From Intermediate to Fluent: Master the Spanish Locals Actually Speak.
At Notes in Spanish, we help inspired, curious learners break free from the intermediate plateau and finally feel at home and fluent in Spanish.
With us, you move beyond textbooks and apps into the real conversations and authentic language locals actually use every day.
Why We Exist
Spanish isn’t just grammar rules and vocabulary lists. It’s laughter at a café table, deep chats with friends, family dinners, late-night debates, and real connection.
Yet so many intermediate learners get stuck—confident with apps and books, but silent, hesitant, and left out when the Spanish gets real.
Our mission is simple: to help you go from hesitant outsider to fluent insider. To give you the confidence, flow, and connection that only authentic Spanish can unlock.
The R.E.A.L. Method
We developed the R.E.A.L. method to make fluency possible for everyone:
- Real Listening — to unscripted conversations straight from Madrid.
- Engaging Topics — art, culture, food, travel, life in Spain.
- Authentic Vocabulary — words and phrases locals really use.
- Lasting Fluency — you absorb it naturally and make it stick.
We combine this with our simple Listen – Learn – Live It approach:
- Listen to our real conversations.
- Learn the key vocabulary and phrases.
- Live it by using them in your own conversations.
It’s immersion plus guidance — the sweet spot that gets intermediates fluent.
Where this will take you
Our learners go further than just “getting by.” They begin to:
- Speak confidently, without fear or hesitation.
- Think directly in Spanish and have conversations that flow.
- Express their personality — jokes, stories, opinions, even serious debates.
- Fit in — being told, “¡Qué bien hablas!”, and feeling accepted as one of the group.
- Connect — with friends, family, colleagues, or even Spanish in-laws or grandchildren, without barriers.
In short: you go from stuck at intermediate, to confident, natural, fluent and fully connected in Spanish.
It’s immersion plus guidance — the sweet spot that gets intermediates fluent at last.
Our Story
Back in 1998, Ben arrived in Madrid, from Oxford, speaking almost zero Spanish. Classes, grammar books and verb lists didn’t get him far.
Then a few months later, around the time he met Marina, he tried something different: listening closely to real conversations on the Metro, in cafés, and in bars.
Shamelessly eavesdropping on every conversation he could!
Suddenly, Spanish came alive.
Every night, he’d rush home and drive Marina absolutely crazy with new phrases he’d heard out in the wild:
“I heard this on the metro – what does it mean?”
“This woman said this great phrase on the bus, can I use it like this?”
He’d repeat them non-stop until they stuck (and Marina told him to leave her in peace for a while!)
It worked. Soon he went from the quiet, lost-looking foreigner to the guy joining in confidently at Spanish dinner parties.
Marina’s friends were stunned: One day her friend Eva turned in shock to her and said, “¡Ben habla!” – Ben speaks!
They realised this “real world” approach was the secret to authentic, effective fluency, and together they decided to share it with the world.
In 2005 they launched the world’s first Spanish-learning podcast. Since then, Notes in Spanish has been downloaded over 40 million times, with more than 25,000 learners taking their courses.
Today, Notes in Spanish is still built on that original insight: that listening to authentic, fascinating conversations — and learning the phrases that really matter — is the fastest, most joyful way to go from intermediate to fluent.
Who Are We?
Marina Díez is a Madrileña, born and raised in Madrid. She’s passionate about teaching her native language and culture. She designs and develops all of our courses, and is also a dedicated yoga teacher.
Ben Curtis, originally from Oxford, has lived in Spain for over 25 years. Once a frustrated beginner, he’s now worked as a bilingual translator, interpreter, Spanish magazine writer, and podcaster — and proof that the Notes in Spanish method really works.
He’s also a passionate outdoor oil painter!
Together, we live in Madrid, raising our family, sharing our conversations, and helping learners around the world finally live in Spanish.
What Our Students Say…
You have unwittingly stumbled upon a unique and marvellous way of learning a language. I now feel that I am having much more fun with Spanish — which means, of course, that I am suddenly leaping to the next level! – Roxanne
My confidence in my ability to make myself understood and to express myself has risen sharply. I would recommend the [courses] to ANYONE who wants to learn real Spanish. – Lisa
A friend of mine recommended Notes in Spanish … I really started to learn useful and relatable vocabulary and grammar, that made me able to connect with people, and really make friends and immerse myself into the Spanish culture. Now I think for the most part I’m fluent… and have a whole bunch of Spanish friends! – Loni
I feel much more competent when speaking Spanish now. I would recommend this product to anyone who wants to speak Spanish authentically and with confidence. – Ted P.
My confidence has shot up along with my speaking ability (like osmosis, really!). I’m living in Spain currently, and have been effortlessly chatting to my decorator all week. It’s great! – Rebecca L
Thank the heavens that I ran into Ben and Marina… I have acquired more Spanish skills in the brief time listening to them than all the other wasted time combined… Get to know these delightful people. – Shane
I can not recommend Notes in Spanish enough… far better than any other method. It means I can visit my friends in Spain and have them be surprised at the progress I have made. Very highly recommended. – Jennifer F.
I arrived in Madrid about five years ago and bought your Whole Enchilada package – I only started to use it last week! – Pero bueno, in one week, I’ve doubled my Spanish language abilities! Thank you! – Ryan
So user friendly, yet so effective. 10/10!! – Grieg
I have been visiting [Spain] the last few years and trying hard to converse in Spanish, but it was Marina and Ben’s audios that helped me most to tune in to what the locals were saying. The audios give you so much practice at listening to real Spanish in full flow, as against the staged, somewhat stilted and artificial conversations of other courses. – Sahlan D.
This is the single best investment I’ve made in my self-education approach to learning Spanish. – James
¡Vamos!
Ready to break through the intermediate plateau and speak Spanish like you belong?
