“Being able to speak Spanish with my kids every day makes it meaningful.” #BaseLangStories

Ami had already tried tools like Pimsleur and Rosetta Stone, but something was missing: real conversation. As a busy parent in the United States, she needed a flexible way to practice speaking consistently. Since joining BaseLang in 2021, regular conversations with native tutors have helped her turn Spanish into a daily habit and steadily build real confidence.

BaseLangStories series puts the spotlight on BaseLang students – asking them about their motivations for learning a foreign language, what impact learning Spanish has had on their lives, advice they have for fellow students, and more.

1. What’s your name? Where are you from?

Hi, my name is Ami and I’m from the United States. I’m a busy parent and language learner who enjoys challenging myself and continuing to grow. Learning Spanish has become a meaningful part of my daily life, especially because it connects me more deeply with my family and with people from different cultures.

2. Why did you want to learn Spanish?

Growing up, I had friends who spoke Spanish as a second language, and that always inspired me. I admired the fact that they could communicate in more than one language and connect with people in a different way. At the time I didn’t seriously pursue learning it, but the interest was always there. Later in life, I began to take Spanish more seriously and started speaking with native speakers on BaseLang in 2021. Now my motivation is even stronger because my kids are half Mexican, and Spanish is part of their culture and identity. Being able to speak Spanish with them every day has made learning the language even more meaningful and personal for me.

3. In the past, what did you use to learn Spanish?

Before discovering BaseLang, I used programs like Pimsleur and Rosetta Stone. Both of them were great for building a foundation and helping me get familiar with basic vocabulary, pronunciation, and simple sentence structures. They were especially helpful for beginners because they give you repetition and exposure to the language. However, while they helped me understand Spanish, they didn’t give me as much opportunity to actually practice speaking with real people in real conversations.

4. Before BaseLang, which part of learning Spanish did you struggle with the most?

The biggest challenge for me was speaking. I could understand some Spanish and recognize words or grammar patterns, but actually forming sentences and speaking out loud felt intimidating. I also realized that practicing alone doesn’t give you the same experience as talking to a real person. I really like having someone who can correct me in real time, help me rephrase things, and guide me through mistakes. That kind of immediate feedback makes a huge difference in improving confidence and fluency.

5. What obstacle would have prevented you from signing up for BaseLang before?

Honestly, there really wasn’t anything that would have stopped me. If I had known about BaseLang earlier, I probably would have started with it instead of spending time on other resources first. The opportunity to speak with real teachers and practice conversations every day is incredibly valuable. For me, that kind of real-time interaction is what truly helps you move forward in a language.

6. What did you find as a result of signing up?

One of the things I quickly realized after signing up is that speaking another language is truly a workout for your brain. Every class feels like mental exercise because you’re constantly thinking, translating, listening, and responding. It can be challenging at times, but in a good way. Even now, every class still feels like going to the gym for my brain, and that challenge is what helps me keep improving little by little.

7. What specific feature did you like the most about the Real World program?

One of my favorite features of the Real World program is being able to take a class without needing to book far in advance. As a busy parent, my schedule can change quickly, so having the flexibility to jump into a class whenever I have time is incredibly convenient. It makes it much easier to stay consistent with practice, even on days when my schedule is unpredictable.

8. How has learning Spanish impacted your life?

Learning Spanish has had a really positive impact on my life in many ways. It has helped me better understand how the brain works and how language learning develops over time. It’s also been very rewarding to see my own progress. In the beginning, reaching a good level of Spanish felt almost impossible, but over time I proved to myself that with consistent practice and patience, it’s absolutely achievable. It’s also strengthened my connection with my family and allowed me to communicate more naturally with Spanish speakers.

9. Would you recommend this course, if so, why?

Yes, I would definitely recommend this course. One of the biggest reasons is that you can truly go at your own pace. Whether you have a lot of time or just a little bit each day, you can fit classes into your schedule. It’s also extremely convenient, which is important because everyone is busy. Being able to practice speaking regularly with real teachers makes the learning process much more effective.

10. Complete the following sentence: “After my first month of BaseLang, I realized that…”

After my first month of BaseLang, I realized that my Spanish was already improving. One thing that helped a lot was how my teachers from different parts of Latin America would give me the Spanish word whenever I used English in my Spanglish sentences. That constant correction and encouragement helped me slowly replace English words with Spanish ones and become more confident speaking.

11. Anything else to add (advice for other students, what you wish you had known)?

One thing I would tell other students is not to get discouraged if something doesn’t make sense right away. There will definitely be times when you learn a concept for the first time and it just doesn’t click. That’s completely normal. Sometimes you need to hear or see a concept many times before it finally makes sense. Then one day it suddenly clicks, and that moment could come months or even years later after being exposed to it little by little. Language learning is a long process, so patience and consistency are really important. If you keep showing up and practicing, progress will happen.