Moving Up: How to Keep Learning Spanish After the Basics

By Sofía Ghilioni

Reading time: 0 minute

March 03, 2025

Contents

Introduction

What Counts as “Basic Spanish”?

Why Keep Going? The Power of Progress

1. Grow Your Vocabulary Every Day

2. Focus on Spanish Pronunciation

3. Learn Intermediate Grammar

4. Talk to Native Speakers

5. Listen to Real Spanish Often

6. Read, Write, and Think in Spanish

7. Use Spanish Learning Tools & Resources

8. Overcome Common Challenges

9. Avoid These Common Mistakes

10. Set Goals and Celebrate Wins

Final Thoughts: Your Spanish Journey Continues

Introduction

Learning Spanish is an exciting journey. It’s more than just memorizing words, it’s about opening yourself to new people, cultures, music, and ideas. If you’ve already learned the basics, you might be asking: What now? How do I continue learning Spanish?

This guide will help you figure out the next steps after beginner Spanish. No matter if you want to travel, chat with locals, or become fluent, we’ll help you improve your Spanish. Here are some simple tips you can start using today.

What Counts as “Basic Spanish”?

Before moving ahead, let’s define the basics. Most Spanish for beginners courses teach:

Basic Spanish vocabulary (colors, days, foods, family)
Common greetings and expressions
Simple grammar like present tense verbs and sentence structure
Spanish alphabet pronunciation
How to introduce yourself or ask simple questions

If you’ve learned these, congratulations! You’ve built a strong foundation. Now it's time to move beyond basic Spanish and focus on advancing in Spanish step by step.

Why Keep Going? The Power of Progress

Once you’ve got the basics down, the real fun begins. When you continue learning Spanish, you unlock:

Deeper conversations with native speakers
Understanding songs, shows, books, and memes
Career benefits in jobs that need bilingual speakers
Easier travel to Spanish-speaking countries
Stronger cultural connections

The key is to stay consistent and keep setting new goals. Spanish learning progress takes time, but if you follow a smart plan, you’ll get there.

1. Grow Your Vocabulary Every Day

Learning new words daily is one of the best ways to keep progressing in Spanish. The more words you know, the easier it is to express yourself and understand others.

How to Do It:

Use flashcards (physical or digital with apps like Anki or Quizlet)
Label things in your room with their Spanish names
Keep a word journal, write 5 new words daily
Try themes: learn 10 food words one day, 10 travel words the next
Practice using each word in a sentence

Learning vocabulary helps you go beyond beginner Spanish and prepares you for intermediate Spanish conversations.

2. Focus on Spanish Pronunciation

Good pronunciation helps you speak clearly and understand others. Even if you know a lot of words, it doesn’t help if people can’t understand you.

Tips to Improve:

Listen to native speakers in YouTube videos, podcasts, and Spanish songs
Repeat what you hear (this is called shadowing)
Practice tongue twisters (trabalenguas)
Learn tricky sounds, like how to roll the “r” or pronounce “j” like an English “h”
Keep working on your Spanish alphabet pronunciation to say words correctly

These tips are great for anyone wondering how to keep improving Spanish after basics.

3. Learn Intermediate Grammar

Now that you know present tense, let's dive into intermediate Spanish tips. You’ll learn to use various verb tenses and moods.

What to Learn Next:

Past tenses: Preterite (finished actions) and Imperfect (ongoing or repeated actions)
Future tense: How to talk about things that will happen
The subjunctive: For expressing hopes, doubts, and possibilities

This can feel tricky, but don’t worry! You can learn it step by step. Use grammar books, apps, and online lessons to study these topics slowly.

Pro tip: Don’t study grammar alone. Always try using new grammar in real writing or conversations to lock it in.

4. Talk to Native Speakers

Want to advance in Spanish fast? Practice speaking as much as you can. It’s one of the fastest ways to move up from beginner to intermediate Spanish.

How to Practice Speaking:

Find a language exchange partner using apps like HelloTalk, Speaky, or Tandem
Hire a tutor on iTalki, Preply, or Comligo
Join local Spanish language meetups
Talk to friends or family who speak Spanish
Record yourself speaking and listen back

The more you speak, the better you get. Don’t worry about making mistakes they're part of the Spanish learning journey.

5. Listen to Real Spanish Often

Listening helps you understand real-world Spanish, how people actually speak. It trains your ear and makes conversations easier.

Where to Start:

Watch Spanish TV shows with subtitles (start with Netflix or YouTube)
Listen to podcasts for beginners (like “Coffee Break Spanish” or “SpanishPod101”)
Tune in to Spanish music learn the lyrics and sing along
Try Spanish radio stations online

This type of practice builds both vocabulary and listening skills, and helps you keep making Spanish progress every week.

6. Read, Write, and Think in Spanish

If you want to how to build fluency, start using Spanish in your everyday thinking, reading, and writing.

Easy Ideas to Try:

Keep a Spanish journal about your day
Read short books, news articles, or even Instagram captions in Spanish
Change your phone language to Spanish
Write captions or tweets in Spanish
Think in Spanish, start by naming what you see around you

This pushes your brain to use Spanish more naturally and helps you grow beyond the basics.

7. Use Spanish Learning Tools & Resources

Learning a language doesn’t mean doing it alone. There are many tools to help you track your Spanish learning progress and stay on course.

Try These Tools:

Spanish level assessments: Take a Spanish proficiency test online every few months to see how you're doing
Fluency scale tools: Learn where you are on the CEFR Spanish level chart (A1 to C2)
Language progress tracker apps: Like LingQ or Language Transfer
Comligo learning platform: Offers structured lessons from beginner to advanced

Knowing where you are and what’s next keeps you motivated on your Spanish learning journey.

8. Overcome Common Challenges

Problem: “I don’t have time.”

Solution: Study in small bursts, 15 minutes a day is enough! Use apps during your commute or lunch break.

Problem: “I’m losing motivation.”

Solution: Set small goals and reward yourself. For example, complete 10 lessons = watch one Spanish movie.

Problem: “I’m afraid of making mistakes.”

Solution: Mistakes help you grow. Every error teaches you something new, don’t let fear stop your progress.

9. Avoid These Common Mistakes

Even motivated learners can slow themselves down. Watch out for these common problems:

Only learning grammar and ignoring speaking or listening
Skipping review of past topics you need to keep using old material
Not using Spanish in real life; practice with real people, not just apps
Comparing yourself to others; everyone learns at their own pace
Not having a clear goal; it’s easier to stay focused when you know why you’re learning

10. Set Goals and Celebrate Wins

To make real progress, you need clear, realistic goals. And you need to track your Spanish learning progress as you go.

Sample Goals:

“I want to have a 5-minute conversation with a native speaker this month.”
“I will read my first book in Spanish by the end of the semester.”
“I will complete all lessons in an intermediate Spanish course by summer.”

Celebrate small victories, like understanding your first Spanish joke or ordering food without switching to English. These moments matter!

Final Thoughts: Your Spanish Journey Continues

If you’ve already learned the basics, you’ve taken a big first step. Now it's time to build on that foundation and explore the next steps after beginner Spanish.

Your learning journey should include:

Growing your vocabulary
Practicing pronunciation
Mastering intermediate grammar
Engaging in conversations with native speakers
Using resources to measure your Spanish progress
Staying consistent and motivated

The path from beginner to advanced isn’t always straight. But with patience, smart strategies, and a love for the language, you’ll get there.

What’s Next?

If you’re wondering what to do after learning Spanish basics, here’s your action list:

Review your basic grammar and vocabulary
Set one language goal for the next 30 days
Sign up for a Spanish proficiency test online to know your current level
Start listening to Spanish content every day
Join an online class or conversation group
Use a language progress tracker to stay on target

Ready to Level Up?

Your Spanish learning journey doesn’t end with “Hola” and “¿Cómo estás?” It’s just beginning. With the right mindset and tools, you’ll continue growing your skills and enjoy every step of the way. These are some simple but powerful daily Spanish habits you can implement.

So whether you're practicing for fun, travel, or work continue learning Spanish. Let your language skills take you further than you ever imagined.

Sofía Ghilioni

Academic Team

Sofía Ghilioni is a passionate Spanish teacher from Rosario, Argentina, with years of experience teaching children. She loves connecting with students through language and culture. A fan of music, travel, and animals, Sofía brings energy and warmth to every class, making learning Spanish a joyful experience.