How to Keep Up Your Spanish After High School Graduation
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You just spent years learning Spanish in high school! When your daily classes are over, you worry about losing everything you worked so hard to build.
All that effort, just to forget it? No way!
The good news is that Spanish is everywhere. It's the second most commonly spoken language in the U.S. by far, with over 41 million speakers. Beyond that, it's the second most common language in the world, with 486 million native speakers and the official language of 20 countries.
For Spanish learners, that means endless content, teachers, and friends to talk to!
Any successful Spanish language learner will tell you there are three key tips for learning Spanish: listening, speaking, and (best of all) traveling.
Let’s break down how to incorporate the language into your daily life so you can keep up your Spanish after high school graduation.
Listen in Spanish
One of the easiest ways to keep up with Spanish is to immerse yourself in the language through listening, something you can do anytime, anywhere!
Social Media & Language Apps
Curate your social media feed by following Spanish-speaking influencers, news outlets, and creators. You’ll pick up slang, phrases, and cultural insights just by scrolling! Language apps also provide structured listening exercises to sharpen your comprehension skills.
TV, Movies & Podcasts
Watching Spanish-language TV shows and movies is an engaging way to hear native speakers. Start with Spanish subtitles to reinforce vocabulary and pronunciation. Comedy and fast-paced dramas can be tricky for beginners, so try telenovelas, reality TV, or educational series for clearer speech and simpler vocabulary. For podcasts, check out Duolingo Spanish Podcast or Coffee Break Spanish for language learners, or dive into native content like Radio Ambulante for real-world stories.
Read Out Loud to Build Vocabulary & Fluency
Reading in Spanish helps expand vocabulary and strengthens comprehension. Start with bilingual books, graded readers (books written specifically for learners at different levels), or Spanish news sites. If you’re interested in using Spanish in your future career, reading will also help build the academic or professional language skills you’ll need.
Speak in Spanish
Speaking is key to improving your fluency. The more you engage in real conversations, the more natural Spanish will feel. You'll expand your vocabulary, refine your pronunciation, and gain the confidence to express yourself more fluidly.
Take a Conversation Class
Unlike the academic-style language immersion programs you may have done in high school, conversation classes have one primary goal: having you to talk! They are also generally super fun and social, without the stress of quizzes, homework, and tests. Look for Spanish conversation classes at community centers like YMCA, libraries, or local language schools.
Find a Language Exchange Partner
Join Facebook groups or Meetup.com to find Spanish speakers looking to practice English and arrange a mutually beneficial language exchange. This is a great way to get real conversation experience and make a new friend!
Immerse Yourself Locally
If you live in an area with a large Spanish-speaking population, seek out opportunities to volunteer with organizations that serve Spanish-speaking communities. You could also work in businesses that cater to Spanish-speaking clientele, where you’ll be surrounded by bilingual employees and have daily opportunities to practice.
Travel in Spanish
You're about to finish high school! This is a unique moment in your life. Right now, you have an opportunity to travel, immerse yourself in a new culture, and experience the world before bigger responsibilities take over like college or career.
If you’ve ever dreamed of studying abroad, living in another country, or simply traveling, consider a gap year abroad.
You'll live and breathe Spanish, learning the language through Spanish immersion, which is hands-down the best way to improve your fluency. Beyond learning the language, you'll study and live Spanish culture and, just as importantly, learn about yourself.
Traveling, especially through an immersive experience like a gap year abroad, gives you time for reflection. Whether you want to explore your personal identity, figure out your goals and passions, or gain clarity on your future college and career paths, a year abroad provides space to grow. Or maybe you simply want to let go, enjoy the moment, and have an unforgettable adventure before diving into college, either way, a gap year is an opportunity like no other.
Take a Gap Year in Spain
CIEE’s Spanish Language & Culture Gap Year program is an excellent chance to learn Spanish abroad and reinforce everything you’ve learned in high school.
Spend your days perfecting Spanish in intensive language classes with native-speaking instructors, then explore the city’s vibrant neighborhoods, tapas restaurants, and stunning landmarks. Living with a host family means practicing Spanish daily while experiencing authentic Spanish culture firsthand.
CIEE offers structured language immersion programs designed to help you reach fluency while giving you the freedom to explore.