En enero, después de las vacaciones, quiero volver a estudiar español con calma.

In Spanish, en is the normal preposition used with months, years, and many longer time periods.

• en enero = in January
• en 2026 = in 2026
• en verano = in summer

By contrast, Spanish does not usually use a preposition equivalent to English on with days and dates in the same way:

• el lunes = on Monday
• el 5 de enero = on the 5th of January

So En enero is exactly what you would expect here.

In Spanish, the names of months, days of the week, and most nationalities/languages are normally written in lowercase.

So:

• enero
• lunes
• español

This is different from English, where you would write January with a capital J.

These commas help separate introductory and inserted time phrases from the main clause.

The main clause is:

• quiero volver a estudiar español con calma

The phrases:

• En enero
• después de las vacaciones

add time information. The commas make the sentence easier to read and show a natural pause.

Without commas, the sentence would still be understandable:

• En enero después de las vacaciones quiero volver a estudiar español con calma.

But with commas, it sounds more natural and clearer in writing.

Después de means after.

It is followed by:

1. a noun

   • después de las vacaciones = after the holidays
   • después de clase = after class

2. an infinitive

   • después de comer = after eating / after lunch
   • después de estudiar = after studying

So here, después de las vacaciones literally means after the holidays/vacation period.

Spanish often uses the definite article more than English does.

Here, las vacaciones refers to the holidays/the vacation period that both speaker and listener can identify from context. It sounds natural and complete.

Compare:

• después de las vacaciones = after the holidays
• durante las vacaciones = during the holidays

Also, vacaciones is normally plural in Spanish, even when English might say vacation in the singular.

Because in Spanish, vacaciones is usually a plural noun.

So Spanish says:

• las vacaciones = the holidays / vacation
• estar de vacaciones = to be on holiday / on vacation

Even if English uses singular vacation, Spanish normally keeps vacaciones in the plural.

Spanish often leaves out subject pronouns because the verb ending already shows who the subject is.

• quiero = I want
• quieres = you want
• quiere = he/she/you (formal) wants

So quiero already tells you the subject is I. Adding yo is possible, but usually only for emphasis, contrast, or clarity.

• Quiero volver a estudiar. = neutral
• Yo quiero volver a estudiar. = more emphatic, like I want to study again

Because volver a + infinitive is a fixed structure meaning to do something again or to resume doing something.

So:

• volver a estudiar = to study again / to go back to studying
• volver a intentarlo = to try again
• volver a empezar = to start again

This is different from plain volver, which can mean to return:

• Vuelvo a casa. = I return home.
• Vuelvo a estudiar español. = I study Spanish again / I go back to studying Spanish.

So the a is required in this pattern.

It can mean either, depending on context.

In this sentence, the most natural sense is probably:

• go back to studying Spanish
• resume studying Spanish

That is because the speaker mentions January and after the holidays, which suggests a pause and then a restart.

So although volver a estudiar can literally be study again, here it strongly suggests starting up again after a break.

When talking about languages after verbs like speak, study, learn, teach, etc., Spanish usually does not use the article.

• estudio español = I study Spanish
• habla inglés = he/she speaks English
• aprendemos francés = we learn French

You may see el español when the language is being treated as a more abstract noun or discussed as a subject itself:

• El español de España tiene diferencias con el de América.
• Me interesa el español medieval.

But in ordinary sentences about learning or speaking a language, no article is the normal choice.

Because language names in Spanish are generally written in lowercase:

• español
• inglés
• francés

This matches the rule for months and days: Spanish capitalizes less than English does.

Con calma literally means with calm, but in natural English it usually means:

• calmly
• without rushing
• at an unhurried pace
• taking my time

In this sentence, it suggests the speaker wants to study Spanish in a relaxed, steady way, not under pressure.

So:

• quiero volver a estudiar español con calma

means something like:

• I want to go back to studying Spanish at a relaxed pace
• I want to study Spanish again without rushing

Because con calma is a very common, natural expression in everyday Spanish.

Although calmadamente exists, it often sounds more formal, less idiomatic, or less natural in many everyday contexts.

Spanish frequently prefers a phrase with con + noun where English might use an adverb:

• hablar con cuidado = to speak carefully
• leer con atención = to read attentively
• hacer algo con calma = to do something calmly / without rushing

So con calma is the most natural choice here.

Yes. Spanish word order is flexible, especially with time expressions.

For example, you could also say:

• Después de las vacaciones, en enero, quiero volver a estudiar español con calma.
• Quiero volver a estudiar español con calma en enero, después de las vacaciones.

These versions are all grammatical, but they shift the rhythm and emphasis slightly.

The original sentence sounds very natural because it starts with the broader time frame En enero, then adds the more specific situation después de las vacaciones, and finally gives the main idea.

Yes, there is a difference.

• quiero volver a estudiar español = I want to study Spanish again

  • expresses a desire or intention

• voy a volver a estudiar español = I’m going to study Spanish again

  • sounds more like a concrete future plan

So quiero focuses on what the speaker wants, not necessarily a fully fixed arrangement yet.

Yes, often you can.

• quiero volver a estudiar español
• quiero estudiar español otra vez

Both can mean I want to study Spanish again.

However, volver a + infinitive is often especially natural when talking about resuming an activity after a pause. In this sentence, it fits very well because the speaker is talking about restarting after the holidays.

Yes. It sounds completely natural in Spain, and it would also be understood perfectly in other Spanish-speaking countries.

Nothing in the sentence is unusual or strongly regional. It uses very standard Spanish:

• En enero
• después de las vacaciones
• quiero volver a estudiar
• con calma

So it is a good model sentence for general Spanish, including Spanish from Spain.