The person behind the experiment
I’m learning Spanish in public—starting from the truth.
I’m Rudolf Adlmanninger. I’m 60, German-speaking, and a true Spanish beginner. I spend my winters on Gran Canaria, where not being able to hold even a simple conversation has become increasingly frustrating. This journal is my decision to finally change that.
Before Day Zero · Formal start planned August 31, 2026 · True beginner
Why now
Gran Canaria made the gap impossible to ignore.
Every winter, Spanish is part of ordinary life around me: greeting a neighbor, ordering a meal, asking a question, or understanding what someone says without immediately switching to English. I have postponed learning for long enough. This time, I want to do the work properly and find out what a consistent five-to-eight-hour week can actually achieve.
I am also writing this site in English even though English is not my native language. That may make the occasional turn of phrase a little less polished, but it will never be used to disguise uncertainty or make my results sound better than they are.
My role
A learner, not an expert.
I am not a Spanish teacher, linguist, or language-learning researcher. I will not teach grammar, diagnose anyone else’s learning difficulties, or present my personal experience as scientific evidence.
What I can offer is careful first-hand documentation: the time I invest, the lessons I complete, what I still remember later, what I can say without a script, and what happens when I try to use Spanish in real life.
The first long-term test
Rocket Spanish, from Lesson 1.
I plan to work through Rocket Spanish from the beginning. The aim is not to produce a quick “first impressions” verdict. It is to follow the course over time and test whether its lessons lead to retained, usable Spanish for an older beginner. Current course status: No course access; not purchased or started.
Rocket Languages approved my Partner Program application on August 14, 2026. That relationship does not give Rocket Languages editorial control over what I publish. The link setup, tracking limits, and current access status are documented in the full Affiliate Disclosure.
You can explore the same course for yourself. The Free Trial shows the complete three-level course structure, with selected modules unlocked in all three levels. No credit card is required, and the selected trial content has no time limit.
Affiliate link: I may earn a commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure.
The bigger purpose
Useful evidence for people who do not need another fluency fantasy.
This site is for adults who want to know what a course is like after the excitement of starting has worn off. I hope my record helps you ask better questions before spending your own money—even if my eventual conclusion is that Rocket Spanish is not the right fit for me, or for you.
Questions, corrections, and relevant personal experiences are welcome at hello@spanishlonggame.com.