Conquering Spanish: Interviews with Learners

In this episode of Conquering Spanish, host Tania Roman sits down with Jennifer, a traveler, photographer, and former travel editor who spent close to two decades visiting Mexico before deciding it was time to actually learn Spanish. Jennifer studied French from childhood through a semester in Paris, and she describes how that history both supports and interferes with her Spanish today. She walks...

In this episode of Conquering Spanish, host Tania Roman sits down with Elaine, a psychologist who first began learning Spanish to connect with her stepson's wife and her family, and stayed with it because it became one of her favorite ways to keep growing. Elaine shares what draws her to the language as more than vocabulary and grammar: the way Spanish reflects a different way of thinking and...

In this episode of Conquering Spanish, host Tania Roman sits down with Adam, an international development professional from Washington, DC, who is no stranger to language learning. After more than fifteen years with Chinese, he set a goal in 2025 to learn Spanish deeply, and this conversation is an honest look at what that commitment really takes. Adam shares why he wanted to connect with his neig...

In this episode of Conquering Spanish, host Tania Roman sits down with Brittany, a middle school counselor from Oregon, about a 20-year Spanish learning journey full of starts and stops. It is an honest look at what keeps an adult learner motivated when progress feels slow. Brittany shares how her love for Spanish began in college, sparked by a roommate's mother from Mexico, and how it deepen...

In this episode of Conquering Spanish, host Tania Roman sits down with Ardy to discuss her lifelong journey with the Spanish language and how personalized coaching helped her gain the confidence to communicate more naturally in real-life situations. Ardy shares how her interest in Spanish began in middle school and eventually led her to study in Spain, Costa Rica, and Mexico. She reflects on livin...

Learning Spanish as an Adult: Angie’s Journey from Nervous to Confident In this episode of Conquering Spanish, host Tania Roman sits down with Angie Armijo to explore what it’s really like to learn Spanish as an adult. Angie shares what held her back in the beginning, including the fear of speaking and making mistakes, and how she gradually built the confidence to communicate in real-life situatio...

Book a Free Trial Lesson with Spanish55 today! Fear of saying the first word. We’ve all been there. Nick joins us to share how he moved from hesitation to genuine connection by treating Spanish not as homework, but as a bridge to people, music, and everyday life in South Florida. What began with love turned into a wider world: conversations with coworkers, rhythmic nights soundtracked by reggaeton...

In this episode of Conquering Spanish, host Tania Roman speaks with Joel Dermott, a public health administrator in rural Missouri, about how learning Spanish became a tool for service rather than perfection. Joel shares how families who arrive at his clinic without English immediately relax when they’re greeted in Spanish, even if the conversation is simple. He explains why technology alone can’t...

Schedule a Free Trial Lesson with Spanish55 In this episode of Conquering Spanish , host Tania Román sits down with Chad , a bank executive from Tucson, Arizona, whose mission to connect with friends and clients inspired him to learn Spanish. Chad shares how speaking with Coach Paula since 2021 has transformed his confidence, helping him move from memorizing vocabulary to having real conversations...

Schedule a Free Trial Lesson with Spanish55 Thinking about learning Spanish as an adult? Trish Cooper, a lawyer from Denver, shares how starting Spanish lessons in midlife has changed her life.  In this episode of Conquering Spanish, Trish opens up about: How Spanish has “opened a lot of doors” and made travel “a lot more educational” Why she says, “Learning a new language in middle age is not eas...

In this inspiring episode, Jake returns to share the unfiltered truth about learning Spanish—from his dream of visiting Spain and Colombia to the self-doubt and setbacks along the way. He reflects on what it really takes to make progress, how staying consistent with Coach Fran has changed his mindset, and why fluency is more than just a goal—it’s a lifelong journey. Honest, motivating, and full of...

In this episode of Conquering Spanish, we meet Veronica, a dedicated learner from New Jersey, who opens up about her journey with Spanish. From feeling defeated to discovering renewed confidence, Veronica shares how her lessons with Coach Jake felt more like conversations with a friend—and how that connection made all the difference. Tune in for a heartwarming conversation on language, mindset, an...

After a lifetime helping others as a school director for multilingual programs, Charles Wheaton set out to conquer Spanish for himself. In this heartwarming interview, he shares how learning Spanish brought new purpose to his retirement — and how a recent trip to Mexico showed just how much progress he’s made! Schedule a Free Trial Lesson with Spanish55 💬 Questions? Chat LIVE with a Spanish55 tea...

Heather’s Spanish learning journey is more than just vocabulary and grammar—it’s about building confidence and meaningful human connection. In this episode, she shares how her one-on-one lessons have made Spanish feel personal, how she’s grown through her coach’s support, and the small wins that keep her going. It’s a beautiful reminder that language learning is not just academic—it’s emotional, e...

In this episode of Conquering Spanish, we sit down with Chris Quintana, a San Francisco native whose journey with Spanish has been one of resilience, purpose, and heart. From giving a best man speech in Spanish to translating at work and practicing with his grandma, Chris shares how he's built confidence step by step — and how Spanish has become a meaningful part of his everyday life. Whether...

Schedule a Free Trial Lesson with Spanish55 In this episode, we dive into the inspiring story of Victoria Marshall — a third-grade teacher, passionate swimmer, and lifelong learner. Born in Chile and raised in Philadelphia, Victoria’s journey with Spanish is one of rediscovering her roots, building deeper connections with her students and community, and embracing the language as a bridge to her bi...

Schedule a Free Trial Lesson with Spanish55 In this episode of Conquering Spanish , we sit down with Ryan McNichol, a dedicated Spanish learner who embarked on this journey to reconnect with his Mexican heritage and challenge himself in new ways. From overcoming self-doubt to immersing himself in the language through baseball and daily life, Ryan shares valuable insights on mindset, persistence, a...

Schedule a Free Trial Lesson with Spanish55 Amanda Di Martino spent years studying Spanish but struggled to use it in real conversations. She knew the words, but when the moment came to speak, she froze. That all changed when she switched to personalized coaching, where real-world practice and 1:1 guidance helped her break through her fears. In this episode, Amanda shares how she went from feeling...

Schedule a Free Trial Lesson with Spanish55 In this episode of Conquering Spanish, Wendy, a lawyer and lifelong Spanish learner, shares how her heritage and passion for languages sparked her journey with Spanish. She reflects on the transformative role of Spanish55 in building her confidence, embracing imperfection, and making authentic connections. Wendy discusses the value of personalized lesson...

Schedule a Free Trial Lesson with Spanish55 In this episode of Conquering Spanish, Sean shares his journey of learning Spanish, from early challenges to building confidence through consistent practice. Guided by his Spanish55 coach, he’s discovered the joy of connecting with people, exploring cultures, and setting goals for future travels. Tune in for inspiring insights and practical tips! Shownot...

Schedule a Free Trial Lesson with Spanish55 Join us as we dive into the inspiring journey of Eileen and Vicente, a dynamic couple learning Spanish for travel and connection. Vicente shares how his Mexican soccer teammates sparked his passion for the language, while Eileen, a dedicated teacher, embraced Spanish to better communicate with her students' families. In this episode, they reveal how...

Schedule a Free Trial Lesson with Spanish55 In this episode of Conquering Spanish, we sit down with Carolyn Huber, an entrepreneur and outdoor enthusiast who has embraced Spanish as a way to deepen her connections and enrich her adventures. Carolyn shares how learning Spanish has helped her build meaningful relationships within the La Ventana community, enjoy seamless conversations at local market...

Schedule a Free Trial Lesson with Spanish55! Mary’s connection to Spanish began with a friendship on her family’s farm in Pennsylvania. Her curiosity and commitment have taken her from classroom learning to unforgettable experiences in Costa Rica and Nicaragua. Now, working with Coach Francis at Spanish55, Mary’s passion for Spanish is stronger than ever—her goal is to connect with her students’ f...

Schedule a Free Trial Lesson! In our first episode of Conquering Spanish, we sit down with DeAnna Pursai, whose journey with Spanish is both inspiring and heartfelt. She shares how learning Spanish helped her connect more deeply with Spanish-speaking students at her college and even led her to lead translation efforts while traveling in South America. DeAnna offers advice for overcoming the nerves...