When I hear that people want to learn "conversational Spanish," this brings a smile to my face. It shows me that someone has a goal to use Spanish as a language... for communication purposes. There is nothing more exciting when learning a new language, than to speak to be understood, and listen with understanding. This is the essence of conversational Spanish, aka intermediate Spanish.
Of course the best way to reach this goal is immersion, so let's take a look at what that entails. Being immersed into a culture and language is surrounding yourself with it. Authentically, this would be through living in a Spanish-speaking country. But if you don't have that luxury, think about how you can surround yourself with Spanish. The more you are immersed in Spanish through listening, speaking, reading, and writing, the quicker you will absorb the language.
Therefore...
How can you listen to more Spanish?
Find where people around you speak Spanish.
Also... music, radio, TV shows, movies, short video clips, audio books, podcasts, etc.
Focus on key words and phrases to get the main idea.
How can you speak more Spanish?
Again, find where people around you converse in Spanish and practice speaking.
Look for a Meetup group or start one. Make friends with people who speak Spanish and ask to speak with them in Spanish. Read books aloud and sing along with songs. Just do it. The more you practice, the easier it will become.
How can you read more Spanish?
Check out Spanish books from your local library or buy books. Consider books you've already read, but this time read the Spanish version. Find English/Spanish books with both languages side-by-side. Bible apps have multiple languages too. Read children's books or novels for language learners. Think of topics you are familiar with or interested in and read about them. Searching online, the possibilities are endless... short articles, online news, magazines, blogs, etc. Even social media may surprise you. Or simply find a hard copy of a newspaper or magazine. Remember that stuff you get in the mail with both English and Spanish (public announcements, flyers)? Well, that is probably too painfully boring to read, but to each his own. Maybe slightly less dull could be instruction manuals or instructions for a game. How could I forget... song lyrics and movie/TV subtitles.
How can you write more Spanish?
Think of when you write in your native language... if you're a student, you may write essays, short stories, papers, etc. Otherwise, maybe you journal or blog. But I'm sure everyone writes letters (email or snail mail), text messages, or notes. Practice writing in Spanish. Also, there are tons of grammar books with exercises to help you practice exactly that. Ideally, you would find someone to write with who speaks Spanish. Another idea is to create your own personalized Spanish/English dictionary using a little notebook of Spanish words or phrases you are learning.
The point is to be intentional. You can do anything with a little motivation. Incorporate Spanish into your life more and more. Set personal goals for yourself and build upon them. Schedule a trip to a Spanish-speaking country to practice for realz (if possible).
Over time and with practice, you will build upon your understanding of Spanish vocabulary, grammar, and culture. Learning Spanish can be fun and very rewarding! Find what motivates you and go for it.
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