ESPAÑOL ESENCIAL
If you’ve been living in Spain for a while and still find yourself struggling with everyday Spanish, you’re not the only one. This course has been created with you in mind.
Bit by bit, sip by sip
The first level of our Living in Spanish learning program
The first level of our Living in Spanish learning program
We’re developing our first Spanish learning course.
Español Esencial is designed to help you feel more at home in Spanish — through short weekly lessons, personal voice feedback, and practice built around the situations you actually face. We’ll be with you every step of the way, so that your everyday life in Spanish gets easier little by little.
A supportive way to start learning Spanish.
What we plan to deliver in
ESPAÑOL ESENCIAL
- 48 micro‑lessons focused on real listening and speaking.
- Continuous personal coaching from day one.
- 16 conversation coaching sessions (up to 6 learners).
- Ongoing progress check-ins to help you grow your Spanish.
COMING SOON.
Español Esencial concept is designed to cover
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Over a planned 16-week period, the concept is designed to support skills such as:
• Pronunciation and survival communication
• Daily routines and basic interactions
• Moving around, work, home, and travel
Why this design is intended to support your learning
It's all about your lifestyle.
Practice that builds real speaking confidence.
Our focus is on your early autonomy.
Made with expertise and passion for education.
Alex Rueda, the founder, is expected to personally oversee coaching, assistance, and continuous feedback for the early groups.
He’s a psychologist and Spanish teacher with 25 years of experience in the education industry. Over that time, he’s gained a solid understanding of how adults learn for real-life situations.
His work is all about building confidence through clear explanations, structure, and practical exercises, while also making sure the learning pace is sustainable.
His experience in adult education, coaching, and learning design has influenced this approach, which emphasizes clarity, autonomy, and practical application over pressure or complexity.
“At Spanish Shots, learning Spanish is designed to feel warm, supportive, and grounded in real situations. We want Spanish to feel simple, manageable, and authentic.”
What learners say
You're not alone!
Many expats in Spain can get by in an English-speaking bubble. Yet, without confident, real-life Spanish skills, everyday situations often feel more challenging than necessary.
Over time, relying on English and translation tools limits your autonomy, participation, and sense of belonging where you live.
FAQ — Español Esencial
Who is this project intended for?
This project is being developed for beginner-level learners (A1), especially expats living in Spain who don’t speak Spanish at all or do understand some Spanish but don’t yet feel comfortable using it in everyday situations.
It is intended for people who want to gradually build confidence in real-life communication.
What is this at the moment?
Español Esencial is currently in a pre-launch phase. The concept, structure, and learning approach are being developed and tested.
Can I try it already?
We are running limited test pilots to explore and improve the learning experience.
You can join the interest list if you would like to be considered for free participation in these early testing phases.
What would participation involve?
Participation in test phases may involve trying selected parts of the learning experience and sharing feedback.
The exact format may vary as the project evolves.
How much time might it take?
The current concept is designed around short, manageable learning sessions each week.
During testing, time commitment may vary depending on what is being explored.
Is this already a complete course?
No. This is an early-stage concept that is being developed step by step.
The goal of the testing phase is to refine and improve the learning experience before a full release.
Will this be aligned with CEFR levels?
The concept is being designed with reference to CEFR levels, starting at A1.1.
This helps guide the structure, but the final implementation may evolve during development.
What happens after this phase?
Once the concept has been tested and refined, a full version of Español Esencial may be released.
If you join the interest list, you will be informed when the project moves to the next stage.
Am I committing to anything by joining the interest list?
No. Joining the interest list does not involve any commitment.
It simply allows you to stay informed and, if relevant, be considered for early participation.
Stay connected
Español Esencial is currently in a pre-launch phase. If you’re interested in following its development or being considered for early testing, you can join the interest list.
No spam. No obligation.
If this resonates with you
You can join the interest list to stay informed as the project evolves and to hear about potential opportunities to participate in early testing.