Daily Habits for Busy College Students to Learn Spanish Quickly

Learning Spanish for college students can be challenging. Given all the other class and credit requirements, the busy schedules, and holiday breaks, it’s no wonder that enrollment in foreign language classes in the United States has declined.

To meet the challenge of learning Spanish (or any other language), some daily discipline is required. In this article, we’ll discuss why daily habits are critical for new language acquisition as well as some Spanish language resources and learning tips for students.

Why Students Learn Spanish Quicker with Daily Habits

So, why has interest in learning Spanish declined at the college level? Even as the U.S. becomes more multilingual, interest in learning foreign languages, at least for college students, has plummeted. This disconnect can partially be explained by degree program requirements – if learning Spanish (or any other language) is not a prerequisite to gain a degree, many students opt out.

But this disparity can also be explained by outdated, often confusing learning methods. That’s where daily habits come into play. In order to learn Spanish fast for students, learning needs to extend beyond the classroom.

Daily habits lessen the heavy workload associated with most college-level language courses. They also transform learning Spanish for students into day-to-day lifestyle processes, not just another college course to take. In other words, habits force meaningful, positive, and productive change that extends well beyond the lecture hall.

What’s more? Consistent and steady practice helps boost long-term memory retention. This is one of the core principles of the Pimsleur Method™, our scientifically-proven technique to improve language skills quickly. Learning Spanish for any student on a daily basis actually strengthens the neural pathways in your brain – like regular exercise, consistent language practice bolsters the brain!

Simple Routines to learn Spanish for Busy College Students

On the surface, learning Spanish may seem difficult, especially for busy college students. But if you have the right systems and habits in place – not just vague goals, but applicable, accountable steps to ensure steady learning – progress will come!

Micro-Learning

One simple routine to learn Spanish for students is the micro-learning method. With this method, you implement short bursts of learning that you can accomplish practically anytime (between classes, during your lunch break, in the evening before bed, etc.). A sample micro-learning plan could be listening to audio lessons while walking to class every day – easily about 15 to 20 minutes of valuable instruction in your free time.

Supplement that with daily speaking exercises, even 5 to 10 minutes at a time. Then, every night before bedtime, do a quick review by doing some practice exercises. This review helps you evaluate your strengths and weaknesses, and you can base tomorrow’s micro-learning plan on today’s progress.

Building Vocabulary and Mastering Phrases

Another daily habit that’s helpful is concentrating on learning full Spanish phrases once you’ve established a basic working vocabulary. Phrases are the foundational building blocks of conversations, and Spanish for any student comes more naturally when phrases are internalized. With a core vocabulary in place, phrases can attach themselves to that framework and expedite your learning.

If you’re already taking Spanish as a college-level course, you’re most likely doing some amount of rote grammar and vocabulary lessons. These are helpful, up to a point. Take your learning to the next level and incorporate those words into useful, everyday phrases. Before you know it, you’ll be able to have a basic conversation with a native Spanish speaker. Below, you’ll find some additional suggestions for learning Spanish.

Targeted Learning

Pimsleur’s Latin American Spanish course has a new feature that tailors your learning to your goals: our AI Conversation Coach. With our Conversation Coach, you not only review what you’ve learned from our core Audio Lessons, but you also personalize conversation scenarios to get the most out of your daily language learning time. If you’re a college student, perhaps that means you’ll be chatting with our Conversation Coach about studying abroad in Mexico, visiting museums in Argentina, and learning how to order a meal in Peru. That doesn’t sound like your path? No problem! The Conversation Coach is customizable. And if your interests or goals change, then you can change your Conversation Coach scenarios. It’s the perfect way to build healthy language learning habits because you’ll be learning precisely what aligns with your goals.

Spanish Language Learning Tips for Students

Here are some tips & tricks that’ll help improve Spanish learning for any student:

Seek out Spanish-speaking classmates. A great way to learn Spanish fast for students is to test those language skills with the most active and intuitive feedback source: other students who speak Spanish! As you’re acquiring the language, having casual conversations with Spanish speakers provides invaluable input and allows you to nail down the correct pace, cadence, and pronunciation of the Spanish language.
Take your learning on the go. College students have busy schedules. Finding time to learn Spanish for students, while juggling a full class load and other commitments, can be a difficult task. With Pimsleur’s app, you’ll have access to world-class audio instruction while walking to class, working out in the gym, or even driving – our hands-free driving mode is a great way to learn Spanish while behind the wheel.
Focus on highly-applicable vocabulary. The more you use the Spanish you’re learning, the better. That’s where Pimsleur’s AI Conversation Coach is key – you can focus your language learning on interest areas that you’ll actually use! And you still have the backing of Pimsleur’s core Audio Lessons, providing an educational path that supports your language-learning journey as a whole.
Join a Spanish club. This is another great way to build positive and purposeful habits on your language learning journey. Plenty of universities offer Spanish clubs, which explore various parts of Spanish and Latin American culture – cuisine, theater, movies, literature, art. These clubs and associations are an ideal method for students to learn Spanish fast.
Set concise goals. Instead of “learning Spanish” as your goal, implement practical, easy-to-follow guidelines. For example, watch a Spanish-language program, learn 5 new phrases by Wednesday, go to a Mexican restaurant and order your food in Spanish. This helps hold you accountable as you build momentum with daily progress.

Start Learning Spanish While Furthering Your Studies

Balancing different classes while trying to learn Spanish has its challenges. But Pimsleur is making it easier to access Spanish language resources for students! We’re offering a 54% discount on Lifetime All Access and 30% off All Access Annual subscriptions for students. A discount and a new AI Conversation Coach? The perfect combination for the busy, language-curious college student.

Simply check your eligibility – it’s fast and easy! And once you start learning Spanish with Pimsleur, you’ll think learning a new language is fast and easy as well!

Best of luck as you learn the Spanish language. Remember – Pimsleur has all the tools and resources you need to acquire the language quickly, so take advantage of our special offer today!