Should you switch to English?

I don’t typically do traditional lessons, and I still take some sort of lesson (it can be conversation practice, feedback on my writing, etc.). That’s how most of us learn, regardless of the contents. We learn with others. Then we step into real life and real speaking situations.

Say you travel to Mexico or Colombia. You meet someone who wants to practice their English on you.

Here’s the choice:

do you help them practice English, or do you use the moment to practice your Spanish?

Both are generous. Helping someone with their English is generous. And accepting help is generous too (to yourself).

Letting a native Spanish speaker slow down, repeat themselves, be patient with your mistakes: that’s a gift. It turns out that receiving a gift well is its own skill, separate from giving one.

There’s no single right answer here.

Some moments call for English. Others call for holding your ground in Spanish.

What matters is noticing you have a choice, and choosing on purpose instead of defaulting to whichever language feels safer.

And if you want practice that doesn’t depend on finding a native speaker willing to be patient with you, the Spanish Novels give you that any time you want it. Graded readers from A1 to C2, in audiobook and ebook format (or paperback on Amazon), written to be compelling.

🎧 Get a Spanish Novels bundle pack (ebooks + audiobooks)