Learn Hardcore Spanish (Latin America): En conclusión, este método simple funciona bien para aprender español poco a poco. - In conclusion, this simple method works well to learn Spanish little by little.

“En conclusión,” is a set phrase meaning “In conclusion,” or “To sum up,” and it’s very common in formal or semi‑formal Spanish (essays, presentations, reports).

The comma is used because this expression is an introductory phrase; it’s separated from the main clause, just like in English:
- En conclusión, este método simple funciona bien…
- In conclusion, this simple method works well…

You could also use similar connectors, for example:

En resumen, … = In summary,
Para concluir, … = To conclude,
En definitiva, … = Ultimately / All in all,

All of them would also take a comma before the rest of the sentence.

Why “este método simple” and not “este simple método”? Does the position of simple change the meaning?

Yes, the position of adjectives in Spanish can change the nuance.

este método simple (adjective after the noun)
→ neutral, literal meaning: this simple method / this uncomplicated method.
This is the most common and natural way to say it in Latin American Spanish.
este simple método (adjective before the noun)
→ sounds more emotional or subjective. Very often simple before the noun has a nuance of:
- “just a simple method / merely a method”
- “nothing more than a method”
It can sound a bit literary or emphasize that the method is “just” simple, maybe surprisingly effective despite being so simple.

In this context, the neutral and most natural option is “este método simple.”

Could I say “este método sencillo” instead of “este método simple”?

Yes, “este método sencillo” is perfectly correct and common.

simple and sencillo are very close in meaning here: simple, not complicated, easy to use.
sencillo can sometimes sound a bit softer or more everyday; simple is slightly more general.

Both are fine in Latin America. The choice is mostly about style, not grammar.

Why do we use “funciona” and not “trabaja” for “works”?

In Spanish, “funcionar” is used when something functions / works correctly:

Este método funciona bien. = This method works well.
Mi teléfono no funciona. = My phone doesn’t work.

“Trabajar” usually refers to people (or sometimes machines) working / doing a job:

Yo trabajo en una empresa. = I work at a company.
La máquina está trabajando. = The machine is working (performing a task).

So “este método trabaja bien” is incorrect. For “it works well (as a method)” you need funcionar:
Este método funciona bien.

Why is it “funciona bien” and not “funciona bueno”?

Because “bien” is an adverb, and “bueno” is an adjective.

funcionar is a verb, so you modify it with an adverb:
- funciona bien = it works well.
bueno = good is an adjective. It modifies nouns, not verbs:
- un método bueno = a good method.

Compare:

Este método funciona bien. = This method works well.
Este es un buen método. = This is a good method.

So: bien with verbs, bueno / buen with nouns.

Why is it “para aprender” and not something like “por aprender”?

After many verbs and expressions of purpose, Spanish uses “para + infinitive”.

Here, “funciona bien para aprender…” means:

It works well in order to learn… / for learning…

“para + infinitive” = for the purpose of doing something:

Sirve para cocinar. = It’s used for cooking.
Es bueno para practicar. = It’s good for practicing.

“por aprender” is not used for purpose here; por would suggest a reason or cause, and it doesn’t fit this structure.
So correctly: funciona bien para aprender español…

Why is “español” not capitalized like “Spanish” in English?

In Spanish:

Languages are written with a lowercase letter:
- español, inglés, francés, alemán, chino…

In English:

Languages are capitalized:
- Spanish, English, French, German, Chinese…

So “aprender español” is correct Spanish spelling. Writing “Español” in the middle of a sentence would normally be considered a spelling mistake (unless it’s part of a title or a proper name).

What does “poco a poco” literally mean, and how is it used?

Literally, “poco a poco” means “little by little.”

It’s a very common expression meaning:

gradually, step by step, slowly over time.

Examples:

Vas mejorando poco a poco. = You’re getting better little by little.
Aprendí a cocinar poco a poco. = I learned to cook little by little.

In your sentence:

…para aprender español poco a poco.
= to learn Spanish little by little / gradually.

It’s used a lot in everyday Latin American Spanish and sounds very natural.

Could I move “poco a poco” to another place in the sentence?

Yes, there is some flexibility in word order, and all of these are grammatically possible:

…para aprender español poco a poco.
→ Very natural and probably the most common.
…para aprender poco a poco español.
→ Also correct, but a bit less common; still understandable and okay.
…para, poco a poco, aprender español.
→ Grammatically fine, but sounds more formal or literary.

The original “…para aprender español poco a poco” is the smoothest, most neutral option in everyday Latin American usage.

Why is it “este método” and not “esta método”? How do I know the gender?

In Spanish, every noun has a gender (masculine or feminine), and articles/adjectives must agree with that gender.

método is masculine.
The masculine singular demonstrative is este.
So: este método.

Some tips:

Most nouns ending in -o are masculine:
el libro, el perro, el método.
Most nouns ending in -a are feminine:
la casa, la mesa, la puerta.

You just have to learn the gender with the noun:
el método → este método simple.

Could we leave out “simple” and just say “este método funciona bien para aprender español poco a poco”?

Yes, you can omit “simple” and the sentence is still totally correct:

En conclusión, este método funciona bien para aprender español poco a poco.

Without “simple”, you’re just not emphasizing that the method is uncomplicated.

With simple: you highlight that it’s a simple / easy method that works.
Without it: you only say that the method works, without commenting on how complex or simple it is.

Grammatically, both are fine.

Is “En conclusión” mostly written Spanish, or do people say it in conversation too?

“En conclusión” is more typical of:

written Spanish (essays, articles, formal emails)
formal speech (presentations, academic talks, structured discussions)

In everyday conversation, people are more likely to say things like:

En resumen, … = In summary,
Al final, … = In the end,
Total que… (colloquial) = So in the end… / Anyway…
Bueno, en conclusión… (if they want to sound a bit formal, but still conversational)

So it’s not wrong in speech, but it sounds a bit formal / structured, like you’re giving a talk or wrapping up a presentation.

Could I say “aprender el español poco a poco” instead of “aprender español poco a poco”?

Yes, both are correct:

aprender español poco a poco
aprender el español poco a poco

The difference is small:

aprender español (without article)
→ very common, general: to learn Spanish.
aprender el español (with article)
→ can feel a bit more specific or “the Spanish language as a system.”
It’s a bit more formal or emphatic, but still natural.

In everyday Latin American Spanish, “aprender español” (no article) is probably more common and neutral in this kind of sentence.