• Enroll
  • Help center
    • All Destinations
      • Asia
      • Latin America
      • Europe
      • South Pacific
      • Africa
      • US & Canada
    • Europe
      • Spain
      • Italy
      • France
      • Greece
      • Switzerland
      • England
    • Latin America
      • Costa Rica
      • Panama
      • Peru
      • Ecuador
      • Belize
      • Dominican Republic
    • Asia
      • South Korea
      • Japan
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
      • Cambodia
      • China
    • Featured:
    • Popular tours
    • Black Friday deals
    • Subjects
      • Career & Technical Education Tours
      • STEM Tours
      • History Tours
      • Art, Music & Theater Tours
      • Language Tours
    • Collections
      • Starter Tours
      • Career Readiness Tours
      • Middle School Tours
      • Global Leadership Summit
      • Community Engagement Tours
      • Tours for Girls
      • View all
    • How it works
      • Plan your first tour
      • Pricing & inclusions
      • Request a free brochure
    • Why choose EF
      • Educational impact
      • Best-in-class safety
      • Personalized support
    • Teacher benefits
      • Teacher training
      • Global Rewards program
      • Credit & professional development
    • EF & Educational Travel
      • About EF
      • Educational travel 101
      • Find your teacher’s tour
      • Booking Conditions
    • Safety & Support
      • Our approach to safety
      • Peace of Mind Program
      • Travel protection
      • Meet your people
    • Pricing & Inclusions
      • Payments made easy
      • Everything that’s included
      • Fundraising & scholarships
    • Getting Ready to Go
      • Passports & visas
      • Flights & transportation
      • Trip packing list
      • Rooming & meals
      • Adult travelers
Contact usLog in
  1. Home
  2. Travel Blog
  3. Places and Perspectives
  4. Talk the talk: Speaking Spanish in Spain

Culture

Talk the talk: Speaking Spanish in Spain

Sarah McLaughlin | December 15, 2022

If you’re aiming for fluency in a foreign language, there’s nothing more powerful than practicing it in the places where it’s from. But even if acing your language skills isn’t on your to-do list, you should still try to speak the local lingo whenever you’re somewhere new. That’s because, whether you want to deepen your understanding of local customs, strike up conversations with new people, or simply gain the confidence that comes from stepping (or speaking) outside of your comfort zone, knowing a few key words and phrases will make your travel experience much more meaningful.

Of course, talking the local talk is easier said than done—no pun intended. But, practice makes progress. And by pushing yourself to speak up in low-stake situations, you’ll be even more prepared to use your voice in the high ones. Watch the videos below to see how three students translated their classroom learnings into real-world wins, then complete one (or all!) of the same challenges when you join an EF tour to Spain. It might seem daunting, but we know you can do it. Or, as the girls kept cheering to hype each other up, ¡si se puede!

Challenge #1 Order a sweet treat

When it comes to immersing yourself in a new culture, sampling new foods is just as important as speaking the local language. So, why not combine the two, like our challenger Lizzie did during her trip to Madrid? While she was nervous at first, her worries soon melted away as quickly as the gelato she was coveting. And as a reward for her toils, she walked away with a sweet new sense of pride and a trophy in the shape of an ice cream cone.

Challenge #2 Ask for directions

This task is a little trickier. In addition to asking for help, you’ll need to listen extra carefully so you can retain the directions as you’re on the move. To practice, we recommend asking strangers for directions when you aren’t actually lost just so you can work on your comprehension skills. Or, if you’re an advanced Spanish speaker, like student Constanza, use this as an opportunity to get more comfortable approaching strangers. After all, it can be nerve-wracking asking strangers for directions even when there isn’t a language barrier.

Challenge #3 Buy a souvenir

Magnets and postcards are great and all, but if you complete this challenge, you’ll return home with a souvenir that’s far more valuable. (Hint: In Spanish, it’s confianza.) That’s exactly what happened when student Bella decided to practice her shopping vocabulary with a local vendor. Ironically, she bought eyewear to block out the sun, but nothing could dim how brightly she glowed after that experience.

Sarah McLaughlin

Sarah McLaughlin

Sarah is a senior copywriter at EF Education First. When she isn’t writing, you can find her browsing through bookshops, trying to cook, or going to improv class (which is basically just an excuse for adults to play make-believe).

Ready to make the world your classroom?

Explore our unique tour collections that bring learning to life across inspiring destinations.

Browse tours
divider_desktop
divider_mobile

Related articles

Snowdonia National Park

Culture

Great Countryside of North Wales, Ireland

Moments on tour

Exploring today’s best STEM innovations—and inspiring tomorrow’s

fado music mural in portugal

Culture

The history of fado: falling in love with a music genre

Footer

We're here to help

Contact us
Help Center

Learn more

How it works
About EF
Customer Reviews
Visit our blog
Careers at EF

Other EF brands

EF Explore America
EF Language Abroad
EF Tours for Girls
EF Educational Tours Canada
EF Adventures
EF Ultimate Break
EF Go Ahead Tours
EF Gap Year

Stay connected

Contact us
Help Center
How it works
About EF
Customer Reviews
Visit our blog
Careers at EF
EF Explore America
EF Language Abroad
EF Tours for Girls
EF Educational Tours Canada
EF Adventures
EF Ultimate Break
EF Go Ahead Tours
EF Gap Year

Stay connected

Privacy Policy and Legal Notices

© Signum International AG 2026. All rights reserved.