I think it is important to learn it everyday. That works with my Japanese that even though I cannot produce the language very well myself, I start to understand more from speech and understand concepts much quicker. I would say daily study is great but even just leaving the radio on or some music playing is beneficial in a long term with language learning. Good luck!

@Denise you have a serious approach and a great determination to learn Spanish))) I also think that in order to achive a good result you don't have to live in a native speaking country. Sometimes it is even the opposite - you find your level so low that you loose motivation at certain point..

I try to do something every day. On days where I booked a lesson I am doing up to 3 hours because I always prepare ahead of the lesson with either repeating what I´ve learned last time or doing my homework at the latest possible point :-). After intense learning days I always needs a break so I learn more if I do just a little, 30-60 min, every day. I get the best results when I am constantly confrontated with the target language, even if I do not really "study". E.g. I changed my facebook-app language to spanish. So every notification comes in spanish and my brain learns common vocabulary out of context.

I found an exchange partner and we text each other in my target language. Sometimes I start with english as it is much easier for me, but then I push myself to spanish. Even if I use Google translate, I am working with my target language and practise.

Also at work, none of my colleauges understand spanish but they get little notes from me in spanish. It´s kind of funny and an easy way for me to constantly use the language I learn without travelling to the country.

I think that one hour is perfect!

If I had to choose one I'd choose the 1 hour a day method. It's better to have consistency when you're learning anything for that matter and having 7 hours in one day but then not having any contact with the language for 6 days is not the best way and won't help you improve. You'll just overload your brain and then do nothing to improve for 6 days. Also when the 7 hour day comes you're less likely to do it because it seems a lot. I don't know if that makes sense, but that's my opinion