Learn Spanish your way with a TakeLessons expert

By Gregory E. - Portland Spanish Teacher

Bienvendios! So you want to learn Spanish – the language with the second highest number of native speakers in the world, the second most commonly spoken language in the United States, and the second most commonly spoken language in Oregon? You’re in luck! There are many brilliant Spanish teachers available here to help you, and Portland has a plethora of exciting opportunities to help you on your way to fluency – regardless of your level!

Whether you’ve just learned your first few sentences after a few Spanish lessons in Portland or you are fluent but want some refreshers, a fun and powerful technique is to meet with local, native Spanish speakers for a language exchange, or intercambio de idiomas, in which you will converse half the time in Spanish and the other half in English. A one-on-one meeting is often more beneficial than a group setting for getting into deeper topics and allowing your conversation partner the time to learn the particular areas in which you may need more assistance.

As a beginner, one-on-one conversation exchanges with native Spanish speakers may also be less intimidating than group situations. But don’t be timid! You may have luck finding a language exchange partner at Portland State University or a local community college near you like PCC Sylvania, Cascade, or Southeast. Also check out ESL academies in town, like Portland English Language Academy, to find native Spanish speakers looking to learn English. You can also look for opportunities like these on Craigslist or try placing your own advertisement there.

Group language exchanges are also an excellent way to practice speaking and listening in Spanish as well as a fantastic opportunity to meet like-minded people with whom you can share the journey of becoming bilingual! You can find these intercambios on weekends all over the city hosted by the Multnomah County Library (https://multcolib.org/events/intercambio-language-exchange).

Portlandia Language School in SE Portland also has a great Spanish-English language exchange on Wednesdays and Saturdays where you can practice with native Spanish speakers, and if you fancy a pub, there is an excellent and social language exchange every Tuesday night at the Green Dragon Bistro and Pub (http://www.meetup.com/Spanish-conversation-group-Tuesdays).

Meetup.com is an excellent resource to find other Spanish learning opportunities in Portland as well as Spanish language cultural events. There are always great events such as the Spanish conversational fiesta and Spanish language Movie Fridays with the Portlandia meetup group (http://www.meetup.com/The-Portlandia-Spanish-Conversation-Group). Thursday fiestas offer a fun, festive, and social atmosphere to practice speaking Spanish with other learners as well as native speakers, and the Movie Friday event offers you a chance to practice comprehension skills while watching Spanish language movies from different countries (with English subtitles).

The “Portland Spanish Conversation” meetup group (http://www.meetup.com/Portland-Spanish-Conversation) offers interesting cultural events such as Spanish language concerts as well as a weekly coffee-and-Spanish conversation at the Hollywood Farmers’ Market on Tuesdays in NE Portland. This is another great opportunity to get out there and practice in a casual environment and learn more about different Spanish speaking cultures.

Also take your try at Salsa or Latin dancing on Portland’s Casino (Salsa) Fridays (http://www.meetup.com/Portlands-Casino-Salsa-Fridays)! This is a wonderful meetup group and event to learn about Salsa or Latin dancing and Latino culture where you can meet native Spanish speakers.

With so many rich opportunities to meet and practice Spanish with real native Spanish speakers as well as other students, Portland can be a playground for your new tongue. If you’re not already taking Spanish lessons in Portland, find a teacher and get excited! Don’t be shy, start rolling those Rs, get out there and meet new people, dance some salsa, eat some salsa, and have fun!

Mucha suerte!