How to Practice Spanish Speaking, With or Without a Partner

Practicing speaking is one of the most important and challenging parts of learning Spanish. For many learners, finding conversation partners can be difficult, but whether you have someone to practice with or not, there are effective ways to improve your speaking skills.

Practicing Without a Partner

If you don’t have a Spanish-speaking partner nearby, don’t worry. You can still make great progress practicing on your own:

1. Talk to Yourself Out Loud
Describe what you’re doing, narrate your day, or share your thoughts in Spanish. For example, say, “Ahora estoy preparando el desayuno” (Now I’m preparing breakfast). This builds fluency and helps your brain get used to forming sentences spontaneously.

2. Use Language Apps With Speech Recognition
Apps like Duolingo, Babbel, or Mondly have speaking exercises that let you practice pronunciation and get feedback. Even without a partner, you get immediate correction.

3. Shadowing Technique
Listen to native speakers on podcasts, videos, or movies and repeat exactly what they say, trying to copy their rhythm, intonation, and pronunciation. This helps your mouth and ears coordinate for more natural speech.

4. Record Yourself and Listen Back
Record short monologues or dialogues in Spanish. Listening to yourself helps you catch mistakes and track your progress over time.

5. Think in Spanish
Try to switch your internal thoughts to Spanish during daily activities. Thinking in the language helps you speak more smoothly when you do talk.

6. Practice With Scripts or Dialogues
Find simple conversations online and read them out loud, practicing pronunciation and flow.

7. Online Language Communities
Platforms like italki, Tandem, or HelloTalk let you chat, send voice notes, or have live conversations with native speakers worldwide. Even if you don’t have local partners, these communities are a great resource.

Practicing With a Partner

When you do have a conversation partner, take advantage of the opportunity with these tips:

1. Schedule Regular Practice Sessions
Consistency helps build habit and confidence. Even 15-30 minutes a few times a week is valuable.

2. Use Role-Playing
Practice common scenarios like ordering at a restaurant, asking for directions, or making small talk. This prepares you for real-life conversations.

3. Correct Each Other
Gently correct mistakes and explain why. This mutual feedback accelerates learning.

4. Mix Speaking and Listening
Listen actively when your partner talks, then respond or ask questions. This helps build natural conversational skills.

5. Use Conversation Prompts
Prepare topics or questions beforehand to avoid awkward silences and keep the conversation flowing.

6. Record Your Conversations
If both agree, record the sessions and review later. You can spot areas for improvement and celebrate progress.

7. Explore Cultural Topics
Talking about culture, traditions, or current events makes practice more engaging and meaningful.

Conclusion

Whether you have a partner or are practicing solo, speaking Spanish regularly is key to improving. Solo practice builds confidence and internal fluency, while conversations with partners develop your ability to respond in real time and use the language socially. Combining both approaches will help you become a confident Spanish speaker faster.

To learn more about Na’atik’s English language program for local and Indigenous students in Felipe Carrillo Puerto, visit our Impact Page. We are only able to provide this much needed program thanks to the support of generous donors and the funds raised from our award winning Maya and Spanish Immersion Program. If you would like to support our mission please consider donating today or take a look at our immersion programs and online class packages.