Hey everyone, I’ve been a long-time lurker and finally decided to post to share some of my experiences self-studying Spanish to an A2 level over the past six months or so. I’m no expert, just an average person sharing my journey, hoping to offer a little guidance to those just starting out or struggling.
When I first arrived in Spain, I was completely clueless. Apart from ‘Hola’ and ‘Gracias’, I knew basically nothing about self-study Spanish or DELE A2 exam prep. For convenience, I started with Duolingo, using it daily. It’s okay for getting started and developing a feel for the language, but I soon realized it lacked a systematic approach. The grammar explanations were fragmented, and I often didn’t understand the reasoning behind the rules. After about a month of going down the wrong path, I decided I couldn’t continue like that and had to start learning systematically!
My Path to A2
After some serious thought, I decided to go back to the most traditional method: textbooks + workbooks. I chose the classic ‘Modern Spanish’. Although it’s a bit old, its grammar system is incredibly clear, much better for learning Spanish A2 than many flashy apps. I set a goal for myself to study one lesson a day and complete all the exercises. It was tough at first, especially verb conjugations—what a nightmare! Indicative, subjunctive… I seriously questioned my life choices and almost gave up. But sticking with it was incredibly effective. After finishing about half of the first book, I felt like the fundamental structure of the language was finally taking shape in my mind.
My Combination of Learning Resources
Of course, just reading books isn’t enough; listening, speaking, reading, and writing all need development. Below are some supplementary resources I found quite useful, presented in a table for easy viewing:
| Category | Recommended Resource | My Experience |
|---|
| Listening | Coffee Break Spanish | The host is Scottish, speaks at a moderate pace, and includes English explanations, which is very beginner-friendly. |
| Vocabulary | Anki / Memrise | Amazing tools for memorizing vocabulary, especially verb conjugations. You can create your own flashcards and review them daily. |
| Grammar | SpanishDict | Super convenient for looking up words and verb conjugations. It also provides example sentences, making it better than many other dictionary apps. |
| Reading | VeinteMundos | An online magazine specifically for learners. The articles are short, graded by difficulty, and come with accompanying audio. |
Finally, I want to say that there are no shortcuts in language learning; it’s all about day-to-day persistence. Even though I’m still a newbie at A2, I can at least stumble through simple tasks at the supermarket or the bank. That sense of accomplishment is the biggest motivation for me to keep going. My next goal is to tackle B1. Does anyone have good suggestions or a study group I could join? Let’s keep it up! ¡Ánimo!
