Just started taking Spanish lessons online?You're in luck because we'll share with you the step-by-step beginner's guide to help you make the most of it. Learning Spanish online is significantly different than learning it in-person, especially a language school. We've previously written about why learning a language online is better, so we'll focus on tactics for online learning.If this is your first time ever taking live lessons online, the experience itself is no different than face timing with your friends. The major distinction may be that audio and video quality should be prioritized since small nuances like accents and pronunciation are important to hear.With that said, we're going to share with you the steps you should take before your first lesson, all the way up to your first 30 days.

A Step-By-Step Guide to Your First Month of Spanish Lessons Online

Before your first Spanish lessons

EquipmentIf this is your first time taking lessons online, the initial step is having the right equipment. As important as it is for your teachers to have great visual and audio quality, it's equally important for you as a student. The last thing you want is teachers giving you the wrong feedback because they weren't able to hear your pronunciation properly or for other connection issues.Most of the time, a simple earphone from your smartphone should work. Just make sure that it also has a mic contained, as some earphones are designed just for listening. For video, most people learning on-the-go should already have an HD camera installed into their smartphone. If you are learning on your desktop, this is something worth investing into, as audio learning is only half the immersive experience.Check out Logitech Electronics (not an affiliate link) as an affordable option to purchase your webcam, headphones, and more. It's a globally trusted brand and they're compatible with just about any device you use. None of these investments is a requirement, just a suggestion to make the most out of your learning experience.

Questions & GoalsThe second thing you should prepare is a list of questions and goals you have for your teacher. The reason why this is critical is that not every teacher is the right fit for you. No matter how qualified they are. You should consider factors like personality match, teaching style, and scheduling availabilities as your core starting criteria.This is why it's important that you have access to several qualified Spanish teachers you can transition from, rather than depending on one person. If you don't know where to find teachers, you can use platforms like Rype to find qualified ones online.Let's jump to what you should do in your first 14 days of learning Spanish.*Note: We used ranges of days (i.e. Day 1-14) because everyone has different learning schedules. Some of you may be done with a stage in the first 3 days, while some of you may need one to two weeks.

Stage 1: Experimentation (Day 1-14)

The first stage we recommend is to experiment with different teachers by trying out ~3 lessons with new teachers. This will allow you to have some data on what type of teacher you can see yourself learning over the long run. Most successful language learners tend to stick with one or two teachers because this will allow them to build a relationship.Thoughtful questions are also something you should be prepared to ask to help you learn more about your teacher. We've prepared some you can use:

• My goal for learning Spanish is to ______ (i.e. travel, to work at a hospital, real estate, law practice). Do you have experience teaching students with my background and goals? How did the process go?
• Do you have resources or materials we can use to help my ____ (i.e. writing skills, speaking, etc.)
• What are your regular availabilities in the next 6-12 months?
• Could you share what we'd be focusing on in the first 30 days?
• What do you like to do for fun outside of teaching?

This last question is important for building a connection with your teacher. If you're taking Spanish lessons to improve your oral skills, you need something to talk about. It may as well be conversation topics that you and your teacher both care about, whether that's sports, investing, travel, etc.

Stage 2: Goal Setting & Planning (Day 15-21)

Once you've decided on 1-2 teachers that fit your schedule, personality, and learning style, it's time to plan ahead.Goal settingThe first 30 days are crucial for giving yourself motivation and momentum. When you can see noticeable results within the first month of learning, you'll naturally feel more encouragement to continue your lessons. The good news is, most skills give you a jolt of progress within the first 60 days.What we recommend is to set a mini-milestone with your teacher(s) for what you want to achieve. It could be, I want to learn and memorize 100 words in the first 30 days. Or I want to be able to hold a 60-second conversation in 45 days. Find a notepad or journal where you can write that goal down, and have a follow-up date for when you and your teacher can look back on it.Time management planningLack of time is also one of the biggest reasons why most people don't successfully learn a language. You can avoid this trap by simply planning a little ahead.Rarely any of us are learning a language full-time. We all have several things on-the-go, whether it's our job(s), going to the gym, spending time with family, and more. If you know your schedule ahead of time, you'll know when the best times are for you to learn Spanish.For example, here is a lesson schedule for someone looking to take 3 lessons per week (total of 1.5 hours).

At first, 3 lessons per week sounds like a lot, but when you integrate it into your actual calendar, it seems like nothing. Most of us spend 1.5 hours just getting ready in the morning!Figure out when you'd likely be available on a regular basis during the week (i.e. lunch time, early in the morning, late at night), and coordinate that with your teacher ahead of time.

Stage 3: Scheduling and Habit Building (Day 22-30)

The last stage (in your first 30 days) is to start scheduling Spanish lessons ahead of time and building up a habit. Research shows that 21 days may not be enough to build a long-lasting habit (it's 66 days), but it should be enough for your brain to associate it as a regular pattern.That's why in this last stage, you're going to want to book lessons in advance. Instead of booking one lesson for the next day, book lesson for the next 7-10 days. It takes the same amount of time and effort as booking one lesson. It's no different than buying a 12-pack of water bottles since you'll be drinking it later on.It may be trickier if you're relying on a teacher who requires you to schedule lessons manually. This is why it's worth it to learn on a platform with fully-built scheduling features to save you time and convenience.

Moving beyond 30 days of learning Spanish

The first 30 days are the most important, but you can't forget about what happens after. Remember, science shows that it takes 66 days to build a long-lasting habit. It's important to keep up this momentum at least for the first two months, if not more.Repetition and mileage are the two most important foundations to remember when learning any new skill. You just have to persist long enough and put in enough practice hours to see long-term results.Best of luck and hope this step-by-step guide for Spanish lessons online was helpful!