I just moved to Spain not long ago, and I’ve seen a lot of people on the forums asking how long it takes to learn Spanish from scratch to an A1 level. It seems like everyone is a bit anxious. I just took my DELE A1 exam recently, so I thought I’d share my personal experience and insights. This post is purely my own journey, hopefully it can serve as a reference for newcomers!
Let’s get straight to the point: for me, by studying intensively for 1.5-2 hours every day, it took about 2.5 months. Of course, this timeline isn’t absolute; everyone’s learning ability and time commitment are different. If you’re a language prodigy or already know French or Italian, you’ll definitely be faster. I’m just an average person with so-so English skills, so my experience should serve as a realistic benchmark for most people starting their free Spanish A1 journey.
My A1 Learning Path
Timeline and Content Allocation
My method was pretty straightforward: I divided my day into dedicated study blocks. At the time, I was studying full-time, so I had a flexible schedule. If you’re a working professional, you might need to condense the schedule, but the approach is the same.
| Timeframe | Study Content | Key Focus |
|---|
| Weeks 1-2 | Pronunciation & Basic Grammar | Focus on mastering the alphabet, vowel/consonant sounds (especially the rolled ‘r’), noun gender, and articles, using good [Spanish A1 textbooks]. |
| Weeks 3-6 | Core Verb Conjugations & Daily Vocabulary | Concentrate on the present indicative conjugations of common verbs like ser, estar, tener, and ir. Use your textbook to learn vocabulary for greetings, self-introductions, family, numbers, and days of the week. |
| Weeks 7-8 | Sentence Practice & Listening Immersion | Start forming simple sentences to describe daily routines, e.g., ‘I wake up at 8 AM.’ Simultaneously, do tons of slow-paced A1-level listening exercises to train your ear. |
| Weeks 9-10 | Mock Tests & Review | Find official or sample DELE A1 exams to practice. Identify your weak spots—whether it’s vocabulary, listening, etc.—and focus on improving them. |
Some Potentially Useful Tips
- Don’t be afraid to speak! Even if you only know “Hola, ¿qué tal?”, say it boldly at the supermarket or cafe. Spaniards are incredibly friendly and will be happy you’re trying. No one will laugh if you make a mistake. Being shameless is your greatest asset here!
- Make use of your downtime. I had Duolingo and Memrise on my phone and would practice a few words while waiting for the bus or standing in line. It works wonders. Every little bit counts!
- Find a language partner. If you have Spanish friends, that’s ideal for your DELE A1 self-study. If not, you can find one on language exchange apps. Having someone to talk to will speed up your progress immensely. Just remember to be safe!
- Be patient with yourself. At first, verb conjugations will feel overwhelming and you won’t understand much when listening—that’s completely normal. Language learning is a gradual process of perseverance. If you stick with it, you’ll suddenly realize you’re understanding more and more. Don’t give up because of temporary difficulties.
Though I wanted to smash my keyboard a few times, I pushed through it, haha.
A1 is just the beginning; it’s the level that allows you to handle basic survival communication in Spain. With the right methods and persistence, two to three months is totally achievable. I hope my sharing gives you a bit of confidence. Let’s do this together! ¡Ánimo!
