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.

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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.

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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.

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Learning Spanish as an Adult: Angie’s Journey from Nervous to Confident

In this episode of Conquering Spanish, host Tania Roman sits down with Angie Armijo to explore what it’s really like to learn Spanish as an adult.

Angie shares what held her back in the beginning, including the fear of speaking and making mistakes, and how she gradually built the confidence to communicate in real-life situations.

They discuss the role of consistency, the importance of having the right support system, and how personalized guidance can make the process more structured and effective.

If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s too late to learn Spanish, or if you’ve struggled with speaking despite studying, this conversation offers a practical and honest perspective from someone who has gone through the process.

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Fear of saying the first word. We’ve all been there. Nick joins us to share how he moved from hesitation to genuine connection by treating Spanish not as homework, but as a bridge to people, music, and everyday life in South Florida.

What began with love turned into a wider world: conversations with coworkers, rhythmic nights soundtracked by reggaeton, and the courage to speak even when the brain feels slow and the grammar isn’t perfect.

We unpack the mindset shift that keeps momentum alive on tough days. Nick explains why discipline matters, but joy matters more—and how short, human interactions beat long, stressful cram sessions. He walks through the practical habits that helped: singing along to pop hooks for sticky vocabulary, choosing simple wins when energy is low, and anchoring progress to goals that mean something, like talking with a partner’s family or finishing a novel in Spanish.

A huge part of Nick’s growth came from working one-to-one with Coach Diomedes. Beyond corrections and drills, their sessions offered trust, patience, and perspective—especially when life got heavy. That support made it easier to take risks, make mistakes, and keep speaking. Along the way, Nick discovered a powerful surprise: when you reach out in Spanish, many people meet you with warmth, pride, and help. Connection fuels consistency, and consistency builds confidence.

If you’re tired of perfectionism and ready to enjoy the process, this conversation will reset how you learn.

Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a nudge, and leave a quick review to help others find the show. Your next conversation could start today!

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In this episode of Conquering Spanish, host Tania Roman speaks with Joel Dermott, a public health administrator in rural Missouri, about how learning Spanish became a tool for service rather than perfection.

Joel shares how families who arrive at his clinic without English immediately relax when they’re greeted in Spanish, even if the conversation is simple. He explains why technology alone can’t replace human connection, and how returning to Spanish later in life helped him reconnect with values like empathy, dignity, and respect.

This conversation explores learning Spanish as an act of humanity, especially in communities where language barriers can make people feel invisible or unsafe. Joel’s story is a reminder that fluency isn’t required to make a meaningful difference.

🎧 Listen for insight, motivation, and a powerful perspective on why conquering Spanish is really about connection.

🔗 Ready to take your Spanish further?

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In this episode of Conquering Spanish, host Tania Román sits down with Chad, a bank executive from Tucson, Arizona, whose mission to connect with friends and clients inspired him to learn Spanish. Chad shares how speaking with Coach Paula since 2021 has transformed his confidence, helping him move from memorizing vocabulary to having real conversations in Spanish.

He talks about practicing Spanish with Uber drivers, using podcasts like NÓtose to pick up natural expressions, and how treating lessons like gym sessions keeps him consistent despite a busy schedule. Chad also opens up about overcoming fear, celebrating small wins, and discovering that fluency is built through everyday interactions.

If you’ve ever felt nervous about starting a conversation in another language, Chad’s story will remind you that progress comes from showing up and speaking—mistakes and all.

🎧 Tune in for practical tips, motivation, and a heartfelt reminder that conquering Spanish isn’t about perfection—it’s about connection.

🔗 Ready to take your Spanish further?
Schedule a Free Trial Lesson with Spanish55

Schedule a Free Trial Lesson with Spanish55

Thinking about learning Spanish as an adult? Trish Cooper, a lawyer from Denver, shares how starting Spanish lessons in midlife has changed her life.

In this episode of Conquering Spanish, Trish opens up about:

How Spanish has “opened a lot of doors” and made travel “a lot more educational”

Why she says, “Learning a new language in middle age is not easy, but I find that it’s a way for me to exercise my brain in different ways.”

The mindset shift that helped her push past fear: “At some point I just turned a corner... I am comfortable trying it and I'm okay with that if I don't say it correctly.”

How Spanish55’s one-on-one coaching helped her gain confidence faster than apps ever could.

Her go-to way of decompressing after work: watching Spanish-language shows with her husband (favorites include La Casa de Papel and Los Favoritos del Jefe)

If you’ve ever told yourself “it’s too late” or felt stuck with apps, Trish’s story will inspire you to just get started!

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💬 Questions? Chat LIVE with a Spanish55 team member here: https://direct.lc.chat/8778216/

Want to watch this episode on YouTube?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uATTgXDqKjM