Three stretches, and what you can do at the end of each. Counted in words you know rather than days you have done — a day can be got through, a word cannot.
A footing
Ready nowSay hello. Ask for things. Say no. Tell someone what you did today, in short pieces. People understand you, even when it is not perfect. You can follow two people talking slowly about something you know.
- words known
- 600–900
- of what people say
- 85–88%
- hours, roughly
- 40–60
What runs here: the ear · things you can point at · words that look like English · speaking out loud · the home register
Following along
Partly writtenTwo people talk at normal speed about everyday things, and you follow it. You can join in. You do not plan the words first — you just say them.
- words known
- 1,800–2,200
- of what people say
- 92–95%
- hours, roughly
- 150–250
- written so far
- about 840
What runs here: longer listening · reading for volume · the commonest 1,000 · talking without a script
Every lesson we have is now on the path, in order. What is missing is size. We have not written enough Spanish yet to take you this far.
Comfortable
Not written yetListen to something made for Spanish speakers, not for learners — a show, a film, a stranger on the street. New words go by and you keep up anyway.
- words known
- 4,000–5,000
- of what people say
- 97–98%
- hours, roughly
- 400–600
- written so far
- about 840
What runs here: volume, mostly · reading whatever you like · speaking with people
This stretch is mostly hours, not lessons. What you need here is a lot of Spanish to read and listen to, and our job is to keep track and stay out of your way. That is a different thing to build, and we have not built it.
The hours are wide on purpose and nobody should read a promise into them. Nothing on this page locks anything — every lesson is open from the first minute, whichever stretch you are on.
Back to the lessons