Maybe you're struggling with a certain topic or you just want some extra practice outside of class- this is the page for you! Below are suggestions for ways to practice Spanish on your own as well as books, media, and websites that can help you improve your Spanish abilities.
These are organized by the skill you wish to practice:
Grammar, Vocabulary, Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking, Culture
If you find something you like that isn't listed here, please let me know and I will add it!
These are organized by the skill you wish to practice:
Grammar, Vocabulary, Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking, Culture
If you find something you like that isn't listed here, please let me know and I will add it!
FREE APPS FOR SMARTPHONES/TABLETS TO PRACTICE AND LEARN SPANISH:
- Duolingo (a full course in basic Spanish, especially good for sentence structure and spelling)
- Memrise (vocab practice game, helpful with spelling and memorization as well as phrase word order. You can either pick a pre-made course or create your own online and use it on your phone)
- Quizlet (flashcards, great for vocabulary. Can be created on your phone or from the website.)
- HelloTalk (send messages to Spanish speakers to help them learn English and you can help them learn Spanish! You can also send audio. Be careful when using this app and get parental permission first)
- Tandem (app for iOS only) (talk with native speakers in Spanish! Be careful when using this app and get parental permission first)
- Bilingua (matches you with native speakers with similar interests to you for conversation exchange. Be careful when using this app and get parental permission first)
- Speaky (basic chat with native speakers. Be careful when using this app and get parental permission first)
- HiNative (ask native speakers questions you have about language use. Be careful when using this app and get parental permission first)
- WordReference (English-Spanish dictionary)
- Busuu (similar to Memrise, this app lets you practice phrases. You can listen to them and see pictures)
- Babbel (matching practice with phrases)
HURON HIGH SCHOOL MEDIA CENTER RESOURCE PAGE FOR SPANISH (click below):
GRAMMAR:
Conjugators & Drills:
Lessons:
Conjugators & Drills:
- http://www.wordreference.com/: This site has an excellent verb conjugator for all tenses. It is for reference, not practice. Also includes a dictionary (see VOCABULARY below).
- Conjuguemos.com: Practice any and all verb tenses and subjects in this fast-paced typing game. HIGHLY recommended if you are having trouble with a specific tense or need to conjugate verbs quicker. Also contains other grammar activities if you click on the "Spanish grammar" page. (to see more info, visit the Tech Links page on this site).
- Vocabulix: Includes verb conjugation tables and verb drills.
- 123TeachMe: A conjugator that includes a well-organized table with rough translations into English
- StudySpanish: Click on the types of verbs you want to practice. You can read information about how to conjugate that type of verb or just generate the quiz.
- Classzone: This website is for the Avancemos textbook. It includes activities for grammar, culture, vocab and more.
- 501 Spanish Verbs is an excellent reference book, especially if you want to continue with Spanish. It contains many conjugations of many verbs in a quick easy-to-use format.
Lessons:
- StudySpanish: Lessons for many different grammar points, organized by topic. You can also click some of the quiz options to test your knowledge.
- 123TeachMe: Lessons and games to practice grammar and vocabulary.
- Uvic: Lessons followed by games and activities for practice. The picture of the paper takes you to different activities, the picture of the book takes you to a glossary, and the arrows take you to the practice activities.
- Bowdoin: A large list of many grammatical rules.
VOCABULARY*:
*NOTE: every Spanish-speaking country has different variations on vocabulary, so sometimes you may see a word that is different from a word that you learned but it could mean the same thing. This is normal! :)
Study Tips:
*NOTE: every Spanish-speaking country has different variations on vocabulary, so sometimes you may see a word that is different from a word that you learned but it could mean the same thing. This is normal! :)
Study Tips:
- Make labels in Spanish for objects around your home- seeing them daily will help you remember vocabulary.
- Create your own set of electronic flashcards using a site like Quizlet, or use your paper flashcards. Try varying your practice by quizzing yourself in different ways and making connections between the words and your own experiences.
- Memorization: Having trouble memorizing words? This website lists a few techniques you can use including mnemonics, chunking, and pre-sleep studying. You can find more ideas here.
- http://www.wordreference.com/: This site includes a Spanish-English dictionary, Spanish definitions, a thesaurus, and a conjugator. If you search a word or phrase and click on the discussion threads at the bottom you can see input from native speakers.
- Linguee: Search words or phrases and see examples of them in context online!
- Real Academia Espanola: This website, created by the organization founded in 1713, is considered the official source for the Spanish language. The dictionary will give you detailed definitions of Spanish words (in Spanish).
- StudySpanish: Lists of vocabulary organized by topic.
- BBC Primary: Lists and games to help practice basic vocabulary. Designed for younger learners.
- Memrise.com: Find many different courses you can enroll in to learn vocabulary or grammar, just search "Spanish".
- Conjuguemos.com: Click on a topic you would like to practice from the list, then you can practice with flashcards, memory games, hangman, or a crossword puzzle.
- Scribbl: GET PARENTAL/GUARDIAN PERMISSION BEFORE USING. In this game you can select Spanish and then play a LIVE pictionary game with native speakers! It is quite difficult and I recommend having WordReference open as you play so you can reference words you don't know. You can either play with a group of friends by making a private room, OR play with strangers. These are REAL PEOPLE that play with you and they might use inappropriate language in the chat, so please use at your own risk and DO NOT give out any personal information.
- Quia: Different quizzes created by Spanish teachers. Type in what you want to practice in "keyword" and submit.
- Alligator Game: A translation game involving different basic Spanish topics including school, traveling, numbers, house, animals, people, and food.
- SpanishSpanish: Huge database of games, activities, and flashcards in Spanish. Free activities are in blue.
- 123TeachMe: Lessons and games to practice grammar and vocabulary.
READING:
Practice:
Practice:
- Social media: check out Twitter, Instagram, or other social media sites to find posts on topics you enjoy. You can search the hashtags to find what you want (i.e. #maquillaje = make-up, #videojuegos = videogames, etc.) and follow people who post in Spanish. Most big-name brands also have a Spanish language profile.
- Newsela: great site where you can search news articles by topic. Set the language to Spanish and also change the difficulty level using the left hand side.
- Newspapers: this is a list of online newspapers in Spanish. Read the news in Spanish! It's great practice!
- Newspapers part 2: Another list, but from around the world! Gracias Amelia for the recommendation.
- Front Pages: See front pages of newspapers for today from all over the world! Search for Spanish-speaking countries.
- CuidadSeva: Library of short stories, essays, poems, and more.
- BBC en español: the news in Spanish.
- Uvic: Comprehension questions to go along with short reading exercises. The picture of the paper takes you to different activities, the picture of the book takes you to a glossary, and the arrows take you to more reading activities.
- Picture Sentences: Click on the papers on the page for different activities. Pick the correct sentence to match the picture. Answers are at the bottom.
- Mafalda: A famous comic strip from Argentina. Some of this may be beyond your level, but it is fun to see how much you know and how much you can figure out from the pictures.
- XKCD en español: a geeky comic strip, translated into Spanish
- Read the Spanish translations of directions, instructions and signs. Look for words or grammar you recognize.
- Read a book in Spanish. If you do not know what level you should read, try picking up the book and reading the first few paragraphs. Don't be afraid to try the picture books, remember, you are a beginner! Most public libraries have a foreign language section where you can check out books in Spanish, ask the librarian.
- A great selection of Spanish books for kids can be found in the Club Leo Catalog at scholastic.com
- Pick up a Spanish language newspaper at a bookstore or online www.zonalatina.com
- Switch your phone's language to Spanish, or a website you visit regularly to Spanish (like Twitter or Instagram). It takes some getting used to, but you'd be surprised how much you can learn.
- Visit an authentic Mexican, Caribbean, Central/South American, or Spanish restaurant and investigate the Spanish on the menu and around the restaurant. If the staff speaks Spanish, try saying hello or ordering in Spanish!
WRITING:
Getting help & Tips:
DISCLAIMER: I have not personally checked all of these websites for safety online. If you use them you will be interacting with real people! PLEASE be cautious if you choose to use them and do not give out too much personal information. Ask your parents for permission first. BE SAFE.
Getting help & Tips:
- Word Order in Spanish: An article about word order in Spanish. Here is another with more specifics
- How to type accents: Learn to type accents on your computer here or here.
- Helpful phrases document can be found here. (let me know if link is broken)
- Use what you know- looking up a bunch of new words or phrases will make it much harder for you to write!
- By reading and hearing more Spanish you will have a much easier time knowing how sentences should be put together and what "sounds" correct. Don't be afraid to make mistakes at first, you can always edit!
- Post on social media in Spanish
- E-mail someone in Spanish, or write them a letter or postcard.
- Send your friends from class texts, snapchats, or messages in Spanish.
- Keep a journal in Spanish (no one else will know what you're saying ;)
DISCLAIMER: I have not personally checked all of these websites for safety online. If you use them you will be interacting with real people! PLEASE be cautious if you choose to use them and do not give out too much personal information. Ask your parents for permission first. BE SAFE.
- NEVER use your real name or give out other personal info.
- Keep a copy of a conversation if it makes you uncomfortable and tell an adult.
- HelloTalk (app): send messages to native speakers.
- Tandem (app, iOS only): send messages to native speakers.
- Bilingua : matches you with native speakers with similar interests to you
- Speaky : basic chat with native speakers
- HiNative : ask native speakers questions you have about language use.
- MyLanguageExchange: Chat with native speakers.
What about Google Translate or Babelfish or another translator?
DO NOT USE ONLINE TRANSLATORS.
There are many reasons why, but the most important is that it will not help you with your Spanish learning but rather will hurt your progress. It's rarely accurate and I can always tell! Note: a dictionary is not the same thing as a translator- it is for specific words or phrases, not entire sentences.
La llama dice "¡NOOOO! ¡No lo hagas!" Don't do it!
Instead, try out a dictionary like WordReference.com to figure out single words you don't know.
There are many reasons why, but the most important is that it will not help you with your Spanish learning but rather will hurt your progress. It's rarely accurate and I can always tell! Note: a dictionary is not the same thing as a translator- it is for specific words or phrases, not entire sentences.
La llama dice "¡NOOOO! ¡No lo hagas!" Don't do it!
Instead, try out a dictionary like WordReference.com to figure out single words you don't know.
LISTENING:
- YouTube video blog (Catracha por el mundo): thisYouTube channel is created by the family of a Huron student! Check out tours of local areas and also other countries!
- Social media: check out TikTok or other social media sites to find videos on topics you enjoy. You can search the hashtags to find what you want (i.e. #maquillaje = make-up, #videojuegos = videogames, etc.)
- News in Slow Spanish: Exactly what it sounds like- the news in slow Spanish! Often includes transcripts too so you can follow along. Some are free but some you have to pay to access.
- Mi Vida Loca: Interactive set of videos involving an interactive mystery. 10 min each, covering basic learning points for Spanish absolute beginners. Broadband connection required. Also includes vocabulary and grammar information to go along with each video.
- Radio Ambulante: NPR's Spanish podcasts about various topics. Very interesting and include transcripts.
- TEDX en español: TED talks in Spanish! Often includes transcripts.
- Rtve: Watch TV in Spanish, various channels available
- YouTube: My YouTube channel where I store the videos and music we use in class as well as random fun music in Spanish. You can find WAY more by searching topics you enjoy in Spanish (i.e. maquillaje= make-up, videojuegos= videogames, fútbol= soccer, etc.) The Language Reactor Chrome extension works amazingly for many YouTube videos, check it out!
- UTexas website: This website has a great collection of videos organized by topic and difficulty.
- Spanish Listening: Lots of great short listenings on various topics, organized by difficulty.
- BBC Bitesize: Listening activities with questions. Click "Revise" to start. You can find a bit more difficult ones here: More BBC Bitesize
- Netflix: There are many Spanish-language TV shows and movies available. Try sorting by country or language to find them. Put the subtitles in Spanish for the ultimate listening experience! If you have Google Chrome, using the Language Reactor extension is GREAT! Please get parental permission before watching if you are under 17 as some shows/movies can be inappropriate.
- Uvic Dialogues: Short dialogues with comprehension questions or fill in the blanks. Click on the exercise then click on the underlined word/name within the typed dialogue to hear the excerpt. The picture of the paper takes you to different activities, the picture of the book takes you to a glossary, and the arrows take you to more dialogue activities.
- Go onto YouTube and search children's programs in Spanish (Calle Sesamo, Dora la Exploradora, etc.) to watch. They usually speak more slowly and teach basic topics.
- Watch one of your favorite films or TV shows with Spanish subtitles or Spanish audio, just go to the languages option in the main menu of the DVD.
- Listen to Spanish or Latino/a radio. If you cannot find a local station, try tunein.com- the site allows you to find and stream both music and talk shows from around the Spanish-speaking world. Some other options: http://www.un.org/radio/es, www.abc.es, www.bbcmundo.com, www.cnn.com.espanol
- Watch a Spanish or Latino television station. If you have cable, you may already have a Spanish language station like Univision. You can also find different television stations online at this Spanish Internet Television website (you must have Windows Media Player).**
- Some popular artists to search include: Alvaro Soler (catchy pop), Celia Cruz (classic Cuban), Juan Luis Guerra (classic), David Bisbal (pop), Camilo (pop/folk), La Oreja de Van Gogh (rock/folk), Enrique Iglesias (pop), Juanes (rock), Selena (classic), Luis Fonsi (hip hop/R&B/reggaeton), Reik (pop/rock), Morat (pop/folk), J Balvin (reggaeton), Jennifer Lopez (pop/classic), Jesse & Joy (folk/pop), ChoQuibTown (hip hop), Don Omar (pop/reggaeton), Shakira (pop/folk), Manu Chao (alternative/reggae), Carlos Vives (pop), Prince Royce (bachata), KOERS (reggae), Nicky Jam (reggaeton/trap), Bomba Estero (electronica/pop), Las Hijas del Sol (African Latin), Maná (rock), and Marc Anthony (salsa). even Beyoncé! *NOTE: Not all songs have clean lyrics*
- Music Database: Database of music to help you learn Spanish.
- Kevin Karla y la Banda: Popular English music covered in Spanish, or original songs!
- Use Spotify or iTunes to download songs you enjoy! You can set your country to Spain or Mexico and see the current top hits!
- Rockalingua: Songs for kids to help you learn Spanish! They also have a YouTube channel here.
- Basho & Friends: More songs for kids to help you learn Spanish!
- Go to the library and check out CDs in Spanish. Read the lyrics as you listen.
- Listen to Spanish or Latino/a radio. If you cannot find a local station, try tunein.com- the site allows you to find and stream both music and talk shows from around the Spanish-speaking world. Some other options: http://www.un.org/radio/es, www.abc.es, www.bbcmundo.com, www.cnn.com.espanol
SPEAKING:
DISCLAIMER: I have not personally checked all of these websites for safety online. If you use them you will be interacting with real people! PLEASE be cautious if you choose to use them and do not give out too much personal information. Ask your parents for permission first. BE SAFE.
Pronuncation help:
Practice:
DISCLAIMER: I have not personally checked all of these websites for safety online. If you use them you will be interacting with real people! PLEASE be cautious if you choose to use them and do not give out too much personal information. Ask your parents for permission first. BE SAFE.
- If possible, DO NOT use video when chatting.
- NEVER use your real name or give out other personal info.
- Keep a copy of a conversation if it makes you uncomfortable and tell an adult.
- HelloTalk (app): send messages to native speakers. Be careful when using.
- Tandem (app, iOS only): send messages to native speakers.
- Bilingua : matches you with native speakers with similar interests to you
- Speaky : basic chat with native speakers
- HiNative : ask native speakers questions you have about language use.
- MyLanguageExchange: Chat with native speakers.
- Check your favorite social media! Sometimes there are communities or groups that are all about language practice. Try searching "Spanish Practice for English speakers" or something similar.
Pronuncation help:
- E-How: Videos to help with pronunciation on many different topics
- StudySpanish: How to pronounce individual letters and combinations of letters in Spanish
- RocketSpanish: Listen to the pronunciation of different letters. WARNING: Program may cause your browser to close if you have too many tabs open- be careful.
- Iowa Phonetics: Needs Adobe Flash to enable. Click on the different phonetic categories and symbols to see words, diagrams, and sound clips showing you how to pronounce those sounds.
- Music: Practice your Spanish by listening to Spanish songs and singing along! This site was created by a former student.
Practice:
- Need topics to discuss? Need guiding questions? Find lots of ideas (in English) here
- Helpful phrases documents can be found here (lower levels) and here (upper levels)
- Speak Spanish whenever you have a chance. Do you have a friend who speaks Spanish? An older sibling? Another family member? A neighbor? Talking with them is a great opportunity for practice.
- Visit an authentic Mexican, Caribbean, Central/South American, or Spanish restaurant, or an area of town where there is a larger Spanish-speaking population such as Mexicantown in Detroit. If you hear people speaking Spanish, try saying hello and starting a conversation! (remember: safety should always come first)
- Teach your parents/siblings/friends/neighbors some Spanish phrases.
- Vacation in a Spanish-speaking country or visit the southern United States or a city with a large Spanish-speaking population (Detroit, Chicago, Denver, New York, Washington D.C., Florida, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, California...). Try communicating with the native Spanish speakers!
CULTURE:
- Spanish-speaking countries: get extensive info about Spanish-speaking countries by clicking on the various sites below each flag (in English)
- don Quijote: Click on the country on the left side to discover many different aspects of culture. Site also includes a Spanish horoscope and recipes
- Music genres: Explore some of the popular traditional Spanish and Latino music genres
- Native Americans: Find out more about the cultures of the native peoples of the Americas
- Aztec Calendar: Find out about today according to the Aztec calendar- also includes information about deities
- Ancient Guatemala: Learn more about Guatemala and the Mayan culture
- Nahuatl: Brief information about the Nahua (Aztec) people and their language
- Spain Info: Extensive information about Spain and its culture
- Equatorial Guinea: Learn more about the only country in Africa with Spanish as an official language
- CIA World Factbook: Get an overview of many different countries including flags, population, and more
Many websites above were taken from the database at http://ayudaporfavor.atspace.com/. This website was created by a friend, Dana Anderson. Thanks Dana! :)