· 7 min read
Learn Spanish for Adults: A Practical Plan
By Language Lab editorial team
Learn Spanish as an adult: plan by hours, pick the level you need, use free courses and official practice by level, and choose between DELE and SIELE.
An adult learning Spanish has limited hours and a definite reason, so plan around both. The US State Department allows 30 weeks of full-time classes for Spanish, within a range of 552–690 class hours. At five hours a week that is about 110 to 138 weeks; at ten, about 55 to 69. Most adults do not need that full level. B1, the first level described as handling most normal day-to-day situations, is the practical target for a move or for travel. Use free material that is graded by level: the Open University's beginner courses, then the Instituto Cervantes' Aveteca archive up to C1. If you need a certificate, the SIELE exam is taken on computer by appointment, which suits a working schedule, while the DELE diploma never expires.
Plan by hours
| Hours per week | Weeks to cover 552 hours | Weeks to cover 690 hours |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | About 110 | 138 |
| 10 | About 55 | 69 |
| 20 | About 28 | About 35 |
The State Department's own pace is 23 hours in class and 17 hours of self-study a week. Its figure describes a high level, a speaking and listening score of 3 on the Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) scale, and it notes that actual time varies with ability, prior language-learning experience and time in the classroom. Count hours, not days: thirty days at ten minutes a day is five hours.
Choose the level you need
| DELE level | What it certifies |
|---|---|
| A1 | A very basic range of the most common simple expressions, for immediate, concrete needs |
| A2 | Basic, commonly used expressions on matters of immediate relevance: personal and family information, shopping, employment |
| B1 | Understanding and responding appropriately in most normal day-to-day situations |
| B2 | Getting by in average day-to-day situations that do not require specialised use of the language |
| C1 | Using the structures of the language with ease and fluency, and taking part in discussions and arguments |
These are the Instituto Cervantes' descriptions. For a move to a Spanish-speaking country, aim at B1 first, then decide whether your work needs more.
Free material, by stage
- Starting out: the Open University's Getting started with Spanish 1, 2 and 3, about 22 hours in all.
- Listening from day one: the BBC's Mi Vida Loca, an interactive video drama for beginners designed to be completed in 12 weeks.
- A2 to C1: Aveteca, the Instituto Cervantes' archive of activities from its virtual classroom, classified A1–A2, B1–B2 and C1.
- Every day: Spanish-language news. The BBC's recommendations for learners include BBC Mundo and public broadcasters such as Spain's RTVE.
Learn the Spanish you will use
Start with the language you need. List the situations ahead of you, such as renting a flat, registering with the town hall, seeing a doctor or talking to colleagues, and learn phrases for those first. A2 already covers personal and family information, shopping and employment.
Study the way research supports
A 2013 review of ten learning techniques, led by John Dunlosky, rated two as high utility: practice testing and distributed practice. Rereading and highlighting were rated low.
- Test yourself on yesterday's and last week's words before learning new ones.
- Split the week into short sessions on different days.
- Speak aloud every day; speaking needs its own practice.
- Once a week, have one conversation you cannot script.
A weekly plan around work
- Five days, 30 minutes: one course section or one set of level-graded activities.
- Every day, 10 minutes: self-testing on earlier material.
- Three times a week, 15 minutes: Spanish news or television on a topic you know.
- Once a week: a short written message corrected by someone, and one real conversation.
That is about four and a half hours a week.
If you need a certificate
| DELE | SIELE | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A diploma for one level, A1 to C2, chosen in advance | A certificate on a 1,000-point scale equivalent to levels A1 to C1 |
| Format | On paper, on fixed exam dates | On computer at a test centre, by appointment |
| Results | Within approximately three months | Within a maximum of three weeks |
| Validity | Indefinite | Five years |
For an adult with a deadline, SIELE's appointments and quick results are convenient; for a permanent record, DELE does not expire. Check which one your employer, university or immigration office accepts before you book. Language Lab's Spanish course is built around voiced real-life scenarios with an AI tutor, which supplies speaking practice at any hour.
Frequently asked
Can adults learn Spanish?
Yes. The best public timeline comes from adults: the US State Department trains its own employees, and allows 30 weeks of full-time classes for Spanish, within a range of 552–690 class hours.
How long does it take an adult to learn Spanish?
On State Department figures, 552–690 class hours. At ten hours a week that is about 55 to 69 weeks. Everyday levels such as B1 come sooner.
What is the best way for adults to learn Spanish?
Plan by hours, choose a target level, follow graded material in order, test yourself, and speak every day about the situations you will really face.
Are there free Spanish courses for adults?
Yes. The Open University's Getting started with Spanish courses are free, and the Instituto Cervantes' Aveteca archive has free activities from A1–A2 to C1.
Should I take DELE or SIELE?
DELE is a diploma for one level and is valid indefinitely. SIELE is taken on computer by appointment, gives results within three weeks and is valid for five years.
What level of Spanish do I need to live abroad?
B1 is the first level the Instituto Cervantes describes as handling most normal day-to-day situations.
Sources: US Department of State, National Foreign Affairs Training Center, Foreign Language Training; Instituto Cervantes, DELE levels, Difference between DELE and SIELE, and Aveteca; The Open University, OpenLearn, Getting started with Spanish 1, 2 and 3; BBC Languages, Learn Spanish and Mi Vida Loca (archived pages); Dunlosky et al., Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 2013. Checked on 13 October 2026. Photo: The Alcazaba of the Alhambra at sunset, Granada, by Jebulon / CC0 (Wikimedia Commons).
