DENCANTO COMMUNITY · FIRST STEPS
Arriving in Spain without knowing any Spanish can feel like a challenge, especially if you’ve never studied the language before. How will you order a coffee? Will you understand your teacher? Will you find your way around the city? The good news is that you don’t need to speak Spanish before you arrive to start learning it.
A language school is ready to welcome students who are starting from scratch. During your first few days, you’ll go from recognising basic words to using them in real situations, while getting used to hearing Spanish all around you.
So what actually happens during that first week? If you’re looking for Spanish for beginners, here’s exactly what to expect day by day.
01 / YOUR FIRST WEEK
What happens if you arrive in Spain without knowing any Spanish? Your first 7 days
The first week usually combines lessons, communicative practice and experiences outside the classroom. Although every school organises its courses differently, the typical path for a beginner starts with a level test and continues with everyday vocabulary, basic grammar and real-life situations.
02 / DAY 1
Finding your level and settling into the school
On your first day, you don’t have to arrive speaking Spanish. If you’re a complete beginner, you’ll take a short level test to confirm that the group matches your knowledge, and you’ll start with A1-level content.
You’ll also receive information about the school, timetables, transport, activities and how the course works. It’s the moment to meet your classmates and start getting familiar with the city.
If you want to make the most of a short stay and progress quickly, there are different learning formats. Intensive Spanish courses let you concentrate more class hours during the week, while other formats suit those who prefer a different pace.
Mini glossary for Day 1:
- Hola = hello
- Buenos días = good morning
- Gracias = thank you
- Por favor = please
- ¿Dónde está…? = where is…?
- No entiendo = I don’t understand
03 / DAYS 2 & 3
Your first words in Spanish
Once the first day is over, your little “survival kit” in Spanish starts to take shape.
You’ll learn expressions you can use straight away: introducing yourself, saying where you’re from, ordering something in a restaurant, asking for directions or talking about what you like.
You’ll also start working on pronunciation. Spanish vowels are especially important because they have a fairly regular pronunciation, which makes it easier for beginners to start reading and repeating words from the very beginning.
And yes, you’ll probably make mistakes. That’s completely normal. The first week isn’t about speaking perfectly — it’s about losing the fear of using the language.
Mini glossary for Days 2 & 3:
- Me llamo… = my name is…
- Soy de… = I’m from…
- Quiero… = I want…
- ¿Cuánto cuesta? = how much does it cost?
- Agua = water
- Comida = food
- Baño = bathroom
04 / DAYS 4 & 5
From the classroom to real life
Halfway through the week you start to notice a change: the words you learned begin to turn into sentences.
Classes may introduce basic verbs like ser, estar, tener or hablar, plus simple structures for describing people, places and routines.
But learning Spanish in Spain has a huge advantage: you can practise what you’ve just learned immediately.
Ordering a coffee, buying something, asking how much a product costs or trying to hold a short conversation — these are all small opportunities to practise.
Schools can also complement lessons with cultural activities, visits or excursions. If you prefer a different pace from the intensive format, semi-intensive Spanish courses let you combine classes with more free time to explore the city and practise on your own.
Mini glossary for Days 4 & 5:
- Quisiera… = I would like… (polite way to ask)
- ¿Cuánto cuesta? = how much does it cost?
- La cuenta, por favor = the bill, please
- ¿Puedes repetir? = can you repeat that?
- Más despacio, por favor = more slowly, please
- Hoy = today
- Mañana = tomorrow
05 / DAYS 6 & 7
Starting to find your feet
By the end of the first week, you probably won’t be holding complex conversations yet. And that’s absolutely fine.
What matters is that you’re starting to recognise words, understand simple sentences and react in everyday situations. You’ll also have discovered which expressions you really need in your day-to-day life.
If you have very specific goals or want to complement group classes with more personalised attention, private Spanish lessons can be another option to work on your specific needs.
Mini glossary for Days 6 & 7:
- ¿Qué significa…? = what does… mean?
- ¿Puedes ayudarme? = can you help me?
- Necesito… = I need…
- Me gusta… = I like…
- No sé = I don’t know
- Hasta luego = see you later
- Nos vemos = see you (informal)
06 / RESULTS
What can you do after one week of Spanish for beginners?
After five or seven days you won’t speak Spanish like a native, but you can definitely build a first foundation to get by.
You may be able to:
- Introduce yourself and talk briefly about yourself
- Say hello and goodbye
- Order food and drinks
- Ask for prices and directions
- Use numbers, dates and times
- Recognise common expressions
- Build simple sentences
- Understand part of basic conversations
On top of that, your ear will start getting used to the rhythm of Spanish. At first it may feel like everyone speaks too fast, but little by little you’ll start recognising words that once sounded completely unfamiliar.
07 / THE REALITY
Is Spanish for beginners hard in Spain?
The first few days can feel intense, but immersion keeps you exposed to the language constantly: in class, in shops, in restaurants, on transport and while you’re discovering the city.
You don’t have to understand everything. Learning to accept mistakes and keep communicating is a fundamental part of the process.
For anyone who wants to learn Spanish for beginners from a low level, studying in Spain offers a clear advantage: every lesson has a continuation in everyday life.
08 / PRACTICAL TIPS
How to make the most of your first week
There are some habits that can help you move faster:
01
Speak from day one
Don’t wait until you feel ready to use the language.
02
Listen even if you don’t understand everything
Your ear needs time to get used to the language.
03
Use what you learn outside class
Ordering a coffee can become a small Spanish practice session.
04
Join activities
Meeting other students will give you more chances to speak.
05
Write down expressions you hear
Some of the most useful words will be exactly the ones you discover in real situations.
09 / LOOKING AHEAD
The first week is just the beginning
Starting Spanish for beginners in Spain doesn’t mean arriving prepared. It means starting to build that preparation from day one.
Over a week, you’ll go from learning greetings and basic expressions to using short phrases in real situations. After that will come new structures, more vocabulary and increasingly complete conversations.
And that’s one of the great advantages of studying in Spain: you don’t leave Spanish behind when class ends. You find it in the street, in a café, on an excursion or when you meet someone new.
LIVE YOUR FIRST EXPERIENCE
Live your first Spanish for beginners experience with Dencanto
Your first week can be much more than a language course. It can be the start of an experience in Spain where you learn, meet people, discover a new city and start using Spanish from day one.
At Dencanto we help you find an experience tailored to your level, your goals and the time you want to spend in Spain. You can choose from different types of courses and cities and find the option that fits you best.
Because learning Spanish for beginners doesn’t have to be intimidating — it can become an experience you remember long after you’ve learned your first words.
Intensive courses →
Semi-intensive courses →
Private lessons →
10 / FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Frequently asked questions about Spanish for beginners in Spain
Can I study Spanish in Spain if I’ve never learned the language before?
Yes. Schools offer specific courses for complete beginners and start by working on vocabulary, pronunciation, everyday expressions and basic structures.
How much Spanish can I learn in my first week?
You can build a first foundation to introduce yourself, order food, ask for directions and get by in simple situations. Progress depends on the intensity of the course and your contact with the language.
Will people understand me in Spain if I can’t speak Spanish yet?
Yes. Although it can be hard at first to understand native speakers, the basic expressions you learn in class will help you get by, and daily exposure will gradually train your ear.
Is it better to learn Spanish in Spain or study from my home country?
Studying in Spain lets you combine lessons with constant exposure to the language. You can practise while shopping, eating, using transport or meeting new people.
What level can I reach after starting as a complete beginner?
If you start from scratch, you’ll usually begin with A1-level content. One week helps you build a first foundation, but you’ll need more study time and practice to complete the level and move on to higher ones.