How Learning Spanish Helped an Arizona Banker Build Confidence - On and Off the Golf Course

 

Updated November 2025
Written by Carlos A. Rubí, Senior Digital Communications Strategist & Language
Education Writer at Spanish55


This is Chad’s story - a banker and lifelong learner in Arizona who turned everyday moments on the golf course, at work, and while traveling into stepping stones toward real confidence in Spanish.

 

In This Story

  • An Arizona banker uses Spanish in everyday life - from golfers on the fairway to customers at the bank.

  • Friendship and years of living near the border inspired him to finally commit to the language.

  • Personalized online Spanish lessons with his private Spanish tutor, Paula, helped him turn hesitation into genuine conversation.

  • Travel across Mexico, Spain, and even Africa expanded his cultural understanding and confidence.

  • Consistency, curiosity, and daily practice now shape a routine that’s strengthened his skills and his family connections.

 

Finding Spanish in the Small Moments That Matter

 

For most people, a day on the golf course is about fresh air and friendly competition. For Chad Driedger, it’s a language lab. Living in Arizona, where the sun rarely takes a day off and Spanish is spoken on sidewalks, fairways, and coffee shops, Chad finds himself practicing with fellow golfers who come from Mexico and beyond. “It’s a good opportunity,” he says. “But I’m always a little nervous. I don’t want to make a mistake, so I speak really, really slowly.” Still, every exchange, hesitant or not, pushes him closer to the level of fluency he’s been working toward since 2021.

 

A Friendship That Turned Into Motivation

 

Chad’s motivation to learn Spanish didn’t come from a classroom or a sudden travel itch. It started with friendship. Growing up near the U.S.–Mexico border, he’s surrounded by people whose first language is Spanish. For years, he watched conversations pass him by, missing jokes, stories, and casual banter. “I’ve always been a little disappointed that I didn’t know another language,” he admits. Wanting to truly understand his friends and where they were coming from, he decided it was time to make Spanish part of his life for good.

 

When Standard Programs Weren’t Enough

 

Like many learners, Chad’s first attempts were a mix of school Spanish, classic Pimsleur tapes, and Rosetta Stone. These helped with vocabulary, but real conversation stayed out of reach. “You just don’t have the opportunity to talk with people,” he says. Everything changed when he found Spanish55 and started weekly online Spanish lessons with our very own private Spanish tutor, Coach Paula in 2021. Having a patient, flexible online Spanish tutor made the difference. “She’s absolutely the best,” he says. “Understanding, flexible, and willing to work with me when I don’t get things.”

 

Speaking Spanish With the People Around Him

 

Now, Spanish shows up everywhere in Chad’s daily life. At the bank where he works, he interacts with customers from all backgrounds, and even short conversations in Spanish help break the ice. “I think it helps people feel more comfortable,” he says. “It shows them you’re making an effort, that you’re not just expecting them to meet you on your terms.” The same thing happens with Uber drivers, shopkeepers, and anyone else he meets around Tucson. His go-to strategy: start each interaction with a quick disclaimer: “I’m learning Spanish, so please be patient.” Most people respond with encouragement, good humor, and friendly corrections.

 

Travel That Deepened His Perspective


Travel has played its part too. Chad has visited Mexico and Spain several times, and each trip has helped build both vocabulary and confidence. He has spent time in Puerto Peñasco and Guadalajara, and in both places, he has seen how people respond positively when he makes the effort to speak their language. On a recent trip to Africa, yes, Africa, and his favorite trip so far, he found himself reflecting on how learning another language changes how he connects with people, no matter where he is.

 

Building Fluency Through a Steady Routine

 

Back home, Chad continues to sharpen his skills through podcasts, reading, and repetition. His current favorite: “No Hay Tos,” a Spanish-language show that highlights casual, everyday conversation. “It’s the way I hear people talking around me,” he explains. Netflix, online articles, and short story collections about Mexican history round out his routine. He reads most texts two or three times, making notes on new vocabulary and then going back to reread them with a fresh understanding.

 

Tackling the Hard Parts With Patience

 

The biggest hurdle? “Conjugations,” he says without hesitation. Thinking in Spanish, instead of mentally translating from English, is an ongoing challenge. To work on this, Chad pushes himself to think in Spanish during daily tasks and to jump into conversations without over-prepping. When he stops overthinking and lets the words come out naturally, he’s often surprised by how much he knows.

 

Treating Spanish Like a Commitment

 

Consistency has been key. Chad treats Spanish like an important meeting on his calendar. “If it’s not scheduled, it’s not happening,” he says. Even on busy weeks, he shows up for class, knowing that each session brings him one step closer to more natural conversations. That consistency has even paid off at home, where he’s now able to help his daughter with her Spanish homework. She’s taking Spanish in high school, and while she doesn’t always answer back in the language, Chad speaks to her in Spanish whenever he can and she understands him just fine. “She gets it,” he says, smiling at the small but meaningful progress they’re both making.

 

What He Wishes He’d Known From the Start

 

If he could send a message to his 2021 self, it would be simple: “Don’t give up.” The learning curve hasn’t smoothed out with time; in fact, it’s gotten steeper in some ways, but Chad knows the payoff is worth it. He’s already chatting with friends and holding honest conversations in places that used to intimidate him. Every new sentence spoken, every word remembered, moves him closer to the confidence he’s worked so hard to build.

 

Hear Chad’s Story in His Own Words


Watch his full interview on our YouTube series Conquering Spanish: Interviews with Learners, and see how consistency and confidence transformed his Spanish journey.

 

Ready to Start Your Own Journey?


Start your own path to confidence in Spanish with a free trial lesson, personalized, one-on-one, and designed for real progress.




 

Questions This Article Answers

  • How can online Spanish lessons help adults build confidence in real-life situations?

  • What makes working with an online Spanish tutor effective for learners balancing work and family?

  • Can everyday conversations truly improve fluency for adult learners?