5 Habits I’ve Noticed in My Most Successful Spanish Students: Habit 2

If you’re here for the first time, let me introduce myself. I’m Karen, the creator of @easyspanishmedellin and the RRF™ Method, a method powered by neuroscience-based techniques to help professionals move from translating to thinking in Spanish.

I’ve been teaching Spanish for the past decade, and I’m a very passionate teacher who deeply admires her students. Over the years, I’ve learned a lot from my most disciplined students, and this series of articles is dedicated to sharing some of the habits that have helped them become real-life Spanish speakers. This time, I’m going to talk about habit number 2.

1. Habit #1: Make Spanish Part of Your Everyday Life
2. Habit #2: Speak Spanish Every Day
3. Habit #3: [Coming soon]
4. Habit #4: [Coming soon]
5. Habit #5: [Coming soon]

As I’ve mentioned before, most of my students have busy schedules because of their lifestyles. Besides, some of them live in non-Spanish-speaking countries, so finding people or time to practice speaking can be a challenge.

Is this your case too?

Well, this was one of the things that inspired the RRF™ Method. Let me explain.

The Spaced Repetition Effect Forces Your Brain to Rebuild the Memory

My students normally had 2 hours per week to practice Spanish, so I proposed dividing this time into four 30-minute sessions, following the Pomodoro Technique. The idea was simple: make Spanish a more frequent part of their everyday routine.

These lessons are not only short; they are also designed to create a flow in conversation. My students have a limited amount of time to respond to an idea or statement I introduce into the conversation. This forces the brain to think faster, get used to responding without stopping, and pay attention to the speaker.

I see this as a brain workout. Sometimes, we start with exercises to improve memory, followed by storytelling, active recall, and much more, depending on my students’ needs and interests.

But the magic happens 24 hours later.

The next day, the information is no longer completely available in your working memory, so you have to bring it back from long-term memory. That extra effort strengthens your ability to access the information in the future.

Long Sessions Have a Problem: Attention

One of the most limited resources teachers have in the classroom is attention. This has always been a challenge, but it has become even more challenging in this era.

That’s why the RRF™ Method reduces attentional fatigue by offering 30-minute lessons that can gradually become a habit.

This time span can also be helpful for students with ADHD, whose attention span may be more limited. I’ve had students in my virtual classroom with ADHD, and the progress they’ve made following this strategy has amazed me. It’s incredible to see.

Some of my students resisted the idea of studying four or five times a week, so they chose to book two sessions in a row, with a mandatory break of 5 or 10 minutes in between.

Both approaches work well because the break gives them time to “forget” some of the information and then forces their brains to recall words from long-term memory.

With this strategy, my students increased their exposure to the language and had more opportunities to use Spanish in real-life situations while also improving their memory.

Spaced repetition is one of the most studied strategies for learning, and research has consistently shown its positive effects. Some language apps are inspired by this approach, but in my experience, there is something different about recalling information in a fun, tailored environment guided by a human teacher.

The experience becomes more meaningful because you are recalling language that is connected to your interests, your experiences, and the person you are becoming in Spanish.

My invitation with this series of articles is for you to gradually transform your relationship with Spanish:

from something you have to study to something you naturally encounter to something you use every day.

And that’s where I come in. I’m here to help you build the strategies, habits, and confidence you need to use Spanish successfully in real-life situations.

So don’t wait until you have more time to start. Speak Spanish every day with the RRF™ Method by Easy Spanish Medellín.