{"id":5279,"date":"2022-10-11T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-10-11T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.salkantaytrekking.com\/blog\/?p=5279"},"modified":"2025-09-06T08:30:43","modified_gmt":"2025-09-06T13:30:43","slug":"how-i-learned-spanish-in-cusco-peru","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.salkantaytrekking.com\/blog\/how-i-learned-spanish-in-cusco-peru\/","title":{"rendered":"How I Learned Spanish in Cusco, Peru"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>For 5 years in high school and college, I studied French.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>And yet, I knew more Spanish after SIX MONTHS than I have ever known French. I even lived in French-speaking Belgium for 3 months! But in 2016, I decided to move to <strong>Cusco, Peru<\/strong>. For about 10 months before I made the big move in March of 2017, I dedicated myself to <strong>learning Spanish<\/strong> in basically all my free time. I arrived in Peru with a pretty high level of basic Spanish, enough to get around, get involved, and start my new life as an ex-pat.<\/p>\n<p>Once I was actually living full-time in Peru, my communication skills in Spanish skyrocketed! Several factors led to my success with the new language and culture, but it all comes down to lifestyle changes. <strong>Spanish must BE your life<\/strong>. Today, many Spanish speakers meet me and say, \u201cWow! Your Spanish is great! How did you learn?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Before I tell you about my resources and strategy, there are a few key ingredients for you to understand before you can really move forward with learning a 2nd (or 3rd\u2026or 4th\u2026) language.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"anchor-links\">\n<li><a href=\"#h-important-principles-to-consider-before-you-start\">Important Principles to Consider Before You Start<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#h-lifestyle-learning-resources\">Lifestyle Learning Resources<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#h-tips-for-language-learning-success-as-an-expat\">Tips for Language-Learning Success as an Expat<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#h-vamos-por-todo\">Vamos por Todo!<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"h-important-principles-to-consider-before-you-start\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Important Principles to Consider Before You Start<\/h2>\n<h3 id=\"h-motivation\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Motivation<\/h3>\n<p>This is a key part of any language learning journey. You\u2019ve got to examine your reasoning for wanting to go through with this endeavor and keep that in the forefront of your mind, or, I promise, you\u2019ll become a quitter much sooner than you\u2019d hoped and definitely much sooner than reaching fluency.<\/p>\n<p>Why do you want to know your target language? Usually, it\u2019s to be able to talk to people who speak that language and not your first language. It could be for travel, family or a career. How important is that to you? <strong>It\u2019s a great way to broaden your view of and knowledge about the world around you<\/strong>. If you get frustrated and give up, these people will remain strangers to you! You can never truly get to know them. But imagine the day \u2013 oh yes! \u2013 when you will speak to them face to face and be understood! And when they will speak to you and get a thought-out response instead of blank stares!<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"h-commitment\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Commitment<\/h3>\n<p>This will come along with your motivation. Don\u2019t be a quitter! Remember why you started this and if it\u2019s really important enough to you. When you\u2019re trying to learn the 500 forms of the verb \u201cestar,\u201d don\u2019t despair! Get frustrated for a moment, but then move on with confidence and determination. <strong>Give yourself a pep talk, and continue<\/strong>! It comes with time and practice, not all at once. That is why committing to your language learning long-term is so important.<\/p>\n<p>When it comes to verb forms, memorizing all the forms at once won\u2019t do you much good anyway. You have to hear and use them in context. It will become more natural in time!\u00a0 I\u2019m sure you\u2019ve heard the phrase, \u201cIf you don\u2019t use it, you lose it.\u201d This is so true with languages. If you\u2019re not committed for the long haul, you might as well not even start.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"h-time-and-consistency\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Time and Consistency<\/h3>\n<p>And rolling right off of that note, this whole language learning thing can\u2019t be \u201con again, off again\u201d like your last bad relationship. In just the same way, it won\u2019t last! This is going to take a lot of time and effort, so be prepared for that at the onset. If you study really hard for a week and then take 2 weeks off to recover, you\u2019re back at square one, buddy. <strong>Slow and steady wins the race<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Creating a consistent time when you sit down to work on Spanish will help a lot. In the car going to work? Time to listen to that Spanish podcast! It\u2019s 9 PM? Time to read a story out of a Spanish children\u2019s book!<\/p>\n<p>Be consistent with your studies. Set a goal, and if it helps you to write it out or to mark off your study times on a calendar, then do that! Make it a workable and convenient part of your everyday routine. You know yourself and <strong>your learning style and study habits<\/strong> better than anyone else does, so I can\u2019t tell you what will work for you to stick to it week after week and month after month. The most important thing is to surround yourself with the language and not do too much too soon. Take it one day at a time, one subject at a time. Avoid the \u201cintensity trap\u201d of studying 5 hours a day one week and then falling off the bandwagon completely the next week. I don\u2019t recommend either of those two paths. Start low and go slow.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"h-imperfections-and-humility\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Imperfections and Humility<\/h3>\n<p>This one may sound strange to you. Be imperfect? And what does humility have to do with language learning?<\/p>\n<p>If you try to be perfect when you speak, read, or listen to your target language, your growth will be stunted because you\u2019ll never get real practice. You will not be perfect as you\u2019re learning and practicing. If that\u2019s your goal, you\u2019ll be disappointed and turn the radio back to English because you weren\u2019t understanding what the Latin song was saying anyway, so what\u2019s the point? If you expect perfection, you\u2019ll end up reverting to where you\u2019re comfortable \u2013 your 1st language, your heart language. But to grow, we must be challenged beyond what we\u2019re currently able to do so that someday in the near future, we CAN understand that song!<\/p>\n<p>You must be willing to make a fool of yourself, be uncomfortable, and be okay with that! You\u2019ll be stuck in the communication level of a small child, and that\u2019s a hard truth to swallow. Don\u2019t allow yourself to get discouraged when you don\u2019t know the right conjugation to use, or you accidentally agree to go salsa dancing with someone tomorrow night! It\u2019s all part of the process, and you\u2019ll get some hilarious stories out of these language mishaps, too. <strong>Be nice to yourself<\/strong>. Laugh.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-lifestyle-learning-resources\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Lifestyle Learning Resources<\/h2>\n<p>Lifestyle learning is the only way to become fluent in a second language! It means just what it sounds like: Spanish becomes an integral part of your lifestyle, a consistent pattern, a way of life you don\u2019t have to think twice about. It must be easy for you to come across Spanish without much extra effort. Human nature is to take the path of least resistance, so try to make it easier for yourself to stick with it by intermingling Spanish language habits into your daily life.<\/p>\n<p>Most of these resources I began using before I moved to <strong>Peru<\/strong> and continued to take advantage of after my move. I wasn\u2019t interested in working my way through a textbook, and I don\u2019t believe that\u2019s a very effective strategy, anyway. That method might work for some people, but it\u2019s totally off my radar. I went for a more natural, immersive, and conversational route.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s a <strong>list of the resources<\/strong> I used that were super helpful in my language-learning process:<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"h-use-the-duolingo-app\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Use the Duolingo App<\/h3>\n<p>This is a convenient and thoughtfully organized resource to use anytime, anywhere, from a free application on your phone. The lessons are arranged in categories and just take a few minutes each.<\/p>\n<p>The process involves teaching, reinforcing, and testing your skills on an easy-to-use platform. You can set your goal to between 1 and 5 lessons a day, and it will remind you to do them via notifications, giving you virtual rewards when you stick to it! There are matching, translating, listening exercises, etc., and the variety and precisely spaced learning circuits are what makes <strong>Duolingo so effective<\/strong>. You always have your phone with you, so use that to your advantage!<\/p>\n<p><em>Listen to the Coffee Break Spanish &amp; Show Time Spanish Podcasts<\/em> (in that order \u2013 the second builds on the first)<\/p>\n<p>These are completely FREE, and it was my favorite and most helpful resource before I moved to Peru! The podcast episodes are about 15-20 minutes each, and they\u2019re designed for you to listen to the same one each day for a week for reinforcement before moving on to the next episode. You certainly don\u2019t have to stick to that setup, but it did seem like an effective system for me.<\/p>\n<p>You can also purchase extra resources from the host if you\u2019d like, but the podcasts alone are a great place to start. Within the audio of the lessons, there\u2019s a teacher and a student, so the student makes mistakes just like you will! You have a chance to speak and repeat back what you are learning, and your knowledge is tested at regular intervals. It\u2019s a really great system, and I highly recommend it.<\/p>\n<p>On iPhones, you can directly download the episodes in the \u201c<strong>podcasts<\/strong>\u201d app. On Android, you can get an app called \u201cLearn Spanish\u201d (the one with the orange circle, Spain flag, and headphones) to hear the podcasts without an Apple device, and there are several other Spanish podcasts on there, too. I know there are other Android apps for downloading podcasts, as well. I often listen to these in the car on the way to and from work. You could do it while you cook, clean, do laundry, knit, paint, work out or go for a walk! Most importantly, make it a regular habit!<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"h-watch-kids-movies-and-tv-shows\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Watch Kids\u2019 Movies and TV Shows<\/h3>\n<p>I switched my <strong>Netflix<\/strong> language to Spanish. Some of my favorites to watch when I was first starting were Tarzan, The Emperor\u2019s New Groove (conveniently set in Cusco!), and All Hail King Julien (the series based on the Madagascar movies). You can watch with subtitles in English, then subtitles in Spanish, then no subtitles! See how you do!<\/p>\n<p>It helps if you\u2019ve seen the movie before and kind of already knows what\u2019s going on. Once you feel you\u2019ve got a hang on kids\u2019 shows, you can move on to teenager-level and then full-grown adult. You will love to feel your own transformation. The first time you really understand an entire episode is so exhilarating! This is a great option because it doesn\u2019t take extra time. Just use your time watching television, switching out English for Spanish!<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"h-watch-extra-en-espanol\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Watch Extra en Espa\u00f1ol<\/h3>\n<p>This is the name of a soap opera on <em>Youtube<\/em> that uses easy and slow Spanish, specifically made for learners. I watched it all the way through a few different times to track my improvement in understanding every couple of months. There\u2019s one season of 14 episodes available to watch. The acting is not great, or even good, but it\u2019s a helpful resource nonetheless! Replace a bit of your regular TV time with this.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"h-watch-youtube-language-lessons-and-conversational-videos\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Watch Youtube Language Lessons and Conversational Videos<\/h3>\n<p>There are a lot of fantastic Youtube channels dedicated to teaching Spanish. Try out several to see which one jives best with your learning style. Some are classroom-type lessons, and others show and explain real-life conversations. One of the best I found is a channel called \u201c<strong>Se\u00f1or Jordan<\/strong>.\u201d It seems like he\u2019s got a video about any Spanish language topic you could need! And he\u2019s a great teacher. Instead of watching a comedy video or the latest news, put on a lesson!<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"h-write-out-quotes-journal\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Write Out Quotes, &amp; Journal<\/h3>\n<p>Typing is okay, but I really mean writing in an old-fashioned way \u2013 with a pen and paper. This will help you learn to spell things (no autocorrect!) and feel the setup of grammatically correct sentences in Spanish with your hand. You can try journaling, too, which will help with the same things, as well as give you the opportunity to start learning to express yourself even though you don\u2019t have someone to speak with. You\u2019ll use language while journaling that you\u2019ll want to use in everyday life, too. Read your entry out loud back to yourself to practice pronunciation. That\u2019s also a good way to begin getting used to hearing those strange sounds coming out of your mouth.\u00a0Make a cup of tea, curl up on the couch with a blanket and grab a notebook!<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"h-label-your-house\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Label Your House<\/h3>\n<p>This is really just for vocabulary practice in your everyday life. Grab some <strong>sticky notes<\/strong>, and put a label on anything you can around your living space. TV, mirror, door, bed, window, wall, table, pots, ceiling, computer, outlet, wardrobe, garage, book, movie, guitar, jewelry, drawer, lightswitch, bottles, medicine, painting, etc. This takes literally no time out of your daily life.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"h-set-your-devices-to-spanish\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Set Your Devices to Spanish<\/h3>\n<p>Phone, computer, GPS, radio, iPad, etc. \u2013 <strong>I put it all in Spanish<\/strong>! You kind of already knows where and what everything is, and if not, you have to learn to get around! It\u2019s a sort of lazy, subconscious way to engrain these small things into your natural memory via everyday use. You\u2019ll be surprised how second nature it becomes after a while! Another great way to learn without adding extra responsibilities to your day.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"h-read-kids-books-brochures-and-advertisements-and-work-on-new-words\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Read Kids\u2019 Books, Brochures, and Advertisements (And Work on New Words)<\/h3>\n<p>Toward the beginning of my learning process, I used incredibly simple books for very young children (think Dr. Suess and Goodnight Moon). It was really good for working on past tenses\u2026which I hated. The pictures are cute, too. When I started getting a little better at understanding, I moved on to material for older children (like Where the Wild Things Are and Madeline), so it got a bit more complex. It was still simple but challenging enough to learn a lot from, getting used to the way sentences are set up and how different conjugations are used correctly.<\/p>\n<p>I had a word document where I wrote out words I didn\u2019t understand along with their definition, a sample sentence, and a sentence I came up with myself using that word. Don\u2019t feel like you have to understand everything you\u2019re reading! Even if you\u2019re a little lost (or a lot lost), you\u2019re getting used to grammar and sentence structure in your target language and seeing words written down that you may have only heard out loud before. I also sometimes liked to read the stories out loud to work on my pronunciation. I promise that it becomes less and less strange to hear yourself speaking Spanish!<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s also helpful to pick up <strong>flyers<\/strong>,<strong> brochures, and advertisements in Spanish <\/strong>whenever you come across them. They\u2019re usually pretty straightforward and don\u2019t use too much technical language. For example, I had a guidebook for Petra in Spanish from when I was in Jordan, along with maps and brochures. I also had copies of the books Divergent and Frankenstein en Espa\u00f1ol, though I wasn\u2019t ready for those until I\u2019d already lived in Peru for several months.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"h-listen-to-music\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Listen to Music<\/h3>\n<p>As often as possible, put on <strong>Latin music<\/strong>! Not only is it super catchy and fun, but it\u2019s one more way to inject Spanish into your life. Pop is good but sometimes fast. Gentle cafe-type music is great for starting. One easy-to-understand singer is Julieta Venegas. Check out playlists in Spotify\u2019s \u201cLatin\u201d section of the Browse Bar. I especially like the \u201c<em>Cafe Con Leche<\/em>\u201d and \u201c<em>Latin Pop Hits<\/em>\u201d playlists. Watch lyric videos for added effectiveness! This is an easy and painless way to absorb Spanish with no extra effort.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"h-use-toucan\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Use Toucan<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Toucan<\/strong> is a web browser extension that can be downloaded for free. It changes random words on your computer screen to your target language! This makes it easy to interpret what they mean by context. Once you download the extension, you can choose your desired language and current fluency level. Words changed will be highlighted on your screen, and hovering over them with your mouse will bring out a pop-up box showing what the word means and a bit of information about it.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"h-find-someone-to-talk-to\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Find Someone to Talk To<\/h3>\n<p>To make language learning work, you actually have to use it in real situations and say the words out loud. Often, we get stuck on listening and reading but don\u2019t get to speak Spanish as much. <strong>Make a friend online<\/strong> that lives in a country that speaks Spanish. Convince a friend to learn with you, and practice together. If there\u2019s a Hispanic group in your area, get involved with them.<\/p>\n<p>On sites like Couchsurfing, there are meet-ups that you can be a part of with other travelers and locals who speak Spanish.<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ll also find a section where you can request language exchange: you talk with a Spanish speaker in English (or your native language) for a time, and then they converse with you in Spanish! You help each other out by practicing in real-life chats. There are numerous websites dedicated to connecting people around the world for language exchange, so do a quick Google search, and take your pick! This is a way to learn without it feeling like work. You\u2019ll probably make a new friend or two in the process, as well!<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"h-use-the-spanishdict-app\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Use the SpanishDict App<\/h3>\n<p>This has been the most accurate translator I\u2019ve found from English to Spanish. It also gives example sentences and a dictionary definition instead of only a translation. There\u2019s a detailed table for every verb with the possible conjugations listed! They also have an online program called Fluencia that you can purchase for a monthly fee (which I did not do) if you\u2019re interested in that sort of thing. The app and website (spanishdict.com) are both great! Have the app ready when a new word pops up as you go about your day at work or at play.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"h-take-a-trip-to-a-country-that-speaks-spanish\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Take a Trip to a Country that Speaks Spanish<\/h3>\n<p>Before moving to a Spanish-speaking country, take a trip to one. Of course, this isn\u2019t always possible due to finances and other constraints. If you can make this work, wait until you\u2019ve been studying at least a few months. This will help you gauge how your studies are truly going if you MUST use it to get around! If you\u2019re better than you thought, it will be very encouraging! If you are behind where you\u2019d hoped you would be, it will be motivation to increase the effort you\u2019re putting into the language! But the best part is you\u2019ll get to practice in a real situation and hear\/see the language everywhere around you, plus you\u2019ll also have a fun traveling experience! You\u2019ve got most of South America and Spain to choose from.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Disclaimer<\/em><\/strong><strong>:<\/strong> I have no personal or business ties with any products or services endorsed. I am not being paid for any of my recommendations. I simply think they\u2019re all wonderful based on my own judgment and experience!<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-tips-for-language-learning-success-as-an-expat\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tips for Language-Learning Success as an Expat<\/h2>\n<h3 id=\"h-take-private-spanish-classes-a-lot-of-them\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Take Private Spanish Classes (A Lot of Them)<\/h3>\n<p>I took private, 1-on-1 Spanish classes 3 hours a day, 5 days a week for about 7 months. In the end, the adult brain needs immersion and an organized framework to learn a new language system. It\u2019s important that you get training on grammar and sentence structure, as language isn\u2019t simply vocab. It\u2019s incredibly complex.<\/p>\n<p>Taking these individualized classes with a local as if it were a part-time job WHILE I was living in Peru with Spanish all around me was the single most important thing I did in my learning process. I saw exponential growth in my speaking and comprehension during that time and was able to start connecting to Peruvian people in deep conversations after just a few months here. Get obsessed, and do your homework. Practice what you learn in class in your everyday life!<\/p>\n<p>My teacher was phenomenal. She\u2019s native to Cusco, Peru, and has a master\u2019s degree in Applied Linguistics in Spanish Education for Foreigners. She opened her own business and accepts students from all over the world (including virtually if you\u2019re not in Cusco). She has had many years of experience, and I would recommend her to anyone! Her name is Yesica Pacheco.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"h-prioritize-your-personal-social-life\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Prioritize Your Personal Social Life<\/h3>\n<p>Try to make friends! Spanish-speaking friends, not other ex-pats who speak your own language. Ha! Don\u2019t shut yourself in your apartment because of fear or anxiety. If you moved along with friends or family, do not spend all your time with them in a bubble. I think one of my greatest advantages is that I moved to Peru completely alone. The difficulty will pass, and you\u2019ll be proud of yourself afterward!<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ll be surprised by the grace and patience of the locals who decide to befriend you! Those first friendships when you start to live abroad will always hold a special place in your heart. Those will be the ones who see you at your most vulnerable and continue to encourage you on your journey. They will be so excited to teach you not only new words but new things about their country and culture. It\u2019s the best feeling. When you find someone like that, hang on tight to them!<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Tip:<\/em><\/strong> <strong>Learn local slang to break the ice!<\/strong> Natives love to hear foreigners try to use the words they thought only they knew. It\u2019s so amusing, and it sets the stage for a beautiful connection. Embrace laughter!<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"h-ask-questions\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ask Questions<\/h3>\n<p>When you don\u2019t understand something, ask for an explanation! Don\u2019t be afraid. Get the person you\u2019re with to use different words and talk slowly. Ask why they used this word instead of that word. Have them model the correct pronunciation. Remember what I said about imperfectionism and humility under \u201cImportant Principles to Consider Before You Start.\u201d You\u2019re going to feel stupid and uncomfortable sometimes! No one will understand what you\u2019re trying to express.<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ll have to smile and nod as someone tells you a tear-jerking story because you Just. Don\u2019t. Get it. These are all realities you\u2019re going to HAVE TO accept if you want to arrive at fluency someday. But it\u2019s not all bad! The situations in which you\u2019ll find yourself can be so fun and funny. Accept your position as a new learner, and don\u2019t hesitate to depend on others to help you understand.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"h-if-you-can-live-with-locals\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">If You Can, Live with Locals<\/h3>\n<p>Living with someone who doesn\u2019t speak your language takes away the temptation to revert back to your comfort zone. Day in and day out, you\u2019ll hear, learn and use new vocabulary and create sentences that are more and more complex. You\u2019ll understand things by context and body language. You\u2019ll be forced to communicate. And you\u2019ll learn slang and get used to the local accent! Your housemates can also give you tips about cultural norms, what to do around town, the best places to eat and how to use public transportation. This is a surefire way to boost your Spanish level quickly.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"h-take-public-transportation\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Take Public Transportation<\/h3>\n<p>I had never had the opportunity to move around my town via public transportation until I came to live in Cusco! And I love it. It\u2019s cheap, easy, and convenient. While you\u2019re learning Spanish, try to get around this way in the city where you live. It\u2019s obviously the most local way to get from one place to another, and you\u2019ll likely be the only foreigner on the bus (or tram or subway).<\/p>\n<p>You can chat with your seat partner or just eavesdrop on the conversations around you. Your interactions with workers and the signs you\u2019ll see along the way will also help you out. Plus, you\u2019ll get a directional feel for the city and start recognizing important places.<\/p>\n<p>P.S. \u2013 If you do take a taxi, that\u2019s another way to practice. Talk to your driver!<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"h-go-to-concerts-play-sports-and-attend-public-events\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Go to Concerts, Play Sports and Attend Public Events<\/h3>\n<p>Latin culture is really big on celebrations, sports, and get-togethers, especially in Peru. Parades, festivals, parties, and football (soccer for North Americans) are the heartbeat of society. Peru has 13 federal holidays annually compared to the United States\u2019 9 a year, but the unofficial ones reach up to a mind-boggling 3000 festivities a year!\u00a0 Jump on in there; don\u2019t miss out on the action! Apart from the unforgettable memories and fun times, you\u2019ll hear and use a LOT of Spanish in these traditional moments. Get in on a pick-up game at the park. Buy a ticket to that concert. Go to the plaza on New Year\u2019s Eve or during <strong>Carnavales<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-vamos-por-todo\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Vamos Por Todo!<\/h2>\n<p>Learning a 2nd language is definitely one of the accomplishments I\u2019m most proud of in my life! It\u2019s extremely satisfying to connect with people from a different background, culture, and language and be able to operate on my own in a place that wasn\u2019t originally mine to conquer or understand.<br \/>\n<strong>Spanish is the 4th most spoken language in the world<\/strong>, so you can\u2019t go wrong! Wherever you find yourself, I bet it will come in handy. If you were waiting for a sign to really dive deep into learning Spanish\u2026this is it!<\/p>\n<p><em>Written by: Bethany Iversen Marrou<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For 5 years in high school and college, I studied French. And yet, I knew more Spanish after SIX MONTHS than I have ever known French. I even lived in French-speaking Belgium for 3 months! But in 2016, I decided [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5283,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5279","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-trek"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.4 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How I Learned Spanish in Cusco, Peru<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"I dedicated myself to learning Spanish in basically all my free time. 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