Learning languages has countless benefits! Forget about expanding your linguistic horizons for the moment and open your mind. Even if you do it just as a hobby, developing skills in a new language can increase your cognitive abilities, job opportunities and cultural knowledge.
If you’re reading this, chances are that you’re definitely interested in enjoying these advantages by learning Spanish. And to be honest, who wouldn’t? Spanish is one of the most spoken languages! With over 1.2 billion speakers scattered throughout the globe, becoming proficient in Spanish can definitely give a boost to your CV and help you break cultural barriers by communicating with ease around the world. Now, what’s the best way to start? By exploring our list of the best language learning resources, you’ll become Spanish savvy faster than you ever imagined. Just keep on reading and you’ll find out all about them. Estás listo?
The Ultimate Resource List To Study Spanish Let’s be honest, learning any language from scratch can be particularly challenging. And considering the amount of language learning tools out there, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and discouraged. If this is your case, you’re probably wondering how to begin. But don’t worry.
We arranged the best Spanish learning resources into sensible categories to suit various methods of study. And, if that wasn’t enough, at the very end of the article, you’ll also find the secret to taking your language learning journey to the next level. Let’s begin!
As you probably know, becoming proficient in another tongue is not an easy task. Sometimes, it can become very hard and time-consuming. Fortunately for you, nowadays, you can practice your Spanish skills with engaging bite-sized lessons from a variety of apps. Just take a look at our favorite options and pick the one that matches your style, objectives and level. Some of them work with a particular skill, while others develop various at the same time:
This app turns boring lessons into simple games. In Clozemaster, you’ll learn Spanish grammar and vocabulary by filling gaps in real-life contextual dialogues. You can play for free, but there are more features available for Pro users with a fee starting at $8.
Are you tired of learning Spanish verb conjugations with traditional exercises? Then, we highly recommend taking a look at Conjugato and getting ready to master Spanish verbs with mnemonic flashcard games.
The most famous FREE language learning platform, Duolingo also relies on games to teach Spanish. Its primary function is to help you translate words or phrases about interesting topics into another language. You’ll even get the chance to share your results on social media and compete with friends.
Are you passionate about Spanish music? Then, this app was created exactly for you! With LyricsTraining, you’ll get to practice your listening skills for FREE by enjoying Spanish songs, reading their lyrics and filling in the gaps.
Would you like to master your Spanish pronunciation on the go? Say Something In is the way to achieve this in little time and in a very simple way. The app will play short audios in English, and you’ll repeat them in Spanish. Then, the app will play the same audio in Spanish to help you check your pronunciation.
With so many useful language learning apps out there, using dictionaries and translators seems a bit outdated. But this is far from true. These days, there are a vast number of modern online dictionaries and translators, which will come in handy for every single learner. In some cases, you won’t even have to type the word in the search bar to look for definitions:
Formerly known as Lexico, it is for those students who just want the definition of a word without too many examples or excessive details. Just type your word and Dictionary.com will offer definitions and synonyms in an instant.
Like Dictionary.com, Linguee is also fast. Actually, it will show translations even before you finish typing a word. And what’s best, it will display how words are used in real-life contexts.
Now, if you’re looking to gain a deeper understanding of Spanish lexis and expressions, Reverso is the way to go. By writing a word in the search toolbar, you’ll get examples, explanations, idioms, synonyms, collocations and other details.
Unlike most other options, Word Reference grows thanks to users’ input. So, it’s a great option to learn new words and differences between Spanish regional dialects.
In this day and age, most people count on online tools to learn new things. But printed material can be extremely useful and entertaining as well, especially when it comes to language learning. For instance, some of these Spanish textbooks will introduce you to new vocabulary and grammar with marvelous storytelling techniques. So, for those book-lovers, or those students without internet connection or those learners who are tired of using their phones and computers for every single thing, these are the best textbooks to learn Spanish:
Just to give you an idea of how good this book is, it was published in 1953 and keeps being lauded as one of the best textbooks to learn Spanish. The secret lies in teaching through stories rather than traditional “listen and repeat” activities.
As the name implies, this book will allow you to learn Spanish with relatively easy digestible and bite-sized lessons so that you’re always engaged and motivated.
If you’re a grammar nerd, you should definitely check this textbook. Uso de la Gramática Española has 22 topics that cover Spanish grammar in all its complexity.
But maybe you’re not an avid reader. Perhaps, you’re more of a visual learner, the type of person who learns languages by watching and listening. Let’s say that’s the case, then your best option to learn Spanish is by watching online videos. And what’s the best site to study this language with engaging video lessons for FREE? YouTube!
Boasting 1 million subscribers, Butterfly Spanish is the best option to learn this language with fun and short lessons that cover learning strategies, real-life language use and many other topics.
What sets Culture Alley apart from other Spanish learning channels is its relatively straightforward teaching method. You won’t watch a teacher but just listen to a voice giving explanations and sharing examples on a whiteboard.
Similarly to Butterfly Spanish, this YouTube channel has an electrifying teacher who not only offers explanations with interesting topics and examples but also short 4-minute videos about Spanish fun facts.
Are you tired of looking at your monitor for countless hours? There’s no need to worry. YouTube video series are not the only viable option for those students who learn by listening. Podcasts have become increasingly popular in the last few years. And just like videos, they’re an excellent source of natural Spanish. These are some of our favorite ones. Make sure to give them a look:
But, if you’re more of a traditional learner and, instead of using podcasts, you would rather enroll in a course, you’ll be pleased to know that there are some excellent and well-organized Spanish learning programs on the web. With a variety of teaching techniques and methods, these online courses will give you a solid foundation of this language.
Let us assume that you chose to study on your own, but wish to test your knowledge of Spanish. How are you going to do it? Our suggestion is to take a look at these online examinations. You might have to pay for them, but they are totally worth it. They belong to some of the most reputable Spanish teaching organizations, like Instituto Cervantes of Spain, and give you the chance of obtaining a certificate.
Language learning blogs are some of the most useful resources out there. Not only do they offer detailed explanations for Spanish grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation, but they’re mostly written by experienced Spanish teachers who often share free materials and lessons to help you hone your skills. So, even if you’re not an avid blog reader, you should check these Spanish learning sites:
Isn’t social media one of the main sources of students’ distraction? Not as long as you use them to your benefit! And just to be clear, not every single Spanish lesson needs to include grammar or vocabulary activities. Imitating Tik Tok dances of Spanish songs or watching famous Spanish teaching influencers on Instagram can easily take your language learning journey to new and fun heights. You’ll not only acquire new vocabulary while dancing and singing to viral Tik Tok videos but also enjoy free 3-minute lessons from Instagram users. We suggest you follow these users or like these pages:
But that’s not the end of the story. This list would not be complete without some alternative language learning tools. Unlike other resources, they do not involve Spanish lessons, exams, courses or activities. Instead, these are everyday things that you can use to your benefit to become a proficient Spanish speaker:
Sadly, not everyone has the chance to talk to native speakers, especially in countries where Spanish is not a second language. If that’s your case, we suggest getting in touch with Spanish social media communities. By just seeing or listening to native speakers interact, you’ll get a good idea of where your skills stand and how Spanish-speaking people use language in real-life contexts.
If you want to learn Spanish, you’ll need to immerse yourself in this new world, not just by communicating with native speakers but also by reading books, comics or magazines for Spanish learners, like Hola Qué Pasa. You might also want to check short stories in Short Stories in Spanish.
Everybody loves watching videos, series or TV while sitting comfortably on a sofa. So, why not use it to your advantage? Try to imitate how Spanish speakers talk to each other, turn on subtitles to test your reading and listening skills or write what these Spanish speakers say to check your vocabulary knowledge.
As we said before, language learning is no easy task. Some people have a knack for becoming proficient Spanish speakers in little time, but most students will have to learn at a slightly slower pace. Does that mean that they are not successful language learners? Absolutely not! But they would certainly benefit from following these tips:
As we said before, language learning is no easy task. Some people have a knack for becoming proficient Spanish speakers in little time, but most students will have to learn at a slightly slower pace. Does that mean that they are not successful language learners? Absolutely not! But they would certainly benefit from following these tips:
