Reach Spanish A1
8 weeks · 3 milestones
Introduce yourself and handle basic interactions in Spanish. Unlike app-based learning, every milestone requires proof of real human communication — not a score on an app.
Milestone map
Milestone map
3 milestones
Spanish A1 has one structural challenge that neither French nor German A1 has in this form: the ser/estar distinction. Ser describes permanent or identity-linked characteristics; estar describes states, positions, and temporary conditions. This distinction is tested in every single Spanish conversation from A1 onwards and must be internalized before any meaningful production is possible. This milestone builds A1 vocabulary, regular verb conjugation, and — critically — ser/estar through spoken production.
Proof required
Record a 3-minute unscripted introduction in Spanish: your name, where you're from, your job or studies, 2–3 things you like or do regularly, and your current location and how you feel right now. Use ser at least 3 times and estar at least 2 times, in different contexts. Write 80 words explaining how you're approaching the ser/estar distinction specifically — what's helping you distinguish them?
What gets checked
- Ser and estar each appear at least the required number of times and are used in correct contexts — 'Soy cansado' (wrong — state, not identity) vs. 'Estoy cansado' is the A1 diagnostic; if this error appears, the ser/estar distinction has not been internalized
- The introduction covers all five requested elements — if elements are missing, the vocabulary range hasn't been reached
- The ser/estar account is specific to the submitter's actual learning approach, not a textbook definition — 'I use a mnemonic' or 'I always ask myself if it's a state or an identity' are real approaches; 'I'm learning the rules' is not informative