Introduction:

Spanish conversation practice is one of the best and quickest ways to bump up your language skills from an intermediate to an advanced level, but few people really know how to get the most out of each session.

Conversation classes should focus on fluency and be as fun and light-hearted as possible. I found that once I learned how to relax and go with the flow, I fell naturally into the rhythm of the Spanish language.

• Practice at Least 2-3 Times Per Week.

I found that conversation classes once a week really weren’t enough for me. The only real way to become fluent in Spanish is to speak as frequently as possible. Twice a week is a really good start, but three times a week is ideal. You don’t have to have long sessions—even 30 minutes three times a week can make a real difference.

• Find a Variety of People to Talk With.

I took conversation classes for about six months while living in Venezuela and for about two years while living in Argentina. I made sure that I had sessions organized with more than one person in both countries. I found the variety to be really important. I learned street slang from some, and formal speech, and an extensive vocabulary from others. With some we talked about our personal lives, with others we gossiped about cinema and art exhibitions.

• Expand Your Skills by Signing Up for Group Conversations.

I strongly recommend organizing a combination of both private conversation classes and group sessions. The key is to find a group of language learners who have a better level of Spanish than you. I found that by mixing with people who could speak better Spanish, I was able to learn new phrases and improve my own Spanish at a faster rate. One of the first group conversation classes I took was with language students who needed my help to converse. That didn’t help me at all.

• Invest in a Little Pre-conversation Preparation.

If your level of Spanish is anything between beginner to intermediate, it’s a good idea to read or watch something in Spanish before turning up to your conversation class—in order to have something to talk about. When first starting out, the most difficult thing about a conversation class is having the vocabulary to be able to keep the dialogue moving. By watching or reading something specific beforehand, you’ll arrive at your conversation class with a bank of vocabulary to draw upon and a topic in mind.

• Turn Note-taking into a Habit.

Get into the habit of taking a small notebook to the conversation sessions with you. Write down all new words that crop up during the class and re-read your notes throughout the week. This will help you familiarize yourself with the vocabulary and employ it more often.

• Find the Balance Between Questions and Answers.

Take it in turns to be the one who asks the questions or the one who responds when participating in conversation practice. Some native speakers enjoy asking lots of questions and others are more content to sit back and have you guide the class.

• Record Your Conversations.

If your conversation partner doesn’t object, one of the best things you can do to get the most out of your conversation classes is to record each session. Once the class is through, you can listen to the conversation over and over again. I used to use these recordings to reinforce what I’d learned during the session and to correct my pronunciation.

• Keep the Focus on Fluidity and Pronunciation.

Finally, to get the most out of the conversation sessions, it’s important to recognize that these classes are meant to improve fluidity and pronunciation. They’re not designed for grammar practice or for correcting poorly constructed sentences. You must make sure that you stay focused during these sessions, and that you don’t waste valuable time asking your conversation buddy to help you conjugate in the past tense.

• Conclusion

Think less, speak more, ignore your mistakes and keep talking with a smile. Conversation classes are all about fluidity, so avoid stopping in the middle of every sentence to make corrections. Just go with the flow, and you’ll be practicing your Spanish conversation like a rock star! Rock on!