How to keep your Spanish level fresh at home

You’ve had the summer of your life, you’ve learned Spanish and you’ve managed to handle yourself perfectly in a foreign country. But the season has passed and you’ve returned home. What can you do to keep your Spanish fresh?

1. Don't worry: it's more common than you think to believe that after just a few days in your country, without speaking Spanish with anyone, you're going to forget all the grammar. Have more confidence in yourself! These are things that are not forgotten so easily, and sometimes it’s enough to do a few—but constant—reviews.
2. Use the Internet! You have a perfect tool to keep your level fresh right in your own home. Visit websites in Spanish: it doesn't matter if they are intellectual newspapers or a celebrity gossip page. And don't forget to visit YouTube channels in Spanish!
3. Read books in Spanish: thanks to some digital book services, we can have books in any language on our e-readers instantly for a negligible price. That said, choose books according to your level. You might be tempted to start reading geniuses like Valle-Inclán, Carmen Laforet, or Borges, but to start with, go for something simple.
4. Subscribe to podcasts in Spanish. You might not have a shortwave radio (how old-fashioned that would be!) but you surely have a smartphone, a laptop, and a Wi-Fi connection at home. Visit some of the podcast services that offer content in Spanish! Download any program that interests you (sports, literature, mystery...) and sharpen your ear!
5. Find out about Spanish houses or cultural centers near you: in many cities around the world, there are cultural centers or houses linked to Spanish culture. Surely there is one of these centers near your home! Find out and attend their exhibitions, conferences, and film series.
6. Watch movies and series in Spanish: we are aware that in your home city, it might be complicated to find Spanish films. But you can always configure the languages of your DVD movies to listen to the audio in Spanish! Also, if it's a movie you've already heard in your own language, you'll be able to understand it.
7. Talk to yourself! It might not be the most recommended activity if you're walking down the street, but if you're at home, you can perfectly well stand in front of the mirror and practice from time to time. You can even record yourself with your phone and document your progress!
8. Don't hold back and be creative: a beautiful and very productive way to keep practicing Spanish is, for example, writing poetry, short stories... and even songs!
9. Keep in touch with your classmates: this has two benefits, as you will maintain a friendship and keep practicing Spanish if you write to them or comment on their social networks in the language you have learned.
10. Motivate yourself in Spanish: we know it sounds a bit strange, but try to think about your daily life in Spanish. How would you say to yourself “Today is my day” or “I’m not afraid of Monday”? How would you translate that poster that says into Spanish?

Of course, this is not dogma. You can also create your own method to polish your Spanish until you return to our destinations! By the way, what is your advice?