Learning Spanish While Living in Puerto Rico: My Immersion Journey
Moving to Puerto Rico has given me the perfect backdrop to deepen my connection to the Spanish language—but immersion isn’t always as easy as it sounds.
While I try to practice Spanish daily, I’ve found that many locals—especially in touristy areas—tend to switch to English the moment they hear my accent. Whether I’m grabbing a coffee, ordering food, or riding in an Uber, it’s common for people to respond in English, even when I initiate the conversation in Spanish.
I usually let people know I’m learning Spanish, which helps a bit. But because I live in a tourist zone, English is widely spoken, and it creates a kind of safety net. On one hand, I wish I lived further out where I’d be forced to use Spanish more. On the other hand, I appreciate the comfort of being able to walk to most places and knowing I can fall back on English when I really need to.
Still, I’ve created my own system for immersion:
How I’m Learning Spanish in Puerto Rico
Daily Practice with Pimsleur – I use this audio-based app while walking or commuting to build my listening and speaking skills. You can try it yourself with 7-Day Trial of Pimsleur using my referral link.)
Spanish Phone Settings – I’ve switched my phone to Spanish to create more daily exposure (though I toggle it back when I need to share links or apps in English).
Hiring a Puerto Rican Tutor – I meet online twice a week with a native speaker to focus on conversational Spanish and the local dialect. If you’re interested, you can get 70% off your first lesson using my link.
Speaking Out Loud – I push myself to speak Spanish out loud daily, even if it’s just to myself or while reviewing lessons.
Flashcards & Workbooks – These help reinforce grammar and vocabulary between tutoring sessions. I try to do this at least twice a week. (Check out the flashcards and workbook I love!)
Listen to Spanish Music – I moved from reggaeton to salsa for clearer lyrics and better listening comprehension. Listening daily has improved my ability to recognize words in conversation.
Mental Load & Progress Over Time
Recently, I saw a TikTok from another woman who moved to Puerto Rico and is learning Spanish. She’s lived here for years and is still learning. It really resonated with me.
She explained that in her first few years, she was just like me—familiar with some words but missing a lot of what was being said. That made it hard to jump into conversations or feel confident holding one. As her skills developed, she began to recognize more words, which helped her feel more comfortable engaging.
I’m in that early stage now. And honestly? Thinking in another language is mentally exhausting sometimes.
I’ve learned that I do best when I practice in the mornings—before my brain is tired. After a full workday, my mental energy is shot. I’m a therapist, so I have to attentively listen and engage with people 5-8 hours a day for a living. I recognize quickly that by about 5 p.m., if I’ve had a long day, English is all I’ve got left. Switching mental gears to speak or process Spanish takes effort, and I’m learning to honor those limits.
Still a Journey
It’s definitely a journey. There are moments of doubt, and progress feels slow some days. But each small step—each sentence I understand, each conversation I try—is getting me closer to fluency.
Living in Puerto Rico is helping me learn the language in a way that feels personal and purposeful. I'm not just studying Spanish—I'm living it.
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