Practicing Speaking Spanish: A Realistic Guide for Adult Learners

In this post: In this post, learn how adult learners can practice speaking Spanish with realistic, supportive strategies that actually work.

When I quit my job, sold my car, and moved to Barcelona to learn Spanish, there was an uncomfortable stretch of time where I could understand most of what people were saying to me… but when it was my turn to speak, I would freeze.

Immersing yourself in Spanish…

…is not a guarantee you’ll just start speaking.
(Me at Parque Guell in Barcelona)

I knew the words. I understood the conversation. But my Spanish came out slow, awkward, and much more childlike than I would have liked.

If you understand Spanish fairly well but still don’t feel comfortable speaking it, you’re not alone. When I was living in Mexico City in 2016, my Spanish had reached a solid intermediate level, but I was still shy about speaking. Which is why I started signing up for Spanish tours in and around the city. It forced me to be surrounded by native Spanish speakers for hours at a time.

In my experience, this is how most adults go through the process of learning Spanish: you progress rapidly in the early stages. Then your progress stalls.

While this is a completely normal language learning stage, it can leave you questioning yourself. 

But here’s something I’ve learned as an adult who became fluent in Spanish and works with lots of Spanish learners:

You’re not “bad” at Spanish. And you’re “doing something wrong.”

You’re right at that exciting (but frustrating) intermediate stage where doing what you’ve always done doesn’t seem to work. And your Spanish-speaking practice needs intentional support.

Read on and get the answers to the burning questions I had when I was learning to speak Spanish. These are the exact questions I get the most from adult learners.

In this post, you’ll learn:

• Why speaking Spanish feels harder than other skills

• How to practice speaking Spanish even if you don’t have a partner

• What really helps you speak more confidently as an adult

• How listening, reading, and writing support speaking

• What to focus on next if you feel stuck at intermediate in conversations.

Hola, soy Dominique,

I learned Spanish as an adult and spent years living and working in Spanish-speaking locations, including Barcelona and Mexico City. I’ve experienced the freezing, the self-doubt, and the frustration of “knowing” Spanish but not feeling confident speaking it. Today, I help adult learners move through that exact stage with strategies that work.

Why is speaking Spanish harder than reading or listening?

Speaking Spanish asks so much more of you than understanding does.

When you read or listen, you recognize words and ideas. When you speak, you have to find your words in real time, put them together, and say them out loud. 

And if you’re like most of us, you have to do it all while feeling self-conscious.

That gap between your ability to understand and your ability to speak can feel huge for adults. 

You’re used to expressing yourself intelligently in your native language. So when you find yourself unsure or hesitant in Spanish, it can feel like the ground is moving underneath your feet.

That’s normal for language learning!

And it’s only natural if you’re wondering how long this ‘awkward stage’ lasts and what “conversational” really means. 

Let’s break that down in detail here:
How Long Does It Take to Become Conversational in Spanish?

Struggling to move past intermediate Spanish? This free 12-step Spanish learning plan was created by someone who’s been there.

How can I practice speaking Spanish if I don’t have a conversation partner?

I hear this all the time.

And if I’m being honest? I’m actually glad when someone asks me this.

Because it usually means they’re not quite ready to throw themselves into real-life conversations yet.  And that’s okay.

When I first moved to Barcelona, I thought living there would magically make me speak more. But the truth? 

If you’re nervous about speaking, you don’t suddenly become brave just because you’re surrounded by Spanish. On the contrary. You tend to go quiet.

Remember this:
You do not need to jump straight into conversations with native speakers to start improving your Spanish speaking.

In fact, for many adults, that’s the fastest way to shut down.

What you need first is low-pressure practice. Practice where no one is judging you. Practice where you can try something, mess it up, laugh, and try again.

For example:

• Read a short paragraph out loud, twice. The first time for meaning, the second time just to make it flow.

• Write out a short role-play for something you’d love to be able to say (ordering coffee, asking for directions, introducing yourself) and actually rehearse it.

• Record yourself talking for one minute about your day. Yes, it feels awkward. But listening back can be surprisingly empowering.

• Or sing along to a Spanish song you love until your pronunciation starts to feel more natural.

These aren’t random tricks. They’re stepping stones.

If you want the full breakdown of how to use each of these (and why they work so well for adults), I share all five of my favorite strategies here:

 5 Creative Ways to Practice Speaking Spanish without a Conversation Partner

Is it normal to freeze or feel embarrassed when speaking Spanish?

Sí, claro.

As an adult, you freeze because you don’t want to sound “wrong.” 

And you may have even already experienced several red-face moments in the past and don’t feel like repeating them.

Freezing doesn’t mean you’re not ready to speak. It usually means you need:

• more preparation

• more repetition

• more chances to practice that feel positive or confidence-building

Here’s something I learned the hard way:

Speaking confidence grows best when you give yourself frequent practice and permission to practice imperfectly.

If you’re naturally more reserved or need time to warm up in conversations, you may also relate to this post on speaking Spanish as an introvert.

Can you really improve your Spanish speaking on your own?

Most of the people I work with are surprised to find out just how much your Spanish-speaking skills can benefit from practicing on your own. This is especially true when you’ve already spent a few years learning the basics.

Your speaking will improve faster when you take a holistic approach to learning. In other words, when you support it with other skills that give you something to say, build your vocabulary, and reinforce your fluency in non-stressful practice sessions you can control.

In fact…

Adult learners often make more progress when they stop treating speaking as a standalone skill.

Let’s look at how three additional language skills can really help you push the needle on your conversation skills.

Master the preterit and imperfect tenses with clear grammar lessons, engaging assignments, and active listening so that you can vividly share your past experiences in Spanish.

 #1. How listening helps you speak Spanish

If Spanish still sounds “too fast,” or you miss parts of conversations, speaking will feel harder than it needs to be.

When you struggle to follow conversations, your brain works overtime just to understand, leaving little energy to respond. 

Improving your listening skills helps you pick up on patterns, anticipate what’s coming next, and feel more relaxed when it’s your turn to speak.Which is why listening is often one of the foundational skills I tell my students to work on. 

Here’s a post to help you with that:
Spanish Listening Practice: Why Do Spanish Speakers Talk So Fast?

#2 How reading can help you speak Spanish

Most people don’t think of cracking a book when they struggle with conversations in Spanish, but spending time with a book can be a game-changer.

Reading gives you exposure to vocabulary, sentence structures, and expressions you’ll later use in conversation. I can still remember the way Spanish words seemed to roll off my tongue simply because I had read them before.

For intermediate learners, reading enjoyable books on your level is one of the best ways to build fluency without pressure. It helps you internalize language, so it’s easier to recall when you speak.

If you’d like suggestions for where to start, this post can help:
Intermediate Spanish Reading: 7 Fun Books for Fluency

The LIVE community experience for intermediate Spanish learners to develop reading and writing skills through the deep dive of a contemporary Spanish book.

#3 How writing can kickstart your Spanish speaking skills

Writing is one of the most underrated tools for improving speaking.

When you write in Spanish, you slow down and give yourself time to find your words. You experiment, make mistakes, and build sentences without the pressure of responding instantly. Over time, those words and structures become easier to access when you speak.

I often describe writing as a dress rehearsal for conversation.

If you’d like ideas you can try right away, see:
How to Write in Spanish and Boost Your Fluency

What about real conversations and Spanish immersion?

At some point, speaking with real people becomes essential. But that doesn’t mean you need to throw yourself into uncomfortable situations before you’re ready. 

The goal is to create meaningful, manageable opportunities to use Spanish in ways that feel supportive, not overwhelming.

If you’re curious about creative ways to build real conversation into your learning, especially while traveling, this post is a good place to start:
Spanish Immersion for Adults: 7 Creative Ways to Talk to Real People

And remember, if you live in the US, you may find Spanish-speaking opportunities in your community.

What should you focus on first to feel more confident speaking Spanish?

If you’re feeling stuck, try working in this order:

1. Strengthen listening so conversations feel less tiring

2. Make reading a habit to build vocabulary and structures

3. Write to organize your thoughts and prepare for speaking

4. Practice speaking in low-pressure ways before high-stakes conversations

You don’t need to do everything at once. Small, consistent steps make a bigger difference than forcing yourself into situations you’re not ready for.

If you’re looking for structured support and resources at the intermediate level, you may want to explore:

• The Intermediate Spanish Kit (free)

• The ELÉVATE Spanish Book Immersion Program

• Simple Spanish Storytelling for guided speaking through narrative

Takeaways

• Speaking Spanish feels hard for many adults, especially at the intermediate level

• Freezing or feeling embarrassed is normal…and temporary

• You can absolutely practice speaking effectively even on your own

• Listening, reading, and writing all support confident speaking

• With the right strategies, speaking becomes easier and more natural over time

If there’s one thing I can tell you as someone who’s been there , it’s this: 

Be patient with yourself. Speaking Spanish is not about perfection; it’s about connection, preparation, and practice.

And with the right support, it does get easier.

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