tutor, by yourself, or even in real life. Putting yourself in a specific situation (at the restaurant, the store, the supermarket) is an excellent way to jump into the deep end and start using the language.

5. Love your mistakes. Traditional education often teaches us that errors should be avoided. However, the truth is that mistakes will be your best teacher. That's why you must learn to love them. Because when you make them, that's when you truly learn. So, make mistakes and learn from them. Your Spanish will become unstoppable!

If you want to dive deeper into this topic and build a solid foundation for your speaking ability, I invite you to read my article: Top Tips For Speaking Spanish Easily.

There, in addition to the strategies mentioned, you'll find more tips to help you speak more and better. Plus, I answer some common questions my students ask, such as:

• How to establish a learning routine?

• How fast can I learn Spanish?

• Is Duolingo is good for Spanish?

Stay curious, stay learning, the goal is the path.

Nos vemos mañana con más,

Leo

Affiliate Disclaimer: Please note that the link to Rocket Languages in this email is an affiliate link. This means if you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products and services I genuinely believe in and use myself.

To recap, acquisition-based resources typically involve a story where you naturally pick up vocabulary or a specific grammatical structure. These elements aren't isolated; they appear within a concrete story.

Learning-based resources also aim to teach you vocabulary or grammar, but they do so by presenting lists, charts, or infographics.

If you need to delve deeper into these concepts, you can revisit yesterday's email here:

Today, I promised we'd explore how to make the most of these resources to achieve our ultimate goal: fluency.

First, I highly recommend using both types of resources in parallel. To show you how, I'll share how I apply this to my own French learning journey.

Every day, I study a specific topic in French using an app. This app presents me with a particular theme, like "the family," for instance. To study the topic, the app shows me family vocabulary and then prompts me to do various activities where I have to use that vocabulary. These activities might include ordering a sentence, filling in blanks, writing the word, saying sentences using the word, and so on.

All of this falls under "learning" French, as I'm making a deliberate effort to memorize the vocabulary.

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In addition to this, several times a week, I watch stories in French. These are stories specifically designed for beginners like me. In some of these stories, the narrator will talk about their family. To do this, they won't show me isolated words but rather present them within a broader context. They'll show me images and help me connect with the vocabulary through the story they're telling.

When done this way, the learning of that specific vocabulary becomes much more solidified. I'll have seen and heard the words over and over, and I'll have used them in different ways. This is how I can leverage both vocabulary lists and stories to truly learn and acquire French. With this approach, that topic will be completely imprinted on my mind.

Nos vemos mañana con más,

Leo

I explained that acquiring is a process where we habituate ourselves to something, eventually making it our own. There's no deliberate effort; instead, it's a focused habituation.

Learning, on the other hand, is the opposite. We make a deliberate effort to put something into our brains.

To illustrate this difference, I used the example of your native language. That's not something you learned — you never made a deliberate effort to make your native language part of you — but rather something you acquired by being surrounded by other speakers.

In contrast, a skill like learning to multiply is something you learned deliberately in school, putting effort into it.

So, how does this help you with Spanish?

I want you to know that there are two types of resources you can use to advance your Spanish. Some resources help you "acquire" Spanish, and others help you "learn" Spanish.

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Resources that help you acquire Spanish typically have these characteristics:

• They consist of a story.

• The speaker's speed is slower than that of native speakers in everyday conversation.

• There's a lot of context.

• Information isn't presented directly but is mixed with other elements.

Resources that help you learn Spanish are characterized by the following:

• They feature lists, graphs, or tables.

• The speaking speed is generally that of everyday native speakers.

• There's no broader context beyond the specific topic you're learning at that moment.

• You learn a study topic in a direct way.

In my opinion, neither resource is "better" than the other. Instead, these resources serve different moments and objectives in your learning journey, and what I'd like you to understand is when to use each one.

But we'll dive deeper into that tomorrow. For now, I simply want you to learn how to identify them.

Watch this video:

And now watch this one:

Now tell me:

1. Which video aligns more with language "acquisition," and which one more with "learning" the language?

2. Which do you think was more useful for you?

3. How do you imagine you'd like to use these resources?

Leave your responses in the comments! Or answer this email!

I'm really looking forward to reading your answers.

Hasta mañana con más,

Leo

P.S. I want to share with you something we say in Spanish that I said to my student today:

“Sin prisa pero sin pausa.” (No rush, but no pause either).

We say this to remember that it is better to be constant doing a little, than inconsistent doing a lot.

If you want to see other phrases like this one, visit the last website article: Motivational Phrases For Learning Spanish

P.S. If you're enjoying my emails, please spread the word and send this to a friend who also wants to improve their Spanish.

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When our class finished, he said to me: "This was a really good class. My brain feels super active!"

I joked, "Maybe you should run a half-marathon every week, haha!"

This little exchange highlights something crucial: the importance of being in a good mental state before you dive into studying.

How many times has this happened to you? You're trying to understand something, but no matter how hard you try, it just won't click. Some days, everything just seems confusing.

When that happens, stop! There's no need to push through. Take a break, and when you feel refreshed, come back to it. You'll be amazed at how much easier everything seems.

It's a consistent pattern. Often, it's not that a topic is inherently difficult; it's that we don't have the right mental disposition to tackle it.

To help you cultivate that optimal mental state, I've written this article: The Secret To Staying Consistent: Building A Spanish Study Routine.

In this article, I'll reveal:

• Why studying for 20 minutes is often more effective than slogging through 3 hours.

• What the 80/20 rule is and how it explains how you can get 80% of your results from just 20% of your effort.

• How to create a study routine that actually delivers results.

• Crucially: how to stay motivated when you're learning Spanish.

• Clever study hacks to boost your learning.

• Why learning Spanish might just be the best thing you're doing for your brain right now.

• The common mistakes you might be making that are slowing your progress.

If you apply what I share in this article, you'll probably be able to tell your teacher the same thing my student told me: "Today, I feel euphoric!"

After you read the article, I want you to tell me what you found most useful and what you'll start applying today!

Nos vemos mañana con más,

Leo

My friend Mustafa from Jordan recently faced a big decision: pursue his specialty in Germany or Spain?

Believe it or not, he chose Spain, largely because—as he put it—'Between German and Spanish, there's a big gap in terms of the learning curve!' And he's spot on1.

If you're dreaming of speaking Spanish but feel overwhelmed by where to begin, I get it. It can feel like a jumble in your head.

That's why I've put together my 10 Top Tips to kickstart your Spanish learning journey effectively.

In this essential guide on my website, you'll discover:

• The 10 fundamental things you absolutely must know before you even open a textbook.

• The main challenges you're likely to face, and practical strategies to overcome them.

• How to master Spanish pronunciation so you sound more like a native, less like a tourist.

• My expert advice on choosing the right tools for truly effective and enjoyable learning.

• Answers to the most common questions people ask me about learning Spanish.

Ready to clear the confusion and start speaking Spanish with confidence?

10 TOP TIPS FOR LEARNING SPANISH!

Once you've devoured the article, hit reply and let me know: What's the first tip you're going to implement?

¡Hasta pronto!

Leo