Do I need to know any Spanish to start? Starting from zero, step by step
No. Most of our Beginner students arrive with nothing but "hola". Here's exactly what happens in your first class, your first month and your first eight weeks.
It's the question we hear most: "Do I need to know some Spanish before I join?" The answer is no. Our Beginner A.0 level exists for exactly that moment — when all you have is curiosity and maybe a "hola".
Starting from zero is not a disadvantage. You have no bad habits to undo, no fear of "forgetting" what you learned in school. You start clean, in a group that starts with you.
Nadie empieza sabiendo. Todos empiezan hablando.Nobody starts knowing. Everybody starts speaking.
What "zero" really means
Zero means you can't introduce yourself in Spanish yet, you don't know how to ask a simple question, and listening to a conversation feels like noise. That's normal — and that's where A.0 begins.
You don't need to take the placement test. If you've never studied Spanish, you go straight into Beginner A.0.
Your first class
You will speak in the first ten minutes. Not read, not fill in a worksheet — speak. Your teacher models a short exchange, the group repeats it, and then you say it to a classmate.
Hola, me llamo Ana. ¿Y tú? ¿Cómo te llamas?Hi, my name is Ana. And you? What's your name?
Soy de Indianapolis. Mucho gusto.I'm from Indianapolis. Nice to meet you.
By the end of that first class, you can greet someone, say your name, say where you're from and ask the same back. It sounds small. It feels huge.
Your first month
Each week adds a piece you can use the same day: numbers and prices, days and times, what you like and don't like, your family, your work. Grammar appears inside these conversations, not before them.
¿Cuánto cuesta? Me gusta el café, pero no me gusta el té.How much is it? I like coffee, but I don't like tea.
Around week four, most students notice the moment: they understand a sentence in a song, a sign or a conversation without translating it in their head first.
Your first eight weeks
At the end of A.0 you can hold a short, simple conversation about yourself and your routine, order food, ask for directions and understand a slow, clear speaker. You're ready for A.1 — with the same group, and often the same teacher.
"But I'm not good at languages"
We hear this a lot, especially from adults. Usually it means: "In school, I was graded on grammar tests and I was afraid to speak." Our classes work the other way around. You speak first, make mistakes out loud, and nobody grades you for it.
Equivocarse también es aprender.Making mistakes is also learning.
Small groups make it possible
In a small group, you can't hide in the back — and that's the point. You get real speaking time every class, your teacher knows your name and your goals, and your classmates become your first Spanish conversation partners.
Online or in person
You can start in person at our academy in Indianapolis or online from anywhere. Both follow the same method and the same levels, so you can switch later if your schedule changes.
What you need to bring
A notebook, about two hours a week, and the willingness to say a few words before you feel ready. That's it. We bring everything else.
Five questions beginners ask us
How old is too old to start? There's no limit — many of our students start in their 40s, 50s and 60s.
Will I have homework? Short, optional practice between classes. Ten minutes a day is enough.
What if I miss a class? Your teacher shares the material so you can catch up before the next session.
Which Spanish will I learn? Neutral, clear Spanish — and you'll hear accents from different countries along the way.
How do I start? Reserve your seat in the next Beginner group. Nothing is charged until the group is complete.
