Jay Halterman

Jay’s journey with the Spanish language began in sixth grade at his middle school in Minnesota, and he continued studying the language through high school. While those early experiences built a foundational understanding, the turning point in his language development came during his mission in Vera Cruz, Mexico. Immersed in a Spanish-speaking environment, Jay worked closely with native-speaking companions, which rapidly accelerated his fluency and built his confidence. Although the pandemic redirected part of his mission to Provo and southern Utah, he was still able to use Spanish during several of those months before going to Mexico.

A pivotal moment in Jay’s progress came through an internship-based study abroad program in Argentina, where he spent a summer with his wife, who also speaks Spanish. This re-immersion experience played a key role in reinforcing and maintaining the skills he had previously developed. The return to a native-speaking environment helped reactivate his language memory and strengthen long-term fluency. Jay continued his language development in college by taking a Spanish course each semester and embracing every opportunity to speak the language—whether in class, at work, or in everyday interactions. He often chose to speak Spanish with bilingual colleagues to maintain fluency. In addition to conversational practice, he placed special focus on grammar areas he found challenging, particularly the subjunctive tense, which is often difficult for English speakers. Strengthening these weak points helped him communicate more clearly and confidently in formal settings, including language assessments.

Among the tools that supported Jay’s learning, SpanishDict was especially valuable for grammar review. He also used Google Translate to look up unfamiliar vocabulary and made a point of using new words repeatedly to reinforce retention. His vocabulary base was initially built through memorization with flashcards during school and his mission, while his college coursework helped him strengthen writing, reading, and listening skills. He regularly read scriptures in Spanish to develop his reading fluency.

A key contributor to Jay’s success was his approach to making mistakes. Instead of hesitating to speak out of fear of being incorrect, he focused on communication and saw each mistake as a learning opportunity. Collaborating with fluent companions who could offer feedback helped him overcome patterns that may have made sense in English but didn’t translate directly into Spanish.

Motivation came from several places, including his wife, his work environment, and especially his dad, who has used served in Spanish-speaking church congregations. Seeing his dad use Spanish professionally and in service motivated Jay to maintain his skills for similar future opportunities.

For students preparing for the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI), Jay emphasizes the importance of consistent speaking practice in the weeks leading up to the exam. He encourages students to immerse themselves in the language through conversation, listening to music or podcasts, watching Spanish-language content, and staying enrolled in a Spanish course if possible. He recommends reviewing vocabulary over a few months and concentrating on grammar—particularly more complex structures—a few weeks before the test. Since the OPI evaluates fluency rather than memorization, he believes regular practice is far more effective than last-minute studying. Practicing interviews in English can also help students feel more comfortable with the format and reduce anxiety. Most importantly, he advises learners to focus on communicating rather than striving for perfection.

Looking back, Jay identifies immersion and consistency as the most essential elements of his success. Whether through structured experiences like study abroad or informal conversations in daily life, making a regular effort to engage with the language has been the foundation of his continued growth and fluency.