ESPAÑOL ESENCIAL

If you’ve been living in Spain for a while and still find yourself struggling with everyday Spanish, you’re not the only one. This course has been created with you in mind.

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Bit by bit, sip by sip

Your lifestyle companion

The first level of our Living in Spanish learning program

The first level of our Living in Spanish learning program

We’re developing our first Spanish learning course.

Español Esencial is designed to help you feel more at home in Spanish — through short weekly lessons, personal voice feedback, and practice built around the situations you actually face. We’ll be with you every step of the way, so that your everyday life in Spanish gets easier little by little.

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A supportive way to start learning Spanish.

This is the concept we are currently developing for

ESPAÑOL ESENCIAL

1. Self‑paced micro‑learning with personalized practice and support.

48 video micro‑lessons for real‑life listening and speaking practice. Each learning session takes about 20 minutes to complete. We recommend planning 3 sessions per week.

Each lesson provides all the resources you need to handle a specific real-life situation in Spanish. This includes explanations of vocabulary, phrasing, and grammar, as well as how to apply them. Most importantly, you learn actively. Each micro-lesson teaches you one foundational Spanish micro-skill. These micro-skills add up quickly, helping you speak Spanish in your daily life.

Each lesson provides all the resources you need to handle a specific real-life situation in Spanish. This includes explanations of vocabulary, phrasing, and grammar, as well as how to apply them. Most importantly, you learn actively. Each micro-lesson teaches you one foundational Spanish micro-skill. These micro-skills add up quickly, helping you speak Spanish in your daily life.

2. Personal coaching and progress tracking

Each micro-lesson contains one listening and speaking activity. You immediately apply what you learn by recording a voice drill for your coach. After submitting your recording, your coach will reply with feedback.

Once you have performed the activity correctly, the next lesson will be unlocked. With our help, you can consistently track your progress and gain confidence. Through short, personalized voice feedback and regular check-ins, we help you build natural, confident Spanish step by step. Our coaching loop prioritizes human connection and authentic improvement to help you see your progress, adjust quickly, and keep moving forward with confidence..

Once you have performed the activity correctly, the next lesson will be unlocked. With our help, you can consistently track your progress and gain confidence. Through short, personalized voice feedback and regular check-ins, we help you build natural, confident Spanish step by step. Our coaching loop prioritizes human connection and authentic improvement to help you see your progress, adjust quickly, and keep moving forward with confidence..

3. Small‑group conversation coaching sessions

Since practice makes perfect, we host one conversation coaching session for you weekly. With a maximum of six learners per group, your coach will guide you to speak clearly and correctly. Attending is entirely your choice.

Conversation groups are a space where you can practice speaking in a supportive environment.

The focus is on speaking with confidence in real situations. Sessions have clear goals, a supportive vibe, and everyone is encouraged to participate. You can ask questions, improve your pronunciation, and practice situations that expats most often face in Spain. In the 16-week course, you can attend up to 16 conversation coaching sessions. Each session is 50 minutes long.

Conversation groups are a space where you can practice speaking in a supportive environment. The focus is on speaking with confidence in real situations. Sessions have clear goals, a supportive vibe, and everyone is encouraged to participate. You can ask questions, improve your pronunciation, and practice situations that expats most often face in Spain. In the 16-week course, you can attend up to 16 conversation coaching sessions. Each session is 50 minutes long.
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What we plan to deliver in

ESPAÑOL ESENCIAL

The current concept is designed as a 16-week learning experience. It is planned to include:
  • 48 micro‑lessons focused on real listening and speaking.
  • Continuous personal coaching from day one.
  • 16 conversation coaching sessions (up to 6 learners).
  • Ongoing progress check-ins to help you grow your Spanish.
The current setup is planned to be hosted on Ezycourse, a simple, safe, and familiar online space for lessons, tasks, voice notes, feedback, and progress tracking. Access is for the duration of the 16‑week course level.

COMING SOON.

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We are currently running limited test pilots. You can join the interest list if you would like to be considered for free participation before the official launch.

Español Esencial concept is designed to cover

Español Esencial is designed with the A1.1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). It aims to support a solid foundation in real-life communication in Spain focusing on practical Spanish for everyday situations.
The program is intended to help you build a foundation in pronunciation and everyday communication, gradually reducing reliance on translation tools for phrasing.

Over a planned 16-week period, the concept is designed to support skills such as:
• Pronunciation and survival communication
• Daily routines and basic interactions
• Moving around, work, home, and travel

Español Esencial is currently being developed as the initial level. Future levels may be added over time as the Living in Spanish program evolves.

Why this design is intended to support your learning

It’s shaped around your lifestyle.

This learning structure is designed to adapt to irregular weeks and real-life demands. The short, self-paced sessions aim to make it easier to stay consistent without needing to change your schedule.

Practice to build real speaking confidence.

You’ll practice listening and speaking every time you learn, so you’ll be able to speak Spanish in real situations quickly. Our personal feedback and check-ins support your learning and build confidence along the way..

A focus on early autonomy.

The concept focuses on pronunciation, basic communication, and everyday interaction. It is designed to help address early challenges and support greater independence in real-life situations from the start.

It's all about your lifestyle.

This learning structure adapts to irregular weeks and real-life demands. The short, self-paced sessions make it easy to stay on track without having to change your schedule.

Practice that builds real speaking confidence.

You’ll practice listening and speaking every time you learn, so you’ll be able to speak Spanish in real situations quickly. Our personal feedback and check-ins support your learning and build confidence along the way..

Our focus is on your early autonomy.

The course is about pronunciation, survival communication, and everyday interaction. Since it addresses these early bottlenecks, it’ll help you become more independent from the start.
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Made with expertise and passion for education.

Alex Rueda, the founder, is expected to personally oversee coaching, assistance, and continuous feedback for the early groups.

He’s a psychologist and Spanish teacher with 25 years of experience in the education industry. Over that time, he’s gained a solid understanding of how adults learn for real-life situations.

His work is all about building confidence through clear explanations, structure, and practical exercises, while also making sure the learning pace is sustainable.

His experience in adult education, coaching, and learning design has influenced this approach, which emphasizes clarity, autonomy, and practical application over pressure or complexity.

“At Spanish Shots, learning Spanish is designed to feel warm, supportive, and grounded in real situations. We want Spanish to feel simple, manageable, and authentic.”

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What learners say

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Vikram KlineCeo | Marketplace lLC.
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Emelia Hewitt
Emelia HewittCEO | AlK Networks
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Emelia Hewitt
Emelia HewittCEO | AlK Networks
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Emelia Hewitt
Emelia HewittCEO | AlK Networks

You're not alone!

Many expats in Spain can get by in an English-speaking bubble. Yet, without confident, real-life Spanish skills, everyday situations often feel more challenging than necessary.

Over time, relying on English and translation tools limits your autonomy, participation, and sense of belonging where you live.

This is what we’ve heard from expats:

“Apps give me words, but I still freeze when I have to speak.”

“Courses move too fast, or they require time that I don’t have.”
“Everything feels fragmented — apps here, tutors there, no clear path.”

“The locals speak too fast, with accents and slang I can’t understand.”

“I tend to get anxious around admin and healthcare situations, so I try to avoid them.”

“I count on English and translation tools, even though I want to speak for myself.”

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FAQ — Español Esencial

Frequently Asked Questions

This project is being developed for beginner-level learners (A1), especially expats living in Spain who don’t speak Spanish at all or do understand some Spanish but don’t yet feel comfortable using it in everyday situations.

It is intended for people who want to gradually build confidence in real-life communication.

Español Esencial is currently in a pre-launch phase. The concept, structure, and learning approach are being developed and tested.

We are running limited test pilots to explore and improve the learning experience.

You can join the interest list if you would like to be considered for free participation in these early testing phases.

Participation in test phases may involve trying selected parts of the learning experience and sharing feedback.

The exact format may vary as the project evolves.

The current concept is designed around short, manageable learning sessions each week.

During testing, time commitment may vary depending on what is being explored.

No. This is an early-stage concept that is being developed step by step.

The goal of the testing phase is to refine and improve the learning experience before a full release.

The concept is being designed with reference to CEFR levels, starting at A1.1.

This helps guide the structure, but the final implementation may evolve during development.

Once the concept has been tested and refined, a full version of Español Esencial may be released.

If you join the interest list, you will be informed when the project moves to the next stage.

No. Joining the interest list does not involve any commitment.

It simply allows you to stay informed and, if relevant, be considered for early participation.

Stay connected

Español Esencial is currently in a pre-launch phase. If you’re interested in following its development or being considered for early testing, you can join the interest list.

Join the interest list

No spam. No obligation.

If this resonates with you

You can join the interest list to stay informed as the project evolves and to hear about potential opportunities to participate in early testing.

Join the interest list
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