In this episode of Conquering Spanish, host Tania Roman sits down with Adam, an international development professional from Washington, DC, who is no stranger to language learning. After more than fifteen years with Chinese, he set a goal in 2025 to learn Spanish deeply, and this conversation is an honest look at what that commitment really takes.

Adam shares why he wanted to connect with his neighbors and the Latino community in DC, how his experience learning Chinese shapes the way he approaches Spanish, and what has surprised him along the way. He also talks about his recent trip to Mexico City, Puebla, and Oaxaca, including a visit to a Zapotec pottery studio where he followed an entire presentation in Spanish.

He explains how he sustains momentum with a standing schedule of lessons alongside coaches Valeria and Ana, why he treats practice like going to the gym, and how he immerses himself daily through Netflix, local Spanish news, podcasts, and Spanish language comedians on Instagram.

At the center of the episode is a mindset worth borrowing: the journey is the destination, and the challenges are the fun part. If you have ever felt impatient with your progress, or wondered whether it is worth committing seriously to a language as an adult, this episode offers a grounded and encouraging perspective from someone who genuinely loves the process.

Start your own Spanish journey with a free trial lesson

In this episode of Conquering Spanish, host Tania Roman sits down with Brittany, a middle school counselor from Oregon, about a 20-year Spanish learning journey full of starts and stops. It is an honest look at what keeps an adult learner motivated when progress feels slow.

Brittany shares how her love for Spanish began in college, sparked by a roommate's mother from Mexico, and how it deepened through her appreciation for the culture, the food, the music, and the warmth of the people she has met. After years of classes, tutoring, books, and videos that never quite met her where she was, she found the right fit at Spanish55 with her coach, Valeria.

They discuss the strategies that finally made the language stick, from switching her TV to Spanish to reading passages aloud, and how a coaching relationship that feels part teacher and part friend turned mistakes into part of the process. Brittany also explains how she uses Spanish in real life, connecting with newcomer families at her school and navigating travel in Puerto Rico and Cozumel.

If you have ever wondered whether it is too late to improve your Spanish, or how persistence and the right support can change the way you feel about speaking, this episode offers an honest and encouraging perspective from an adult learner who genuinely loves the process.

Start your own Spanish journey with a free trial lesson

In this episode of Conquering Spanish, host Tania Roman sits down with Ardy to discuss her lifelong journey with the Spanish language and how personalized coaching helped her gain the confidence to communicate more naturally in real-life situations.

Ardy shares how her interest in Spanish began in middle school and eventually led her to study in Spain, Costa Rica, and Mexico. She reflects on living with a host family in Morelia, immersing herself in Mexican culture, and continuing to strengthen her Spanish years later through travel, conversation, podcasts, music, reading, and one-on-one lessons.

They also discuss the importance of consistency, confidence over perfection, and how regular exposure to the language can transform the learning process. Ardy explains how working with Coach Ashley at Spanish55 helped her feel more comfortable speaking Spanish openly, whether while traveling in Mexico or simply practicing everyday conversations in Arizona.

If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s too late to improve your Spanish, or how immersion and conversation practice can help you feel more confident speaking, this episode offers an honest and encouraging perspective from someone who truly enjoys the process of learning.

Start your own Spanish journey with a free trial lesson