When I boarded my first flight to Spain, I had Duolingo streaks, a pocket phrasebook, Google translate and high hopes that my Spanish would magically click the moment I landed in Madrid. Spoiler alert: it didn’t. While my trip was full of incredible experiences — sipping vermouth in Barcelona, getting wonderfully lost in the alleys of Seville, and chatting (or trying to) with locals in Granada — I quickly learned that the classroom Spanish I’d practiced didn’t always match what I needed on the ground. Now that I’ve lived the full traveller-with-basic-Spanish experience, here’s what I’d do differently next time — and what I recommend for anyone planning a trip to Spain with language learning in mind.
I believe I should have started learning sooner and focused more on speaking and listening. I started cramming Spanish about a month before my trip. Not terrible, but not ideal either. What I wish I’d done was begin three to six months earlier and focus less on vocabulary lists and more on speaking. Apps are great for basics, but real-life travel requires confidence in actual conversation. I knew how to say “Where is the train station?” but when someone answered me at full speed in Andalusian Spanish? Total panic.
On my return from Spain, I enrolled with Vocational Language Learning Centre where I am not only learning some structure behind the language but also doing a lot of practice with a native speaker.
On my return from Spain, I enrolled with Vocational Language Learning Centre where I am not only learning some structure behind the language but also doing a lot of practice with a native speaker.
Learn travel specific Spanish, not just textbook phrases. Textbook Spanish taught me “¿Dónde está la biblioteca?” but not how to ask a barista if they have soy milk. Or how to politely say “Can I sit here?” in a packed tapas bar.
The Spanish I actually needed involved:
The Spanish I actually needed involved:
- Ordering food confidently
- Asking for directions casually
- Booking accommodation
- Navigating public transport
Don't rely on English being an option. I was surprised by how little English was spoken in smaller towns — and even in parts of major cities. The more I moved off the tourist track, the more I had to rely on the Spanish I knew (which wasn't much). This was both intimidating and incredibly rewarding. Locals appreciated even my clumsiest attempts, and it opened doors that would’ve stayed shut had I stuck to English.
Prioritise listening comprehension. Reading and writing in Spanish came easier than listening. But in Spain, it’s all about keeping up with fast, colloquial, regional Spanish. The first time I heard someone drop half the letters from “¿Qué tal estás?” and say “¿Qué tal’ta?”, I realized how little I understood real-world conversation. Before your trip, listen to Spanish podcasts, YouTube channels, and TV shows — ideally from Spain. Turn on Spanish subtitles, then turn them off. This helped me tune my ear to the speed and rhythm of native speech.
My final thoughts: Learning Spanish while traveling in Spain was messy, humbling, and one of the most enriching parts of my journey. I made mistakes (lots), got laughed at (kindly), and slowly gained the confidence to say more than just “una cerveza, por favor.” Next time, I’ll be better prepared as I am nearly finished my Certificate in Social Proficiency with VLLC — but I’ll still leave room for those unexpected, unscripted language moments that make travel unforgettable.
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