How The Breakfast Table Is Helping Me Learn Spanish And How It Can Help You Too

Learning a new language can be hard. The breakfast table can help.

Michael Valeri

wellness · 6 min

Learning another language can be as much a challenge as it is a joy. From the countless hours spent crafting and memorizing flashcards to the tedious months bent over a desk struggling to make sense of subtle grammatical nuances, your noble efforts to connect with another culture may not seem fairly compensated for when you realize how long it took you to learn to ask where the bathroom is. Not that you even sound like a native speaker, of course.

But learning a language may be important to you. Studying a different tongue might be a matter of cultural significance, for instance, as it can help you get in touch with your roots or connect with your family.

You might also be interested in the cognitive benefits of language learning. Among other available literature, one study found that those who knew a second language had improved cognitive and sensory processing skills relative to their monolingual counterparts. Such skills are desirable in their own right, and may also be seen as beneficial to an employer.

Or you might just want to learn a language for the bragging rights. Whatever your motivation is, most can agree that studying a language can be a time-consuming and arduous process. That's why it's important to make use of every tool at your disposal. And as strange as this may sound, the breakfast table is one of them.

I'm a native English speaker, but for some reason, I feel inclined to learn Spanish. Although it has been difficult at times, I have made considerable progress, and am under the impression that a language learners should make use of every opportunity they have. Here are some reasons why eating breakfast at a breakfast table is helping me learn Spanish, and how it can help you learn a foreign language too.

Consuming Breakfast Improves Your Memory

It's no secret that the key to learning a language is memorizing an almost incomprehensible amount of information. In fact, many of the world's most studied languages are comprised of hundreds of thousands of words. That's why any additional weapon in your memorization arsenal can be of great importance in your fight against monolingualism.

May I introduce to you: eating breakfast. And while we might all feel better after a rich morning meal, there are apparent cognitive benefits as well. According to one research article, healthy adult participants indicated a small yet noticeable improvement in exercising their memory after consuming breakfast, particularly with regard to their delayed recall abilities.

So while it initially might not seem like an additional tool to take advantage of, studying your foreign language after a satisfying breakfast can be just what you need to help you progress in your language journey. I can certainly attest to the cognitive benefits of a satisfying stack of pancakes. I'm more relaxed, and recalling the different uses of the Spanish preterite and the imperfect becomes a lot easier.

Consuming Breakfast Increases Alertness

But there's more to language learning than memorizing information. In addition to the many parts of speech and phonetic nuances that require time and effort learning, it is essential for anyone picking up a second language to discern and analyze grammatical patterns. Such attention to detail requires particular focus and concentration and is facilitated in part by your morning meal.

As one analysis explains, tasks requiring such cognitive skills were aided by breakfast consumption, with well-fed participants exhibiting greater task performance relative to those who had merely fasted. These tasks demanded attention, memorization, and other critical cognitive abilities from their participants.

It may seem rather obvious, but a steady breakfast can give you the energy and focus you need to tackle those tough language lessons. I could never have learned the different uses of "por" and "para" on an empty stomach.

A Breakfast Table Can Be a Meeting Place to Practice Your Language

But there is more to breakfast than what you quickly shovel into your mouth each morning. A breakfast table can be a place to talk, connect, and ultimately enjoy each others' company. If it's at all possible to practice your language of choice with those around you, I heartily recommend you do so.

Unless you are studying a dead language, such as Latin or ancient Greek, most languages have a strong oral component, and speaking what you know will only further your pronunciation skills. Likewise, trying to make out what others are communicating will work to improve your listening comprehension skills, a key milestone on the path to complete fluency.

Relaying what you know to others can also be an effective fail-safe. Whether it's pronunciation, grammar rules, or what have you, fellow language learners can help guide you in the right direction whenever you make a mistake, which can become clearer when you share what you know with others who are studying your language.

For instance, there was one breakfast in which I misused the Spanish verbs "ser" and "estar". My friend politely corrected me, and I have yet to mistake them since.

Meeting with Others Can Hold You Accountable to Your Goals

It's day nine and you're tired. You've made a bunch of flashcards, and your head hurts from trying to learn how to pronounce the trill consonant. You're just about to hang up the towel when you realize something: you've got another breakfast meeting tomorrow, and they're expecting you to improve from your last encounter.

Having a breakfast language club means being accountable to your language learning journey. It means knowing that, besides yourself, others are expecting you to succeed and improve over time. It's in this sense that the breakfast table can be a good motivator and metric for your language learning success. Every day you will improve, and eventually, that improvement will become apparent.

When I first started studying Spanish, I could barely keep up with my friends, and my conversations were limited to the words "hello" and "yes". I'm not yet fluent, but I can engage with them on a number of topics and my vocabulary has certainly expanded. Besides the extra practice, knowing that I can regularly converse with my friends has undoubtedly motivated me to apply myself.

Setting One Healthy Habit Can Lead to Others

As is often with healthy living styles, one good habit can easily create another. That's why pressing yourself to begin the morning with a healthy habit may lead to others throughout the day. A nutritious meal coupled with studying a new verb tense, for example, may motivate you to get to work early. These new habits may in turn make it easier for you to learn a new language, further aiding you in the process.

Learning Spanish in the morning has given me a routine, and that routine has set me on a schedule I follow throughout the day. In abiding by this habit, I don't as often stay up late to finish off my work or anything else from the day. My sleep quality is, therefore, better, which makes it even easier to study a foreign language.

I don't consider myself a morning person. But enjoying a nice meal with people as passionate as I am about learning another language makes me excited to wake up each morning.

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Opinions and Perspectives

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Miriam_Twinkle 3 years ago

Amazing how such a simple change can make such a big difference in learning

Goodman_Guide 3 years ago

This method really helps with maintaining long-term motivation

Mila-Cox 3 years ago

The breakfast table has become my favorite classroom

TommyJ 3 years ago

Nice theory but some of us need more structured learning approaches

ReginaH 3 years ago

Worth waking up early for. My Spanish has improved so much since starting

Sherman_Scoop 3 years ago

Surprised by how much this simple change has improved my language skills

GravityShifterX 3 years ago

The social aspect of breakfast learning makes it much more enjoyable

KelseyB 3 years ago

Morning practice sessions have helped me dream in my target language

QuantumSurge 3 years ago

This approach works well but needs to be part of a broader learning strategy

Allen_Alerts 3 years ago

Combining breakfast and language learning was a game-changer for my schedule

Jasmine_Miracle 3 years ago

Being accountable to others at breakfast keeps me committed to learning

Elaine-Newton 3 years ago

The cognitive benefits of breakfast really do make a difference in retention

McNary_Musings 3 years ago

Started doing this with my partner and its become our favorite morning ritual

Cecilia_Bryant 3 years ago

This method has made language learning feel less like a chore

June_Flare 3 years ago

Appreciate the practical advice but finding practice partners can be challenging

MelanieX 3 years ago

The routine aspect really helps build lasting habits

Norah-Webb 3 years ago

My language skills have improved dramatically since starting morning practice

Delilah-Hughes 3 years ago

Never thought about the connection between breakfast and memory before reading this

Mona_Mystic 3 years ago

Breakfast learning works great for vocabulary but grammar needs more focused study

HarperAnderson 3 years ago

This approach has helped me overcome my fear of speaking in another language

IsabellaTaylor 3 years ago

The community aspect of breakfast learning really appeals to me

LunarDystopia 3 years ago

Love how this combines self-care with learning. Two birds with one stone

Janelle_Dream 3 years ago

Starting the day with language learning sets a positive tone for everything else

TheGoodLifeVibes 3 years ago

Not sure about the breakfast part but regular morning practice definitely helps

Alice_XO 3 years ago

Found this really helpful for maintaining consistency in my language learning journey

HaileyB 3 years ago

The accountability aspect really helps. Knowing others are waiting for you is motivating

IvannaJ 3 years ago

My pronunciation has improved so much since starting morning practice sessions

NiaX 3 years ago

Interesting how something as simple as breakfast timing can impact language learning

Madeline 3 years ago

Virtual breakfast language groups work well too. Been doing this with friends abroad

Brokaw_Broadcast 3 years ago

I find this approach much more sustainable than intense study sessions after work

OuterSpaceX 3 years ago

The article could have mentioned how different breakfast foods might affect learning differently

ElliePrice 3 years ago

Using breakfast time for language practice has helped me actually stick to my goals

Camila_Hughes 3 years ago

Just started trying this method. The routine is helping but the early mornings are tough

Monique_Lux 3 years ago

Never considered breakfast as a language learning tool before. Definitely going to give this a try

HolisticHeart 3 years ago

The social aspect of breakfast learning really helps with motivation and accountability

Grateful_Heart_Vibes_69 3 years ago

My morning coffee and flashcards routine has become sacred. This article explains why it works so well

DarkKnightX 3 years ago

Would be great to see more research on the connection between meal timing and language acquisition

Freya-Lane 3 years ago

Been doing this for Italian learning. Amazing how much progress you can make just over breakfast

Noah_News 3 years ago

I appreciate how the article acknowledges the challenges of language learning while offering practical solutions

SelfCare_Queen23 3 years ago

The article inspired me to start a weekend language breakfast club. We rotate between different languages each week

Thrush_Tales 3 years ago

Great concept but let's be realistic about the time commitment needed

Samantha_Queen 3 years ago

Anyone else notice they learn better after protein-rich breakfasts? Eggs seem to help my focus

Entous_Exclusive 3 years ago

This works well for basic conversation but you still need formal study for grammar and writing

Purely-You_555 3 years ago

Started doing this with my roommate and now we look forward to our morning language exchange

WarpDriveSeeker 3 years ago

My favorite part is how this creates a positive association with language learning. Morning conversations make it fun

NathanGraham 3 years ago

Wish the article had included specific breakfast recommendations for optimal learning

Couch_Column 3 years ago

The memory benefits are real. I retain vocabulary so much better after a proper breakfast

DystopianPhantom 3 years ago

Six months into breakfast Spanish practice and I'm amazed at how much more confident I feel speaking

NaomiGreen 3 years ago

Love the idea of combining language learning with existing routines. Makes it feel less like a chore

Balanced-Bliss_888 3 years ago

Actually disagree about breakfast being so important. I learn best late at night when everything is quiet

Balanced-Being_365 3 years ago

The article understates the importance of speaking practice. You need more than just breakfast table chat to become fluent

SoulHealingPath 3 years ago

This reminds me of how my grandmother taught me her native language over morning tea and toast. Such precious memories

MidnightEcho 3 years ago

I practice with language learning podcasts during breakfast. Not quite the same as conversation but still effective

Celine_Sunset 3 years ago

Would love to try this but I live alone. Any suggestions for solo breakfast language learners?

Blissful-Soul_01 3 years ago

The accountability aspect really struck a chord with me. I always do better with external motivation

Kroll_Keynotes 3 years ago

You make time for what matters. I wake up 30 minutes earlier now and it's totally worth it for my language progress

Daisy_Glow 3 years ago

Learning over breakfast sounds nice but realistically who has time for this? Some of us barely have time to eat

Fearless-And_Free_2024 3 years ago

I find it interesting that the article mentions cognitive benefits. Makes me wonder if breakfast timing affects other types of learning too

Peaceful_Vibes_100 3 years ago

My kids and I started having Spanish-only breakfast conversations. It's amazing how quickly they're picking it up

Sepinwall_Story 3 years ago

Tried this method for a week and already seeing improvement in my German vocabulary retention. The routine really helps

Bianca_Ray 3 years ago

The article makes a good point about memory improvement after breakfast. I always struggle more with my Portuguese lessons when I skip morning meals

Limitless-Potential_101 3 years ago

Making mistakes is part of learning! My breakfast group actually helps me feel less anxious because we're all in the same boat

DarkMatterX 3 years ago

I worry about making mistakes in front of others during breakfast conversations. Anyone else feel this anxiety?

InnerGlow_Radiance_360 3 years ago

As someone who's successfully learned three languages, I can say that incorporating learning into daily routines like breakfast really does work wonders

Eliana_Wood 3 years ago

Honestly this seems like overcomplicating things. Just use a language app on your commute like everyone else

BrittanyHicks 3 years ago

The part about healthy habits leading to other healthy habits really resonates with me. Since starting morning language study, my whole day feels more productive

OConnell_Observations 3 years ago

Not everyone has the luxury of a breakfast language club though. Some of us have to rush to work first thing in the morning

Eli 3 years ago

I tried learning Spanish on my own and failed miserably. Having a breakfast study group sounds much more engaging

TheDataMystic 3 years ago

Anyone else think it's interesting how the article mentions accountability? Meeting others for breakfast practice would definitely keep me motivated

Nathan-Harris 3 years ago

Light meals like yogurt and fruit work best for me when studying languages. Keeps me alert without feeling sluggish

AnnaFashions 3 years ago

What type of breakfast foods do you find work best for studying? I tend to get sleepy after heavy meals which makes it harder to focus

HerbalVibes 3 years ago

In my experience, having a routine like this really does help. I started learning French over breakfast six months ago and it's become my favorite part of the day

BradleyAnderson 3 years ago

Interesting perspective, but I find it hard to believe that simply eating breakfast will make such a big difference in learning a language. It takes years of dedicated study

Harper99 4 years ago

The connection between breakfast and memory improvement is fascinating. I never thought about how my morning meal could affect my language learning journey

Ariana_Sings 4 years ago

I love how this article makes language learning feel more approachable. I've been struggling with Japanese, but incorporating study time during breakfast sounds like a brilliant idea