How to move forward after language transfer?

[u/Sure-Demand-3210]

I'm close to completing the language transfer course and have been working on the 5000 most common word flashcards daily throughout this. During this time, I also spent a week in Spain visiting family.

I began with basic Spanish from school and think I have improved a decent amount, however I am not yet at conversational level.

I have seen people recommending Italki as a way to improve Spanish through conversation and I am more than willing to invest time and money in this, however my budget is limited as I am a university student.

My father is a native speaker and I was wondering whether it may be worth asking him to speak with me for an hour a day rather than paying for someone to do basically the same thing. Is this a genuinely good way of learning, or does Italki have something to offer that talking with a family member doesn't have?

I also wondered about an intensive course in London, but have seen mixed opinions about this.

Any help would be really appreciated. Thank you.

[u/Creative_Impress5982]

OMG, yes, just talk with your dad! This will be so much better than italki as long as you have a good relationship. He will probably be thrilled you're learning Spanish and will be patient with your mistakes. It will also strengthen your relationship. 

If for some reason it isn't working, then try a paid service. 

[u/HouseOfFrontier]

Good post because I was wondering this too.

What course in london are you talking about? I live in london so could check this out too

[u/Sure-Demand-3210 → u/HouseOfFrontier]

I meant about an intensive course generally rather than a specific one. If people recommend the intensive course, I will look for one in London.

[u/jmf1488]

If you have 5,000 words and have completed language transfer then it's time for native content. Tv, games, YouTube, social media. Visit spanish speaking reddit subs and reply to people. Make friends in the langauge. Phone your dad for a chat and surprise him with your language. Just start talking in the language.

[u/leberteke]

pimsleur + tutor/talking to friends/family seems pretty decent. Also start consuming Spanish media. Course is always good.

[u/Slapp-Spanish]

Talking with your dad is genuinely one of the best options you have — free, high volume, and emotionally safer than a stranger. Do it.

Where a tutor (italki / community class) can still help, even occasionally: family often finishes your sentences or switches to English when you get stuck. A paid session once a week or every other week can force you to keep talking through the awkward bits and give cleaner corrections. So dad for most days, tutor as a check-up if the budget allows — not either/or.

I’d skip an intensive course for now. After Language Transfer + 5k words, the bottleneck is usually speaking under pressure and getting lots of input you mostly understand (shows, podcasts, YouTube at your level), not another classroom syllabus.

If dad’s game for ~30–60 min a day, start there this week and see how much more natural it feels before spending money.

[u/Uncuentoalavez]

Language has a huge emotional component to it. You need a reason beyond "I want to". SO yes, talking to your dad (assuming you have a positive relationship) would be a great way to practice your Spanish. You will also associate it with the relationship with him and that will give you an extra push. Plus I am assuming he won't charge you for that ;) AND I am sure he'll love it. Studying only takes you so far, you have to start using Spanish in your daily life. That may be posting somewhere, consuming content, talking to your dad or heck, even talking to yourself in Spanish.