Daily, 3-Step Spanish Study Routine You Can Do in Just 5 Minutes

In this video, I walk you through the 3 steps of this study routine. You can watch the video or read about the routine below.

Step 1: Daily Flashcards (2 Minutes)

The first step is reviewing Spanish flashcards. Flashcards are one of the most effective ways to internalize Spanish grammar and essential sentence structures, especially if you quiz yourself regularly.

When you challenge yourself to guess Spanish translations on a daily basis, it reinforces correct Spanish sentences (even if you sometimes guess wrong).

I recommend using flashcards with full Spanish sentences (not just one or two words), especially sentences that use lots of core grammar. That way you’ll get the most out of your study time every day.

Examples:

• She won’t have to do it again. → No lo tendrá que hacer otra vez.
• She wants me to want it. → Ella quiere que yo lo quiera.
• We were there at the same time. → Estábamos ahí al mismo tiempo.

Flashcard Study Hacks:

1. When in doubt, make a guess. Studies have shown that even if you’re unsure, guessing the Spanish forces your brain to engage actively, helping the correct answer stick.
2. Study out loud. Say both your guess and the correct Spanish out loud. Practicing spoken sentences builds the muscle memory needed for fluent conversation.
3. Don’t forget to take notes. Write down anything you struggled with. For example, if you forgot that quiera is the subjunctive of querer, write it down to focus on later when you have more time. 
4. If you have time, add more flashcards to your collection based on what you have trouble with.
   
   

If you’re short on time, just review a few flashcards and move on. Perhaps on a good day, you can review 20 flashcards, but on a bad day, you only have time to study 5 flashcards – that’s still progress! You can still be confident that you’re getting productive Spanish practice. Ultimately, what matters is the cumulative practice over time. Every little bit counts.

To get even more out of your flashcard study time, consider using a spaced repetition system, which prioritizes the material you find most challenging. Soon, we’ll be posting a video on how to use a spaced repetition system to review your flashcards. (If you want to be updated when we do, you can subscribe to our YouTube channel.)

Step 2: Daily Audio Quizzes (1 Minute)

The next step involves what we call “audio quizzes”. These are like flashcards, but instead of reading, you hear an English sentence, guess it in Spanish (before the answer is spoken), and then repeat the correct answer. This method strengthens your listening skills, and it helps with pronunciation as you say the Spanish sentence. The listening aspect also simulates real-life conversation, which doesn’t come with subtitles to read!

Why Audio Quizzes Work:

• They remove the crutch of reading, forcing you to focus on auditory comprehension.
• They let you practice speaking along with accurate Spanish pronunciation.

Where to Find Audio Quizzes:

Since I’m such a big fan of Spanish audio quizzes, my team has created hundreds and hundreds of free audio quizzes in the LearnCraft Spanish Podcast. This is a 250-lesson course with audio quizzes at every level. You can listen for free here.

To jump in and try one of these right away, check out episode 100, which has a big audio quiz of 35 Spanish sentences, focused on the top 300 words in Spanish. Listen to that episode here.

Study Hacks:

1. Always make a Spanish guess out loud (even if you know you won’t get it right).
2. Don’t skip the repetition. Even if your initial guess was correct, you should still repeat the spoken answer that you hear. Not only does it ensure your pronunciation is accurate, but it also helps with muscle memory and smooth, fluid Spanish.
3. Always take notes! Just like in the flashcard step, if a word or grammar point trips you up, jot it down for later review. This way, you don’t skip over something you haven’t yet mastered.
4. Every bit counts. On days when you have plenty of time, aim to go through 10–20 sentences. If you’re pressed for time, just do 3 sentences. Even that small effort keeps your listening and speaking skills sharp.

‍

Step 3: Daily Writing (2 Minutes)

The final step is writing in Spanish, which expands on everything you’ve practiced in steps 1 and 2, but you’ll customize the Spanish in a way that’s personal to you.

How to Practice Effectively:

1. Focus on what you struggled with. For example, if you had trouble with quiera, write sentences that use it. Here are some examples:
   • Voy a hacer lo que tu quieras. (I will do what you want.)
   • Es bueno que ella quiera aprender más. (It’s good that she wants to learn more.)
     
     
2. Make it personal. Think about real-life situations where you’d use these words. If you want to talk about board games with friends, practice sentences about that topic. This equips you with the grammar and vocabulary you need to talk about things most relevant to you.
3. Get feedback. Send your sentences to a Spanish-speaking friend or coach to ensure you’re on the right track.
   
   

What if you don’t have time to write a lot of Spanish? As I’ve mentioned throughout this guide, even on a bad day, you shouldn’t skip this. If you only practice this step for a minute, it still keeps you on a daily learning streak!

On a good day, when you have plenty of time, try to write 5–10 sentences. On a “bad” day when you’re pressed for time, as long as you write 1 sentence down, you’re still keeping your practice consistent. Consistency is key for cumulative practice over time.

How To Stay Consistent in Spanish Every Day

Even a simple routine like this can be tough to stick to if you’re juggling a busy schedule. In the book Atomic Habits, author James Clear states that assigning a specific time of day to your desired new habit helps you remember to do it. This is especially effective when you choose to study Spanish right after a current habit you already have established.

Think of something you already do every day at a consistent time, for example brushing your teeth in the morning. You might decide to do this 3-step study routine every day right after brushing your teeth. Some other examples include:

• Right after pouring your first cup of coffee
• Right after leaving the office for your lunch break
• Right after showering each evening

What matters is consistency and predictability. By tying these steps to an existing habit, you’ll create a system that’s easy to maintain—even on hectic days!

‍

Summary: The 3-Step Daily Spanish Routine

Here’s a quick recap of our 3-step routine that you can incorporate into your daily life and can be done in as little as 5 minutes:

1. Study Your Flashcards (2 minutes)some text
   • Review 5–20 flashcards daily.
   • When in doubt, always make a guess. Remember to speak it out loud and take notes on what you struggle with for later practice.
     
     
2. Take Audio Quizzes (1 minute)some text
   • Listen to 3–20 “audio quiz” sentences.
   • Speak your guesses out loud before you hear the answer. Repeat the correct answer out loud for extra pronunciation practice.
     
     
3. Write Your Own Spanish Sentences (2 minutes)some text
   • Write 1–10 sentences focusing on what you struggled with.

And remember, consistency is more important than perfection. Even if you only have five minutes, this routine covers speaking, listening, reading, and writing, so you’re making progress every day.

Take Your Spanish to the Next Level (For Free!)

Ready to use this 3-step routine to become fluent in Spanish?

The free LearnCraft Spanish course pairs perfectly with this routine. It includes:

• Thousands of grammar-focused flashcards.
• Audio quizzes tailored to your level.
• Step-by-step daily lessons to build fluency.

This is the same system we use to coach students to guarantee fluency. Sign up for the free course by clicking here to build your routine and work toward fluency.