Start Speaking Spanish in Puerto Vallarta: One Everyday Task at a Time

A conversation with Enrique Jiménez Figueroa, Director of Spanish Experience Center.

Knowing a few Spanish words and using them in an unexpected conversation are different challenges. Enrique Jiménez Figueroa recommends starting with one small task, then learning how to keep the conversation going when the reply is unfamiliar. His examples focus on everyday life in Puerto Vallarta, from ordering coffee to talking with a neighbour.

Interview by Ken Gardner. Written answers edited for clarity and length. These are the contributor’s teaching recommendations; learning progress varies by person and practice.

1. What is a realistic first step for someone who freezes when it is time to speak?

Instead of going out thinking, “Today I have to speak Spanish,” decide on one small, specific task. For example, walk into a café, greet someone, order a café con leche, ask for the bill and say goodbye.

The goal is not to speak perfectly or understand absolutely everything. It is to complete that interaction using the Spanish you already have. Once it feels comfortable, make the next task slightly more complex.

A useful daily question is: “What do I want to accomplish today using my Spanish?”

2. Which phrases help with everyday tasks?

Learn a few structures you can adapt:

• Buenos días / Buenas tardes. Good morning / Good afternoon. Greet the person before asking for something.
• Disculpe… Excuse me… Use it to begin a question or ask for help.
• ¿Me da ___, por favor? Could I have ___, please? Insert coffee, tacos or a bottle of water.
• ¿Cuánto cuesta? How much does it cost? Ask a product’s price. ¿Cuánto es? How much is it? Ask the total when you are paying.
• ¿Dónde está ___? Where is ___? Ask for the bathroom, pharmacy or Malecón.
• ¿Puede repetir, por favor? Could you repeat that, please? Use it when the answer is too fast or unfamiliar.

Combine these phrases for the task you have chosen, rather than trying to memorize a long list without a situation in mind.

3. What should someone do when they cannot understand the answer?

Not understanding part of an answer does not mean communication has failed. The conversation needs a small repair. My approach is: repeat, clarify, confirm and continue.

Ask “Disculpe, ¿puede repetir, por favor?” If speed is the problem, try “¿Puede hablar un poco más despacio, por favor?”

If one word is stopping you, ask “¿Qué significa ___?” Use what you did understand to check the important detail: “Entonces, ¿a las cinco?” means “So, at five?”

For example:

Customer: Buenos días. ¿Me da un café con leche, por favor?
Server: Claro. ¿Lo quiere con leche entera, deslactosada o de almendra?
Customer: Disculpe, ¿puede repetir más despacio, por favor?
Server: ¿Qué tipo de leche quiere?
Customer: De almendra, por favor.

The customer needed help with the choice of milk, but could still complete the task. You need to understand enough to continue, rather than every word immediately.

4. What could fifteen minutes of daily practice look like?

Prepare, use and review. Before an errand, spend a few minutes preparing the language for one task, such as buying fruit: a greeting, the price, a quantity and goodbye.

Use that Spanish during the real interaction. Read the situation. Someone may have time to talk, or the interaction may need to be brief. Keep it natural, ask for clarification when necessary and thank the person. Employees and neighbours do not have to become your teachers.

Afterwards, ask yourself what you could say, what you did not understand and what word was missing. If you could not ask for half a kilo, look it up, note it or ask your teacher. Try again with that extra tool next time.

The fifteen minutes do not need to happen together. A little preparation, the interaction itself and a short review create a manageable cycle.

5. How can adults tell whether a class is helping them communicate?

Look for a class that connects grammar and vocabulary to life outside the classroom. Exercises help organize learning, but finishing a page or rushing through units should not be the only goal.

Notice what you can now do: order something, understand an answer, talk with a neighbour or handle a situation you previously needed to manage in English.

A trained, experienced teacher can help you prepare for these situations and repair misunderstandings. Bring real experiences back to class, including unexpected answers or something you wanted to say but could not.

As your Spanish develops, class conversations can involve your weekend, daily needs and experiences in Puerto Vallarta. A useful sign of progress is a shrinking distance between the Spanish you study and the Spanish you use.

6. What can a newcomer’s experience teach another beginner?

I remember a resident who had managed mainly in English. An unexpected car problem showed him how dependent he was on finding an English speaker, and he began studying Spanish.

The change went beyond solving practical problems. He started talking with a Mexican neighbour he had hardly spoken with before. Learning Spanish expanded his existing life, opening conversations and experiences that had been less accessible.

You do not need to wait for a crisis. Ordering coffee, asking directions and speaking with a neighbour are small tasks, but each can open a door.

Try this week

Choose one short task. Prepare a greeting, your request and a way to ask for repetition. Complete the interaction respectfully, then note one thing to learn before trying again.

About the contributor

Enrique Jiménez Figueroa is Director of Spanish Experience Center in Puerto Vallarta. Born in Cuernavaca, he describes his educational background as degrees in International Business and Teaching Spanish as a Second Language from UNINTER University. His work focuses on Spanish learning and understanding everyday life and culture in Mexico.

Website: Spanish Experience Center
Professional contact: info@spanishexperiencecenter.com