Free apps train you to tap the word for "apple." Then you land in a café and cannot order a coffee.

English speakers already have a head start. Thousands of Spanish words are cousins of English: hospital, animal, color, family, music. The problem is not talent. It is studying Spanish you will never say.

The first Spanish that pays off is ugly and useful:

• Hola. ¿Qué tal?

• Me llamo…

• Un café, por favor.

• ¿Dónde está el baño?

• No entiendo. Más despacio, por favor.

That is enough to survive day one. Grammar can wait.

If you stalled on an app streak, start with phrases you will actually use this week. Speak them out loud. Then speak them to a person.

That is the whole method behind Habla.