Bottoms up mis amigos!
They say science has finally caught up with what every Spanish learner already knew: a little alcohol makes your español sound a lot better.
Apparently, learning a new language — whether it’s your second, third, or your “I lost count” — goes better with beer. Especially if that language is Spanish.
A shot of tequila or pisco before class might not make you fluent, but it’ll definitely make you think you are. You’ll curse, slur, and roll your r’s with a confidence only found at the bottom of a glass. And honestly, that’s already progress.
What Doesn’t Go Better with Beer?
Te preguntarás, ¿qué no va mejor con una cerveza? (Now, you might be wondering — what doesn’t go better with a beer)
Let’s see… walking in a straight line, giving a eulogy, and maybe hopscotch.
Yeah, pretty much just those.
Everything else, especially speaking Spanish, pairs perfectly with a cold one.
Remember the golden rule of bilingualism:
“More alcohol, better español.”
Or as we like to say at Kasa de Franko — science finally confirmed what our students have been practicing every Friday night.
A toast to Spanish
Did you know a little alcohol can actually help you speak a foreign language more fluently—especially Spanish?
Why? Because we Hispanics love to talk, laugh, and, yes… maybe have a drink or two. It’s not science—it’s culture.
¡Solo bromeo, hombre! Just kidding. Hic! (Or maybe not.)
Free Beer or Free Spanish?
Here at Kasa de Franko, we’ve been offering Free Spanish lessons and organizing Spanish meetups for over a few years now—way before “Zoom” became everyone’s favorite bar substitute.
And yes, you can absolutely drink while practicing Spanish during our KDF Socials. 🍷
From libraries (bibliotecas) and parks (parques) to clubs (clubes) and bars (bares), we’ve been keeping the conversation alive—and always en español, of course.
Drink & Think in Spanish!
So what’s the real magic behind all this cerveza-powered fluency?
It’s not just the drinks — it’s the people. The laughter. The Spanglish chaos that somehow turns into conversation.
At Kasa de Franko, our meetups aren’t classes — they’re fiestas disguised as lessons. You come to eat, drink, relax, and before you realize it, you’re thinking, dreaming, and joking in Spanish.
Can’t Make It This Time?
Don’t worry — we’ll raise a glass (or spill a little cerveza) in your honor. There’s always a next one.
And if you want to feel a bit more ready before jumping into the social scene, grab a free trial lesson — private or group, your choice.
We’ll make sure you can say “otra ronda, por favor” with confidence.
So Back to the Study…
Apparently, science decided to crash the party too. 🍻
To find out if “liquid fluency” was a real thing or just another bar myth, researchers gathered 50 native German students who had recently learned Dutch — because, honestly, Dutch is already a linguistic workout without beer involved.
They split them into two groups: one got just under a pint of beer, the other got water (the control group, also known as the “designated drivers of science”).
Then, both groups chatted with native Dutch speakers who had no clue who had been drinking.
Curious what happened next? Keep reading — the results might just convince you to grab a beer before your next Spanish session. 🍺
Elevating Spanish with alcohol
The research shows how a small amount of alcohol puts language anxiety at ease AND improves speaking.
With this stellar news are you tempted to turn on some Telemundo with your glass of wine this evening and see men and ladies in bikinis and test the theory? Be my guest!
Tell the cast of Pasión de Gavilanes I said hello! If the characters talk back to you, estás borracho amigouuu! Be easy my friends.
Take it easy, my friends. One glass helps you speak Spanish — three glasses make you join the telenovela.
🍷 Exploring the Effects of Alcohol
Researchers point out that getting hammered has the opposite effect — you won’t speak better; you’ll just slur in two languages.
If the room starts spinning, don’t spin the other way. That’s not bilingualism, that’s physics.
So yes, moderation — always.
The link between alcohol and smoother speech isn’t new.
As far back as 1972, researchers noticed that Americans who had a small amount of alcohol could pronounce Thai words more accurately.
Fast-forward to today, and scientists still find that a sip or two can quiet that overthinking voice in your head — the one that turns every “¿cómo estás?” into an oral exam.
🧪 The Maastricht University Study
So what really happens when you add a tiny bit of booze to your Spanish practice? Science actually checked.
In 2017, researchers at Maastricht University teamed up with the University of Liverpool and King’s College London to put this idea to the test. They split 50 German students who had just learned Dutch into two groups: one got a small beer, the other got water. Then they had to chat with native Dutch speakers.
The Result?
The beer group didn’t just look chill — they sounded better. Their pronunciation and confidence actually scored higher.
As Dr. Inge Kersbergen from Liverpool said:
“Our study shows that acute alcohol consumption may have beneficial effects on the pronunciation of a foreign language in people who recently learned that language. This provides some support for the lay belief (among bilingual speakers) that a low dose of alcohol can improve their ability to speak a second language.”
Translation for the rest of us: one pint can quiet that inner grammar cop and let your tongue dance.
⚖️ Sip Smart: Low Dose Only
Before you go grabbing a pint every time you want to practice your Spanish, a little scientific reality check.
As Dr. Fritz Renner from Maastricht University points out:
“It is important to point out that participants in this study consumed a low dose of alcohol. Higher levels of alcohol consumption might not have beneficial effects on the pronunciation of a foreign language.”
Translation for the rest of us: one beer can help your tongue dance; three or four and you might be dancing off-key in a telenovela.
So, sip smart, amigos. Enjoy that liquid courage… but don’t let it turn into liquid chaos. Your Spanish — and your dignity — will thank you.
🧐 What We Still Don’t Know
Even though your tongue might feel like a mariachi on tour after a pint, science still has some questions.
Dr. Jessica Werthmann, one of the Maastricht University researchers, cautions:
“We need to be cautious about the implications of these results until we know more about what causes the observed results. One possible mechanism could be the anxiety-reducing effect of alcohol. But more research is needed to test this.”
Translation for humans: yes, a little beer can help you speak better, but don’t treat it as a magic fluency potion. Think of it as a tiny confidence boost, not a shortcut to becoming a bilingual superhero.
And let’s be real — too many cervezas might turn that confidence boost into a karaoke disaster, or lead you to passionately argue about telenovelas with strangers you just met.
So, sip smart, amigos — your Spanish will improve more with practice, laughs, and maybe one carefully measured cerveza, not with a whole six-pack.
🍺 Not All Cervezas Are Created Equal
So, before you start thinking that a cerveza is your secret Spanish tutor, let’s keep it real.
While the Maastricht study showed that a little alcohol can help others perceive you as more fluent, the participants themselves didn’t necessarily feel any more confident or skilled. That’s right — your brain might still be screaming, “I have no idea what I’m saying!” even if everyone else thinks you sound like a native.
Plus, this experiment was done with German students learning Dutch. So before you pour a pint and expect to suddenly master Mandarin or Swahili, maybe pump the brakes. Results might vary depending on the language, the learner, or even how much you like dancing after one drink.
🧐 The Mystery of Liquid Courage
And finally, the scientists admit: it’s still a mystery whether the magic comes from alcohol itself (the chemistry) or from your brain thinking, “I’m tipsy, I can do this!” (the placebo effect). More research is needed to figure out exactly how liquid courage translates into liquid fluency.
In short: sip smart, stay curious, and keep practicing — science may help, but it’s no substitute for real effort (or fun).
🍸 Liquid Courage and Bilingual Chaos
Alcohol is, after all, humanity’s liquid courage.
It’s what fuels karaoke at 2 a.m., makes shy dancers fearless at weddings, and occasionally turns awkward small talk into a full telenovela subplot.
And speaking of drama — remember Coco?
Imagine a Spanish movie where you can’t see any people, just “undocumented” cartoons chasing their dreams.
Yeah, that one.
The point is: alcohol lowers inhibitions and turns the brain’s “analyze” button into “improvise.”
That’s why, after one drink (or maybe two), people stop translating and start communicating.
Just Don’t Push It Too Far!
After five drinks, your “Spanish practice” becomes performance art — and what happens while speaking Spanish should stay in your Spanish stories journal.
Because speaking another language is like borrowing another soul — just make sure yours is still awake enough to remember it the next day.
Discover the Flavor of Spanish!
Trust me, it goes better with beer. Especially when you find out what went on at band camp. Exactly! And you may be tempted to repeat it until you get fluent in Spanish of course.
After all: What happens in a band camp, stay in a band camp! Otherwise, why would you do it again?
Language: A social tool!
Let’s face it: language is a social activity! That’s why learning on your own can feel… a little weird. WTF cares, right? Sure, you could study solo and speak to yourself—or your alter ego in the mirror—but the possibilities are way more fun with other people.
But here’s the question: do you want to study Spanish, or actually learn it? Even better — wouldn’t you prefer to acquire Spanish naturally, rather than just memorizing phrases?
After all, there’s no point in learning a new way to say “pissed to meet you” (I meant “please”; I may have had enough Spanish alcohol by now) if there’s no one new to meet.
Go Beyond the Basics!
Native English speakers are often content just knowing the basics of español — hello, thank you, hasta la vista, baby (not actually Spanish!), “where’s the bathroom?” — but that’s not enough to communicate with a real person who shares hopes, fears, el tío Jose, and maybe even a cell phone plan.
We communicate to share who we are and to learn about others. At KDF, our mission is to immerse you in a rich Hispanic culture while leveling up your Spanish skills.
So you never have to say, No hablo español, ever again! By learning a different language, you can gain new customers, make new friends, and maybe even fall in love. Cheers to that!
Understand the Power of Words!
The power of your words—and the ability to actually communicate with others—is more important now than ever.
With Latinos making up 33.2 % of San Jose’s population in 2010 (313,636 people) — and around 17.6 % of the U.S. population in 2015 — you’re missing out on countless opportunities to connect, make friends, and build relationships.
So stop just relying on your hands (I mean, to drink) and start learning Spanish.
Master a new language without mysticism
Learning a foreign language isn’t some mystical science — it’s not about hanging a spoon on your nose or eating 100 hot dogs in ten minutes.
Saying the alphabet backwards? Walking on water? Nope. You start by humanly relating to people: smiling, laughing, and maybe even twerking (perreo) incredibly well under a full moon.
Okay, maybe hold off on the twerking… for now. But just imagine if language barriers weren’t standing in your way when relating to over 300,000 people. Oh, the possibilities!
Rolling your Tongue as a Pussy-Cat!
You could roll your tongue, purring like a gatito o gatita (pussy cat) when talking about a delicious cheese—or gossiping about that bald boss with the mental capacity of an eleven-year-old.No, I am not talking about your orange president. Actually, his mental age is much lower.
Most of us desire to get closer to each other, but often it’s the little things that keep us apart. And when taps flow and drinks clink, you’re more comfortable.
Dance & Learn at the Same Pace!
The world is full of wild possibilities! (And lots of dancing men and women in bikinis.)
If dancing were like a foreign language, most people would fail. They’ve got the moves but resist the urge to bust out of their comfort zone.
If you want to know how to dance with words, check out our article called “Dancing with Words” from our saga “Things Spanish People Say in Bed.”
Moonwalking like the King of Pop?
You may not be moonwalking like Michael Jackson right away, but with a little practice… who knows? With this saga, you’ll definitely learn sexy, dirty, and romantic phrases to share with your loved one.
How will you ever dance with that attractive person you can’t stop staring at if you never step out onto the floor and join them?
More Sexy Words with el Chupacabras?
If you still want to learn more sexy phrases before hitting the dance floor, check out our Chupacabras saga. When you decide to start dancing, let me know — we’ll teach you a thing or two.
We also love to dance at Kasa de Franko. Check out our other dance courses at KDF, porque La vida es una danza (Life is a dance).
Drink Spanish, mis amigos!
At Kasa de Franko, we don’t just teach Spanish — we help you live it. Learning a language isn’t just about memorizing words or rolling your r’s; it’s about connecting, laughing, making mistakes, and celebrating every little victory along the way. And yes, sometimes that includes a glass of cerveza or a shot of pisco.
Spanish isn’t just a subject to study — it’s a life experience. It’s in the conversations with new friends, the jokes you barely understand, the awkward mispronunciations that make you giggle, and the moments when everything finally clicks. It’s in the music you hum, the food you savor, the dances you join, and even the stories that happen at band camp… because let’s face it, those stories stick.
Language, Life, and a Touch of Borracho Courage
Why settle for learning a language when you can acquire it, live it, breathe it, and feel it in your own way? At KDF, every lesson, every meetup, every social event is a chance to immerse yourself fully — mind, mouth, and yes, maybe a little cerveza in hand.
By embracing the playful, social, and cultural side of Spanish, you don’t just learn words; you discover new ways to relate to the world, meet new people, expand your horizons, and maybe even fall in love. Life is messy, hilarious, and occasionally surreal — just like mastering a new language.
So drink Spanish, mis amigos. Laugh, stumble, dance, sing, curse, and celebrate — because language, culture, and life are best enjoyed fully, boldly, and with a touch of borracho courage.
Red for Free!
Click the red button to claim your free lesson! As you embark on your language-learning journey, remember: language is a gateway to culture. Spanish goes far beyond drinking alcohol or slurring random words when borracho (drunk)!
Ready to fully immerse yourself in… alcohol? Wait — my bad! I meant: immerse yourself in the richness of Spanish culture like never before. And remember…
