How to use this plan: Each week has a focus, a day-by-day task grid, specific instructions for new tools and tasks, and an end-of-week checklist. Complete the checklist before moving on. The daily rhythm box below applies to every single day of all 6 weeks — it is your non-negotiable baseline. Everything else builds on top of it.
▸ The Non-Negotiable Daily Rhythm — Every Day, All 6 Weeks
~45 MIN TOTAL
Morning
Anki — 15 min. Before anything else. Before coffee if possible. 10 new cards + all due reviews. Never skip reviews — they are more important than new cards. If you miss a day, do not double up. Just continue normally.
Commute / Walk
Audio — 15–20 min. Podcast, SpanishPod101, or Dreaming Spanish playing in your ears. Passive listening counts. You are building an ear for Mexican rhythm and sound even when you can't fully understand.
Any moment
Pronunciation drill — 10 min. The morning mouth routine from the Phonetics guide. Vowels, R practice, shadow speaking. Can be split across the day. Must happen every day.
Evening
Active practice — 10 min. Varies by week — see each week's plan. Could be speaking aloud, journal writing, media, or chunk review. Specific task listed per week.
Total
~45 minutes. Add the weekly italki session (30 min) once per week starting Week 2. This is the minimum. More is always better. Never do less.
1
Phase 1 · Days 1–7
Build the Foundation.
No Pressure. Just Start.
No Pressure. Just Start.
Survival Start
Week 1 focus: Set up every tool. Learn the first 70 words (Categories 01–03 from the word list). Drill the first 15 power chunks cold. Label your home. Begin the daily rhythm and make it automatic. Do not worry about speaking yet. This week is setup and input only.
Mon · Day 1
- Install Anki. Set up Phase 1 deck.
- Add People & Greetings words (Cat. 1–2, 40 words)
- Read pronunciation guide
- Do vowel drill × 3
Tue · Day 2
- Anki review (Day 1 cards)
- Add Numbers & Money (Cat. 3, 25 words)
- Label home objects (see below)
- SpanishPod101 — Episode 1
Wed · Day 3
- Anki review
- Read grammar skeleton: ser/estar only
- Power Chunks 1–10 — read aloud × 5 each
- Pronunciation: R tap drill
Thu · Day 4
- Anki review
- SpanishPod101 — Episode 2
- Power Chunks 11–20 — read aloud × 5
- Shadow speaking — first session
Fri · Day 5
- Anki review
- Power Chunks 21–35 — read aloud × 5
- Write 5 sentences using ser/estar
- Forvo: look up 10 words, hear Mexican speakers
Sat · Day 6
- Anki review
- Power Chunks 36–50 — read aloud × 5
- Run full Chunk Drill Mode (all 50)
- Peppa Pig en Español — 10 min
Sun · Day 7
- Anki review only
- Walk around home, say labels aloud
- Record yourself saying 10 chunks
- Rest. Light day intentional.
The Home Labeling System — Do This on Day 2
Write each word on a sticky note and post it on the object. Every time you touch or look at the object, say the word aloud. This builds passive vocabulary through visual repetition — one of the most effective memorization techniques with zero extra time cost.
la puertadoor
la ventanawindow
la sillachair
la mesatable
el refrigeradorrefrigerator
la estufastove
el hornooven
el fregaderokitchen sink
la camabed
la almohadapillow
la cobijablanket (Mexican)
el espejomirror
el bañobathroom
la regaderashower (Mexican)
la llavefaucet / key
el jabónsoap
la toallatowel
el televisorTV
el teléfonophone
la computadoracomputer
la luzlight
el enchufeoutlet/plug
el pisofloor
el techoceiling
la paredwall
la escalerastairs
la llave (de casa)house key
el bolso / mochilabag / backpack
los zapatosshoes
la ropaclothes
Week 1 — End-of-Week Checklist
Anki installed and running. Completed at least 6 out of 7 daily sessions.
Know all 70 words from Categories 1–3. Can recall at least 50 without looking.
All 50 power chunks read aloud. At least 20 feel automatic when you see them.
Home is labeled with at least 20 sticky notes. Saying them aloud has become a habit.
Completed first shadow speaking session. Know the difference between ser and estar.
SpanishPod101 account created. Listened to at least 2 beginner episodes.
2
Phase 1 · Days 8–14
First Human Interaction.
First Real Spanish Moment.
First Real Spanish Moment.
First Contact
Week 2 focus: Add words 71–140 (Categories 04–05: Time and Food). Book and complete your first italki session. Complete the Week 2 Milestone: buy something entirely in Spanish. This is the week you stop preparing and start doing.
Mon · Day 8
- Anki review + 10 new (Time words)
- Book italki session for this week
- SpanishPod101 Episode 3
- Pronunciation: J/G sounds drill
Tue · Day 9
- Anki review + 10 new (Food words)
- Study italki session script (see below)
- Say script aloud × 3 full times
- Shadow speaking session
Wed–Thu · Italki
- Complete first italki session (30 min)
- Use the full session script
- Write down 5 new things you learned
- Add new words to Anki same day
Thu · Day 11
- Anki review
- Practice food ordering chunks aloud
- SpanishPod101 Episode 4
- Peppa Pig 10 min with focus on food vocab
Fri · Milestone
- BUY SOMETHING IN SPANISH.
- Any store. Any item. No English at all.
- Use: Buenos días + quiero + ¿cuánto cuesta? + gracias
- Write what happened afterward.
Sat · Day 13
- Anki review
- Run full Chunk Drill Mode again
- Dreaming Spanish — 20 min beginner video
- Grammar: voy a future — 10 sentence drills
Sun · Day 14
- Anki review only
- Write a short journal entry in Spanish (3–5 sentences)
- Reflect: what's hard? What's working?
Your First italki Session — Full Script
▸ Use This Word for Word. Read It Aloud Before the Session × 3.You — Opening
Buenos días / tardes. Mucho gusto. Me llamo [your name]. Soy americano/a y estoy aprendiendo español.
Good morning/afternoon. Nice to meet you. My name is [name]. I'm American and I'm learning Spanish.
You — Setting the Rules
Por favor, hable solo en español. No inglés. Si no entiendo, voy a decir "no entendí" o "más despacio." ¿Está bien?
Please speak only in Spanish. No English. If I don't understand I'll say "I didn't get it" or "slower." Is that okay?
You — About Yourself
Vivo en [city]. Voy a vivir en México. Quiero aprender español para vivir allá. Trabajo como [job/profession if relevant].
I live in [city]. I'm going to live in Mexico. I want to learn Spanish to live there.
You — Ask Questions
¿De dónde es usted? ¿Qué parte de México? ¿Qué me recomienda para aprender español más rápido?
Where are you from? What part of Mexico? What do you recommend to learn Spanish faster?
When You Don't Understand (use constantly)
No entendí. ¿Me puede repetir? / Más despacio, por favor. / ¿Cómo se dice eso en inglés?
I didn't understand. Can you repeat? / Slower please. / How do you say that in English?
You — Closing
Gracias por su paciencia. Aprendí mucho hoy. Voy a practicar. Hasta la próxima. ¡Que le vaya bien!
Thank you for your patience. I learned a lot today. I'm going to practice. Until next time. Take care!
Instructions for your tutor: Tell them explicitly — "Corrija mis errores, por favor" (Please correct my errors). Ask them to write corrections in the chat window so you can review them. After the session, take every correction and add it to Anki. That session just gave you personalized vocabulary you actually need.
Week 2 Milestone: The First Transaction
Walk into any store — a tienda, a taquería, a farmacia — and complete the entire interaction in Spanish. Greet. Ask. Buy. Thank. Leave. No English. No phone translation. Just you, your chunks, and the person in front of you. This is the moment it becomes real.
Week 2 — End-of-Week Checklist
Completed first italki session. Stayed in Spanish the entire time.
Milestone completed: Bought something in a real store entirely in Spanish.
Know 140 words. Anki streak of at least 5 days this week.
Completed at least one journal entry in Spanish, however imperfect.
3
Phase 1 · Days 15–21
Navigation & Body.
You Can Handle Problems.
You Can Handle Problems.
Expanding Range
Week 3 focus: Add words 141–210 (Categories 06–07: Places/Navigation and Body/Health). This week you get lost intentionally and find your way back using only Spanish. Second italki session. Start watching La Rosa de Guadalupe on YouTube.
Mon · Day 15
- Anki + 10 new (Navigation words)
- SpanishPod101 Episode 5
- Practice direction chunks × 10 aloud
- Shadow speaking with a different clip
Tue · Day 16
- Anki + 10 new (Health/Body words)
- Memorize emergency chunks 35–40 cold
- La Rosa de Guadalupe — first 15 min (Spanish subs)
- Write 5 health sentences (Me duele...)
Wed · Day 17
- Anki review
- Grammar: review all 8 irregular verbs
- SpanishPod101 Episode 6
- Pronunciation: RR trill practice (5 min)
Thu · Italki #2
- Second italki session
- Topic: describe your neighborhood in Spanish
- Ask tutor to give you 10 new phrases you'll need
- Add all new phrases to Anki
Fri · Day 19
- Anki review
- La Rosa de Guadalupe — 15 more min
- Write 5 sentences about where things are
- Shadow speaking
Sat · Navigation Challenge
- Go somewhere unfamiliar.
- Ask 3 strangers for directions in Spanish
- Use: ¿Cómo llego a...? + ¿Está cerca?
- Write what happened. Every word you didn't know.
Sun · Day 21
- Anki review only
- Review all chunks — how many feel automatic?
- Journal: 5–7 sentences. Use past tense attempt.
Week 3 Warning — The Intimidation Wall: Week 3 is when many learners hit their first real wall. Real native speakers talk fast, use slang, and don't simplify for you. This is normal. The gap between what you know and what you hear in the wild feels enormous. That gap is exactly where learning happens. Do not retreat to easier input. Push through. Ask people to slow down. Use your chunks. It gets easier in Week 4.
Week 3 — End-of-Week Checklist
Added navigation and health vocabulary. Now at 210 words in Anki.
Completed navigation challenge — asked for directions from real people in Spanish.
Second italki session done. Took notes. New words added to Anki.
Watched at least 30 min of La Rosa de Guadalupe with Spanish subtitles.
4
Phase 1 · Days 22–28
Verbs & Action.
Start Thinking in Spanish.
Start Thinking in Spanish.
Verb Power
Week 4 focus: Complete the word list — add Categories 08–10 (Verbs, Adjectives, Connectors) to reach all 300 words. Begin narrating your surroundings in Spanish out loud. Third italki session. Start building your first complete paragraph.
Mon · Day 22
- Anki + 10 new (Essential Verbs)
- Conjugate all 8 irregular verbs from memory
- SpanishPod101 Episode 7
- Shadow speaking
Tue · Day 23
- Anki + 10 new (Adjectives)
- Narrate your morning routine in Spanish (aloud)
- La Rosa de Guadalupe — 15 min
- Write 5 sentences using adjectives
Wed · Day 24
- Anki + 10 new (Connectors)
- SpanishPod101 Episode 8
- Build 10 sentences connecting two ideas with "pero / porque / y"
- Pronunciation: full 10-min morning routine
Thu · Italki #3
- Third italki session
- Topic: tell a simple story about your week
- Use connectors: y, pero, porque, entonces
- Note every correction. Add to Anki.
Fri · Day 26
- Anki — all 300 words now in deck
- Narrate your walk / commute in Spanish
- Dreaming Spanish — 20 min beginner video
- Shadow speaking
Sat · Day 27
- Anki review
- Write your first paragraph: 8–10 sentences about yourself and your life
- Check with LanguageTool.es
- La Rosa de Guadalupe — 20 min
Sun · Day 28
- Anki review only
- Read your paragraph aloud, recorded
- Rest + reflect on 4-week progress
▸ Narration Exercise — New This Week
Talk to Yourself. Out Loud. Every Day.
- While making coffee: "Estoy haciendo café. El café está caliente."
- Walking outside: "Veo un perro. La calle está sucia. Hace frío."
- Getting dressed: "Me pongo la ropa. Los zapatos son negros."
- Eating: "Como arroz. Está rico. Tengo mucha hambre."
- Don't know a word? Say it in English with a Spanish sentence: that's what your next Anki card is.
▸ Week 4 italki — Story Format
Tell a Simple Story to Your Tutor
- Start: "Esta semana..." (This week...)
- Three events connected with y, pero, después, entonces
- End with: "Fue interesante porque..."
- Ask tutor: "¿Cómo lo digo mejor?" (How do I say it better?)
- This forces you to use grammar actively. Every error corrected here is permanent learning.
Week 4 — End-of-Week Checklist
All 300 words are in Anki. Reviewing daily without fail.
Narrating surroundings in Spanish has become a daily habit, even imperfect.
Wrote first Spanish paragraph (8–10 sentences). Checked it. Saved it.
Third italki session completed. Told a simple story entirely in Spanish.
5
Phase 1 · Days 29–35
Consolidation.
Make What You Know Automatic.
Make What You Know Automatic.
Consolidation
Week 5 focus: No new vocabulary this week. Everything goes into making what you already know automatic. Deeper media immersion. Longer italki sessions. First attempt at a full 5-minute conversation without preparation. The goal is fluency of the basics, not breadth.
Mon · Day 29
- Anki review — no new cards
- Dreaming Spanish — 25 min
- Write journal: full page, 10+ sentences
- Shadow speaking — new clip, 3 rounds
Tue · Day 30
- Anki review
- SpanishPod101 — 2 episodes back to back
- Narration: describe a person you know in Spanish
- Record yourself: 2-min description, no notes
Wed · Day 31
- Anki review
- La Rosa de Guadalupe — 20 min full episode
- Note 10 phrases you heard and didn't know
- Add all 10 to Anki
Thu · Italki #4
- Fourth italki session — 45 min if possible
- Topic: free conversation, no script
- Ask tutor to speak at 70% natural speed
- Goal: 5 min sustained conversation
Fri · Day 33
- Anki review
- Dreaming Spanish — 20 min
- Pronunciation: revisit the 10 mispronounced words
- Read your Week 4 paragraph aloud. Note improvements.
Sat · Day 34
- Anki review
- Go to a Mexican restaurant or market — order only in Spanish
- Use social glue chunks (41–50)
- Make someone smile with your Spanish
Sun · Day 35
- Anki review
- Write journal: what have you learned in 5 weeks?
- Listen to Day 1 recording vs. today. Hear the difference.
Week 5 — End-of-Week Checklist
Completed a 5-minute free conversation in italki with no prepared script.
Used social glue chunks (órale, chido, no manches) naturally in a real interaction.
Watched at least 35 min of Spanish media this week without switching to English.
Anki streak maintained. 300-word deck feeling more automatic than effortful.
6
Phase 1 · Days 36–42
A1 Complete.
Prove It. Then Move On.
Prove It. Then Move On.
A1 Graduation
Week 6 focus: Prove to yourself that A1 is solid. Complete the A1 graduation test at the end of this week. Prepare for Phase 2 — get set up on Tandem or HelloTalk for language exchange. Fifth italki session with a focus on gap assessment: what do you most need to learn in Phase 2?
Mon · Day 36
- Anki review
- Download Tandem or HelloTalk. Set up profile.
- Find a Mexican language partner. Send first message in Spanish.
- Dreaming Spanish — 25 min
Tue · Day 37
- Anki review
- First text exchange with language partner
- SpanishPod101 — 2 episodes
- Write: 15-sentence journal — use every grammar structure
Wed · Day 38
- Anki review
- La Rosa de Guadalupe — 20 min
- Pronunciation: record 5 chunks, self-assess
- Shadow speaking — 3 rounds
Thu · Italki #5
- Fifth italki session
- Ask: "¿Qué necesito mejorar más?" (What do I most need to improve?)
- Ask tutor to assess your A1 level honestly
- Get 5 goals for Phase 2 from your tutor
Fri · Day 40
- Anki review
- Prep for A1 Graduation Test tomorrow
- Review all 50 chunks — can you say them all without looking?
- Write down what Phase 2 will look like
Sat · Graduation Test
- A1 Graduation Test — see below
- Complete all 6 test criteria honestly
- Celebrate what works. Note what needs work.
- You are ready for Phase 2.
Sun · Day 42
- Rest. Real rest.
- Listen to a Mexican podcast for fun
- Reflect: 6 weeks ago you knew nothing. Today you survive.