From Awkward to Awesome: A Parent’s Guide to Speaking Spanish With Confidence
Want to sound more natural in Spanish? These parent-tested tips will help you get there - no perfection required.
Not Natural? No Problem. Let's Break It Down
"Um… how do you throw a ball?"
When my husband and I first started dating he tried to teach me how to serve a tennis ball. He said, “It’s just like throwing a ball.” I said, “How do you throw a ball?” He said, “Just throw how it feels to throw naturally.” I said, “Uh, it just feels weird and awkward to me.” (We’re married and have 2 kids now. Anyway!)
Learning to speak another language can feel a lot like this. For those who have an easy time making Spanish sounds come out of their mouth, it’s just like throwing a ball. They hear it, they make the sound. For the rest of us, it is neither intuitive nor easy. It feels awkward and hard for a long time before it feels comfortable.
Just like any other skill, speaking Spanish is something you can train for. Your voice is an instrument, complete with all the parts you need: lips, tongue, vocal cords, and more. Just like some people naturally throw better than others, some people find Spanish sounds easier to make. But here's the secret: everyone can improve with practice.
Why Reading Aloud Matters
Remember: This happens for kiddos when they’re learning their first language, too - they mispronounce words either because they’re recalling them differently or because they haven’t developed control to produce the sound needed. Maybe you’ve seen a kid hesitant to repeat a more advanced word - it might have a sound they’re less confident making, or it might have multiple syllables. Sound familiar? That's exactly what we go through learning Spanish!
The Building Blocks of Reading Spanish Aloud
In order to be able to read Spanish out loud you need to:
Produce the right sounds
Connect specific sounds with letters and words
Eventually, link sounds with meaning
Don't worry if you don't understand everything you're reading at first. Just like when your kid learns to read, start with making the sounds - comprehension will follow naturally.
Your Spanish Speaking Workout Plan
Just like building any other skill, improving your Spanish pronunciation takes practice. Here are my tried-and-tested exercises that actually work:
1. Master Your Vowels
Spanish vowels are your foundation - and they're different from English ones. My secret weapon? I whispered "ah-ay-ee-oh-uu" (a-e-i-o-u) to myself constantly when reading Spanish. The 'e' and 'i' were especially tricky for me at first, but here's the good news: in Spanish, these sounds never change. Once you've got them, you've got them for good.
2. Master The Signature Spanish Sounds
Every language has its special sounds, and Spanish has three famous ones: ñ, ll, and rolled Rs. Don't stress if you can't roll your Rs yet - some native speakers can't either! Focus on:
The "ñ" sound (like the "ny" in "canyon")
The "ll" sound (similar to "y" in "yellow")
Rolling Rs (start with making a "purring" sound)
3. Gym Time… For Your Face
Yes, you read that right - your face can benefit from some targeted warm-up love. Just like you'd stretch before exercise, warm-up your speaking muscles:
Open (as wide as possible) and close your mouth as you stretch and move your lips around - making ooo lips and
With your mouth open as wide as possible, stick your tongue out as far as you can and move it all around - up, down, side to side
Lightly massage your jaw muscles (especially in front of your ears)
Blow raspberries (kids love joining in on this one!)
Trust me: on days when my face feels stiff, these exercises make a huge difference.
4. Weight Training…For Your Mouth
Yes, you can do resistance training for speaking! Here's my favorite exercise (warning: you might feel silly, but it works):
Put a pen or pencil horizontally in your mouth (like a horse's bit)
Practice these with exaggerated mouth movements:
The Spanish vowels (a-e-i-o-u)
Simple phrases like "Buenos días"
Simple tongue twisters like:
Tres tristes tigres
Pepe Pecas pica papas con un pico
Un perro rompe la rama del árbol
Any sounds you find challenging
Pro tip: Start with 5 repetitions of each. You can also use a marshmallow instead of a pen - more fun and tastier!
5. Train Your Ear and Voice Together
Think of this as your Spanish cardio workout. Pick a Spanish song you enjoy and:
Listen on repeat, focusing just on the sounds (not meaning)
Notice the rhythm and flow of the words
Try to mimic the singer's tone and pace
Start with just humming along if that feels more comfortable
Some parent-friendly suggestions:
Juanes - A Dios Le Pido (clean lyrics, clear pronunciation)
Los Lobos - La Bamba (fun, upbeat)
Any Spanish children's songs (naturally slower and clearer)
For some, this might mean listening only to audio. For others, it might help to still see the Spanish lyrics. If you want an extra challenge, put a pen or pencil in your mouth and do it.
6. The Magic of Reading Anyway
Here's my favorite parenting hack: read Spanish out loud, even when you don't understand what you're saying. It's just like when your toddler "reads" their favorite book from memory - they're learning the rhythm and patterns of language. You're doing the same thing with Spanish.
7. Make It a Daily Habit (The Parent Advantage!)
As a parent, you've got a secret weapon in your Spanish-learning arsenal: bedtime stories! This built-in daily practice session is pure gold for improving your Spanish. Here's why:
It's already part of your routine
Kids love repetition (hello, natural practice!)
There's no pressure to be perfect
You're modeling learning for your children
You'll notice improvement faster with daily practice
The more you do it, the easier it gets. As you revisit books, you'll start noticing that sounds that once felt like tongue-twisters become natural, and words that made you stumble now flow smoothly.
Remember: You're Teaching More Than Spanish
When your kids see you practicing, making mistakes, and improving, you're showing them:
Learning is a lifelong journey
It's okay to be imperfect
Practice makes progress
New skills take time and effort
Ready to put these tips into action? Check out our next post about favorite Spanish books for beginners to find the perfect stories for your practice sessions.
PS: Remember those awkward tennis serves? They got better with practice, and so will your Spanish.
