Can you really learn Spanish after 60? 

Retirement Renaissance: How Learning Spanish with Coach Esther Reinvented Michael’s Life

Retirement opened a new chapter for Michael, one filled with language, culture, and personal growth. After years of dabbling in French, he found renewed purpose by learning Spanish online with Coach Esther at Spanish55. Through personalized online Spanish lessons, Michael not only gained conversational fluency but also enriched his daily life with literature, travel, and meaningful connections. This article explores how his journey with an online Spanish teacher transformed his retirement into a vibrant renaissance.

Michael’s passion for languages has been a constant in his life. From his early years studying French in junior high through university to his recent endeavor with Spanish, Michael has always had an affinity for the nuanced world of language learning. Despite his extensive education in French, he found little opportunity to use the language in his daily life, leading it to become rusty over the years. Retirement, however, brought new possibilities.

With more free time on his hands, Michael began exploring various language-learning tools. "I started out actually fiddling with Rosetta Stone and all those typical things, which was fun to an extent," he shared. It was during this exploratory phase that he stumbled upon Spanish55. Attracted by the potential for video conferencing, a method he was already comfortable with in his professional life, he decided to try it. "I was used to doing video conferences, video calls all the time, so it looked like a good possibility," he explained.



Michael enjoying his one-on-one Spanish lesson with Coach Esther.

Michael's connection with Coach Esther was serendipitous yet profound. "I think it was the connection between teacher and student... it was just basically kind of random that I got connected with Coach Esther," he recalled. This pairing turned out to be ideal, as they clicked right away, and their lessons quickly became a significant part of Michael's routine.

"She always has the energy, and she always has the focused attention," Michael noted, praising Esther's ability to tailor each lesson to his needs and interests. "She's quite amazing at honing in on topics, segues, transitions," he added, appreciating her personalized approach.

Since starting his online Spanish classes in 2021, Michael has made remarkable progress. He can now hold basic to intermediate-level conversations in Spanish, which he practices weekly with people from Colombia and Spain. "We've been able to have pretty good conversations for quite some time," he said, highlighting the mutual language exchange where his learning partners learn English while he practices Spanish. Additionally, a neighbor who is also learning Spanish has become a weekly conversation buddy, further enriching his practice.

"We get together about once a week and chat about whatever," he mentioned.

Michael's learning experience is more expansive than structured lessons. He immerses himself in the language through various mediums, including podcasts, videos, and books.

"All of my reading for the last two years has been in Spanish,"

he proudly stated, noting the challenges of finding Spanish books in the United States and the solutions he has found, such as the Institute of Cervantes' library. "I have my favorites when it comes to podcasts; they are quite amusing and helpful for training the ear," he said, showing how he integrates Spanish into his daily life.

His dedication to learning Spanish has also rekindled his love for travel. "Maybe six months after starting with Spanish55, I was able to take a trip to Spain," he shared, reminiscing how his burgeoning Spanish skills enhanced his travel experience. This trip ignited a desire to explore more Spanish-speaking countries, an aspiration that continues to drive his learning.

"When I checked into the hotel, I told the front desk people I was learning Spanish, and they said, 'Oh, you're getting very good.' Then they sent up a little pastry and a crossword puzzle in Spanish," he fondly remembered.

A glimpse of Spain through Michael’s lens—exploring the culture while mastering the language!

Michael's approach to learning Spanish is markedly different from his earlier experiences with French. He reflected on the differences and said, "Back in the prehistoric days of my French lessons, it was much more stiff." In contrast, his online Spanish classes with Coach Esther are highly personalized and engaging, a method he finds far more effective. He appreciates the flexibility and individual attention that come with one-on-one lessons, allowing him to delve into grammar and other topics at his own pace. "I'm a little eccentric; I actually like grammar," he admitted. "I'll throw out a grammar question that may not even have to do with our immediate lesson, but she's always good about answering it."

One of the unique aspects of Michael's lessons with Esther is their therapeutic value. "I can be having not a great day and without fail... I am a different person after that," he revealed, emphasizing the positive impact these sessions have on his overall well-being. This personal connection fostered through consistent and focused interaction, is a testament to the strength of their teacher-student bond. "It's quasi-therapeutic; my Spanish learning experience often turns my day around," he confessed.

He offers valuable advice for those just beginning their language learning path:

“Try to stick with it for the first few sessions, even if you have doubts.”

Michael believes initial persistence will help new learners overcome early challenges and build confidence. Additionally, he encourages seeking out language exchange partners despite the initial difficulties in finding a good match. "It's like an old dance... until you find your perfect dance partner," he mused, highlighting the importance of finding the right practice peers.

Michael's story highlights the power of language learning, which we also touched on with Coach Esther in her story. It has opened new horizons for him, providing a means of communication, a deeper connection to different cultures, and a source of intellectual stimulation. "It feels like it has opened up another new horizon in my life," he said, expressing his excitement for future travels and continued learning. His experience with Spanish, guided by the expertise and support of his online Spanish teacher, Coach Esther, stands as an inspiring example of lifelong learning and personal growth. "I really feel like we know each other pretty well. We could meet walking down the street and carry on as if we met yesterday in person," he concluded.