Guides for adult learners

Before you start: how adults actually learn Spanish

Longer reads on method, time and motivation. For the grammar itself, go to the free video lessons.

Getting started · For adult learners The best way to learn Spanish as an adult Why adults are not worse at languages, why apps fail them, and the five principles that actually work — from 40 years of teaching Spanish to adult beginners. 10 min read Getting started · Realistic expectations How long does it take to learn Spanish? How long it really takes to learn Spanish, by level: the hour counts behind A1, B1 and B2, what 10 minutes a day actually gets you, and why consistency beats intensity. 11 min read

Where to startThe grammar, by topic

01 Spanish verbs Ser, estar, tener and poder: the four verbs every Spanish sentence needs, with conjugation tables, examples and a video lesson for each. 4 video lessons · A1–A2 02 Spanish tenses Present, progressive, future, ir a, future continuous, conditional and future perfect: the Spanish tenses that carry a conversation, one video each. 7 video lessons · A1–A2–B1–B2 03 Past tenses Preterite, imperfect, present perfect, past perfect and past perfect continuous: how the Spanish past tenses fit together, with tables and video lessons. 5 video lessons · A2–B1–B2 04 Modal verbs Can, could, may, might, should and must in Spanish: poder, podría, puede que, debería and tener que, explained one video lesson at a time. 6 video lessons · A2–B1 05 Grammar basics Articles, possessives, object pronouns and question words: the small words of basic Spanish grammar, with tables and a video lesson for each. 5 video lessons · A1–A2 06 Prepositions Spanish prepositions by the question they answer: where (en, sobre), when (a, de, por), how (con, sin), and how long (desde, hace, llevar). 6 video lessons · A2–B1 07 Subjunctive What the Spanish subjunctive is, when it appears, and the first trigger every learner needs: cuando + subjunctive, plus the conditional for 'if' sentences. 2 video lessons · B1–B2