Juan Diego Balam of SpanisHacks

There may be no shortcut to fluency, but there are practical ways to make the journey more effective.Juan Diego Balam, founder of Spanishacks, joins Rick to explain why learners should start speaking before they feel ready—and why confidence can matter more than perfect grammar. Drawing on his own experience learning English and coaching Spanish learners, Juan Diego shares how supportive conversations help students stop overthinking, make mistakes without fear, and develop a more natural feel for the language.They also discuss the difference between fluency and proficiency, how listening strengthens speaking, and why learners should choose authentic content connected to their interests. Juan Diego also shares a focused listening exercise that combines slowing down a short video, looking up unfamiliar language, and repeating what the speaker says.Learn more about Juan Diego and Spanishacks:https://spanishacks.comDiscover more conversations with language teachers and successful learners:https://languagelearninginsights.comMaster the vocabulary that matters to you with MiVoca:https://mivoca.app