Bad Bunny Says We Have 4 Months to Learn Spanish—Here’s Everything I’m Using to Do It
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When Bad Bunny said on SNL that we have four months to learn Spanish before the Super Bowl, I said perfect.
Why not make it a challenge and really try to level up my language skills?
Being fluent in Spanish has always been a goal. I’ve practiced on and off for years, including two beginner courses in college. It just always felt like my progress was slow. I hit a 700-day streak on Duolingo last December before deleting the app. Even with that streak, I still had gaps in my understanding and needed a fresh approach.
This year, I’ve found several resources that have helped me ease into an intermediate level. Still, my studying has not been very consistent. Whenever I do practice, I get about 30-45 minutes of studying done. My challenge now is staying consistent.
Cue Bad Bunny’s SNL monologue, and now I have the perfect motivation to get some serious learning done on a schedule.
Anything can happen in four months. Let’s see how far this language learning can go.
I long for the day I can carry on full conversations in Spanish. It’s a beautiful language, smooth and expressive, and it’s spoken all over the world.
Bad Bunny’s halftime show will be a worldwide celebration of Latin American culture. I’m proud to start this four-month learning challenge to gather everything I need to join the celebration.
Keep reading to explore ways I am learning Spanish. My approach is keeping learning fun by weaving it into different parts of my day.
Listening Practice
Bad Bunny + Spanish Music Playlists
What better way to start mastering Spanish than with music? Listening to Spanish music is a fun way to pick up new phrases and practice pronunciation.
Music is culture and storytelling. Even while I’m getting my skills down, I still get a feel for Latin American culture.
Of course, I’ve been listening to Bad Bunny’s music including his new album Debí Tirar Más Fotos to prepare for his halftime show. Other artists I love are Selena, Jessie Reyez, and the group Guaco.
Coffee Break Spanish Podcast
A new addition to my practice is listening to the Coffee Break Spanish Podcast.
What I like most is the show covers concepts in bite-sized episodes. The hosts go through lessons and give plenty of examples.
I love that the episode titles show exactly what’s going to be covered because sometimes there are specific concepts I need to learn. For example, there’s a whole episode on talking about the weather (a topic I want to practice more).
Audiobooks
I’m working my way up to listening to audiobooks fully in Spanish. Books with a blend of English and Spanish have been a good first step.
I most recently listened to You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria, a romcom book about two stars of a telenovela.
Another favorite was Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo, a YA novel split between the Dominican Republic and New York City where two teens learn they’re half sisters.
Watch & Absorb
International Shows
Watching a show entirely in Spanish is a good way to get comfortable with the language.
Right now I’m on season 3 of Las Chicas del Cable (The Cable Girls). It’s a drama set in 1920s Spain (I love a good period piece drama).
Do I understand all the dialogue? Not even close. Can I follow the plot? Absolutely. I keep my Google Translate open while I watch to translate important words and phrases.
It’s okay to figure out phrases as you go. What’s great is I can hear different dialects and communication styles while enjoying a good show.
Bilingual Dialogue & Subtitles
If you’re not ready for full Spanish audio yet, try shows with bilingual dialogue. Jane the Virgin is a great example, a comedy-drama show with a telenovela feel.
You can also try mixing up your subtitles: English audio with Spanish subtitles, or vice versa. This was helpful for me when I first started watching shows in Spanish to get a feel for the language’s rhythm.
Hands-On Practice
Library Software Access
I am so grateful for my library system. By signing up through my library, I get free access to Transparent Language and Mango Languages.
Mango Languages is good for building vocabulary, sentence structure, and memorizing phrases. Transparent Language is my favorite because of all the ways it lets you organize your learning path. You can move through full courses, target specific skills, or fill in gaps with their assessment tools.
Check with your library to see if you have access to these or other language platforms. Libraries also often offer textbooks, Spanish media, and conversation practice groups. It’s a fun and free way to learn.
Journaling Sessions
One skill I fell off from that I need to get back to is journaling in Spanish. I used to write about my day or goals for the next day in one to two pages. Writing helps me practice punctuation, grammar, and forming longer sentences.
I’m definitely still learning, but as the saying goes practice makes perfect. Even short reflections add up and help the language start to flow naturally.
Phone & Video Games in Spanish
Here’s another fun strategy: turn your favorite game on Spanish language mode.
I set Animal Crossing New Horizons and Stardew Valley to Spanish, and wow…lots more vocabulary to memorize! Talking to characters has more purpose because I’m actually trying to decipher what they’re saying.
Even if I’m not reading every piece of dialogue, just navigating through the game becomes a cozy study session.
Speak & Connect
Practice Conversations
When I was growing up, I played the piano. No matter how much music theory I studied, nothing compared to figuring out new songs–that’s how speaking Spanish feels right now.
A similar feeling is solving math equations, the process of applying knowledge and arriving at a solution. That’s how speaking Spanish feels right now. It takes time, but every time I practice, it gets smoother.
My Spanish teacher in college said, the longer you wait to actually practice speaking, the longer it will take to fully understand a language. Another one of my goals is getting consistent with weekly speaking practice.
Someday soon it’ll be cool to do a meetup group like the ones at my local library. Down the line once I’m really comfortable, I look forward to having conversations in my community and abroad.
Educational Creators
The best learning can happen outside the classroom.
My social media feed shows lots of Spanish education creators. I love that they share regional terms and conversational language as much as they go over the basics. Some of them even offer courses and 1:1 coaching sessions to practice further.
Connecting with the culture and the people makes learning more personal.
Putting it all together
And there you have it, my Spanish strategy for the next four months. No cramming, no exams, just making learning fun. Thank you to Bad Bunny for this language learning adventure. Here’s to new connections, stories, celebrations, and yes–Super Bowl halftime shows.
Thanks for reading! Let’s keep the conversation going. Something you want me to explore on this 4-month journey? Comment to let me know.
