Learn Spanish Online – Your Guide to Success
Do You Want to Learn Spanish?
Learning Spanish Online has never been easier!
You can study the language online in many ways, and you choose what is best for you based on your learning style. Do you prefer listening to podcasts, watching YouTube videos, perhaps flashcards is the best way to learn new vocabulary, or simply taking private lessons? You decide!
Let’s be honest, there are so many resources on the internet so we’re here to help you find what’s right for you.
Our ultimate guide to learning Spanish online will help you navigate the world of online learning!
The best way to learn a language is by speaking it every day with natives, however, you may not be able to take the time away to complete a Spanish course in a Spanish speaking country. Online learning has the benefit of fitting around your schedule. If you’re looking for a complete course but want the benefits of learning from home then why not have a look at our Spanish online lessons!
Table of Contents
1. Why Learn Spanish Online?
2. How to Learn Spanish Online
3. Learn Spanish with Websites
4. Learn Spanish with Apps
5. Learn Spanish with Podcast
6. Learn Spanish with YouTube
7. Learn Spanish with Blogs
8. Learn Spanish with Games
9. Learn Spanish with Movies
10. Learn Spanish with Songs
11. Learn Spanish with Dictionaries
12. Practice with Native Speakers Online
Why Learn Spanish Online?
Traditional studying in a classroom, especially in a Spanish speaking country, is still a great way to learn the language. But not everyone has the time to take a Spanish course abroad. There are so many amazing resources online that you can now learn almost anything from the comfort of your own home.
Besides being a very convenient way to learn online allows you to adapt how you study to your learning style and needs. Want to work on your listening skills? Podcasts are for you. Want to work on your thinking speed? Try apps and games! Want to practice conversation? Online lessons and tutoring are the ticket! No matter how you learn, there are resources available for you.
How to Learn Spanish Online
Don’t make the mistake of choosing one avenue of online Spanish. Use a combination. Pick a website or course for your main resource then use a variety of other platforms to learn in different ways.
If you’re looking for a productive way to spend your morning commute then apps are the way to go. Sometimes keeping your goal small makes it more achievable. Even if you only learn 5 words per day, that works out as 1825 words a year, which is a great base for learning a language.
If you’re looking for a more complete Spanish learning experience then a paid platform or course is going to be your best bet. All the platforms we’re recommending give you access to a wide variety of resources and classes to get you from beginner to fluent. With online Spanish courses, you also have the opportunity to be in contact with a tutor and obtain individual feedback.
1. Learn Spanish with Websites
There are so many choices out there. Make the most of Spanish educational websites by picking and choosing which to use to work on specific skills. For grammar, Curso De Español is a good free option because they have over 500 A4 worksheets available. For vocabulary practice, you can visit a website like Busuu, which provides pictures along with words to make it easier for you to learn.
If you want a complete learning experience, however, you’re better off choosing a website that offers a full Spanish course. The free services can be really useful but if you want to be fluent in Spanish then a course is the way to go.
Complete courses:
- COMBI Course from Let’s Speak Spanish – is a combination of self-learning, community support and teacher tutoring. The course offers a lot of variety. You will find grammar explanations, recorded webinars, podcast episodes that include transcripts with practical exercises, infographics and much more. At the end of each level, you have an evaluation exam that will show how good you gleaned information.
P.S. if you’re a beginner you can try the first level for FREE. - Lengalia – It contains plenty of exercises that will help you to improve your Spanish skills in different areas. The course includes live tutor features, podcasts to listen to, a virtual teacher who helps with all the explanations, language exchange… the list goes on.
- Instituto Cervantes – why not go for the DELE examiners themselves? If your ultimate goal is to sit the DELE exam then you might find some of the Instituto Cervantes modules helpful. Each module focuses on a different topic, and you pay for each individual module. So you may find this useful for particular problem areas rather than a full course.
For more great websites read our full guide on 11 Best Online Spanish Courses.
2. Learn Spanish with Apps
You should start practicing your Spanish interactively if you learn better by doing!
If you have a busy schedule, learning Spanish with apps is the perfect solution. It’s easy to fit in 10 minutes of playtime a day with an app, and you’ll actually want to.
They’re also a great choice for anyone on a budget as some of the best apps like Duolingo and Memrise are completely free!
You will not be able to get from beginner to fluent with a language app but it’s a great way to start.
Why not to try:
- Duolingo – the undeniable champion of language apps. It’s the most downloaded education app and has over 200 million daily users. It’s a fun game style app, the more often you use it the more lingots (Duolingo currency) you gain which unlocks extra lessons and outfits for your character.
- Memrise – a space-themed language app. Its game style makes learning a breeze! If you want to focus on your vocab then this is the game for you! Another useful feature is you can learn different types of Spanish, so whether you want to head to Mexico or Madrid you’ll be sorted!
- Babbel – this is a premium subscription-based app that focuses on your long-term retention. You might find paying for an app makes you feel more motivated to use it! Of the paid-for apps, this is a standout service to get you from beginner to intermediate.
The full list of 11 Best Apps for Learning Spanish can be found in our blog post.
3. Learn Spanish with Podcast
Podcasts are a great way to practice your Spanish listening skills. If you could move to Spain tomorrow and immerse yourself in the language you’d pick it up, right? Listening to podcasts is the same idea, surrounding yourself with a language makes you learn faster.
You can easily download any podcast app to your mobile and search for Spanish podcasts, the list below can all be downloaded to your smartphone, or you can listen online.
Our favorite podcasts:
- Podcast by Let’s Speak Spanish – This Podcast is based on the “24 Level System to Spanish Fluency®” for online Spanish lessons. A unique level teaching system of Let’s Speak Spanish. Because the podcast is related to the 24 Level System, you have the rare opportunity to listen to the episodes that correspond to your personal Spanish level.
P.S. transcripts and exercises are available for each episode. - Coffee Break Spanish – this is a really popular one. Mark and Kara from Scotland deliver easy-to-understand Spanish in a variety of levels. Coffee Break also has a really nice selection of topics.
- Notes in Spanish – Marina from Madrid and Ben from England teach you Spanish with interesting talks about Spanish culture, news and travel.
To find more great podcasts to help you learn Spanish take a look at our article The 17 Best Podcasts for Learning Spanish.
4. Learn Spanish with YouTube
Learning Spanish with Youtube is easy and free!
You have a wide range of choices when it comes to Spanish resources on Youtube, it can feel a little overwhelming. So we’re going to break down your main options to help you choose the best videos for you.
Your first option is to use a learning channel. These offer educational Spanish videos on various topics and for different levels. Learning channels are an ideal choice for any beginning Spanish student since they generally offer a more structured approach to learning. However, more advanced students can also benefit from picking and choosing lessons on topics they’re struggling with.
The best learning channels:
- Web Spanish – you learn Spanish through actors taking on various roles such as a policeman or a tour guide. They also keep in touch with students on Skype which is useful.
- SpanishPod101 – this is a great platform for practicing your Spanish by learning about their culture. They also have videos dedicated to Mexican Spanish.
- Learn Spanish – great for if you need to focus on your grammar and vocab. Explanations are provided in English so particularly good to get your head around grammar rules.
The next option is subtitled videos. This can be subtitled dubs of your favorite cartoons, any video you find with the option of Spanish subtitles or Spanish videos with English subtitles. This can be a great way to practice your reading and listening skills. Try listening to something in Spanish with Spanish subtitles as well to really enhance your learning.
Our favourite subtitled videos:
- Spanish Sessions – a learning channel with the added bonus of subtitles, so it’s a doubly useful resource.
- Spanish cartoons playlist – There are lots of playlists of Spanish cartoons with subtitles on YouTube. Try this one for entertaining classic cartoons in Spanish! Remember to turn on the Spanish subtitles to help improve your reading and follow the story.
One of the simplest ways to learn Spanish is by watching Spanish content. It might be music videos, movie trailers, news channels whatever your interests start consuming them in Spanish. It’s ideal to watch every day. This way, you build from your previous day’s learning and slowly comprehend more.
Our Spanish content recommendations:
- Yuya – a fun Mexican beauty blogger. So if you’re interested in new makeup looks try following her tutorials in Spanish.
- VICE en Español – VICE’s Spanish language channel is very engaging and gives you plenty of topics to choose from.
Check out our full list of the 13 Best Youtube Channels to Learn Spanish for Free.
5. Learn Spanish with Blogs
Learning Spanish with a blog? Is that even a thing? Actually, there are tons of blogs out there written to help you learn Spanish!
Blogs are a great way to benefit from someone else’s experience. There’s a variety of quality blogs out there, some written by English speakers who want to teach and others by native speakers who want to share their language with the world, there’s a wealth of knowledge to benefit from. The majority of blogs you can read for free so this is definitely a cost-effective way to learn!
Our suggestions:
- Let’s Speak Spanish – well, we don’t want to brag but we are pretty proud of our own blog. We regularly post easy, informative and interactive grammar explanations! We also write fun and useful guides to learn Spanish online, for example Spanish for Travel, when you’re in a restaurant or how to ask about time in Spanish — all for free!
- Notes in Spanish – Another one from an Englishman and a Spanish woman, Ben has written podcasts for the likes of the BBC and works together with Marina from sunny Madrid. They offer a wide range of free material for beginners and a ‘gold’ option to get access to their more advanced resources. This is a nice one because they give a percentage of the money they make every year to charity, so your pursuit of language can benefit others too.
- PeppyBurro – this is a comprehensive Spanish blog site, you can learn everything about Spanish culture including street Spanish and other tips. This site also has useful vocabulary and grammar resources which are worth checking out!
Want a full list of all the amazing Spanish learning blogs out there? Read our full article and find out 11 Spanish Blogs Every Spanish Learner Should Read.
6. Learn Spanish with Games
Sometimes learning Spanish can feel like hard work. So if you want to keep practicing without using too much brain power why not learn with games? You’re more likely to learn if you enjoy the material you’re studying, games are just one way to keep your work entertaining.
There’s a big variation in the quality of games you can find online. We’ve taken the time and played some of the available games, for research purposes obviously, and come up with a few we think you’ll like.
Our recommendations:
- Spanish in Flow – is a fun way to learn or review vocabulary while under pressure. Although this game was originally created for beginners, any learner can make good use of it. You can choose the slow version, or for a more advanced game go for the fast one.
- The Dialogue Game – is great for intermediate and advanced students who want to practice their conversation skills. Although it’s no substitute for actually speaking in Spanish to a native speaker, it can be useful to practice the type of language and sentence structure in dialogues.
- PollyLingual – this is a really good paid website, which is actually cheap compared to similar services. However, you can access a lot of beginner games for free. Each topic has a selection of games you can play after you revise, so it’s a really good learning system.
There are so many great Spanish games out there, read our article for the full list of the 7 Best Free Spanish Learning Games.
7. Learn Spanish with Movies
So we’ve just told you that you can play games to learn Spanish, now we’re telling you to watch movies?! Actually immersion in the Spanish language is the best way to learn, so watching films in Spanish is great for your listening comprehension skills. If you watch films with Spanish subtitles you can even work on your reading too!
So your options: you can watch a film in your language with Spanish subtitles, you can watch a Spanish film with Spanish subtitles or you can watch a Spanish film with no subtitles. We would recommend going for the second option, Spanish films with Spanish subtitles. This way you have more of a chance to follow the conversation as you can also read it, but it also forces you to try and think more in Spanish.
Want to Netflix and learn? Then check out our guide to Spanish Movies that will Help You Learn Spanish Fast.
So what films should you watch?
- Try an old cartoon you know well, maybe a Disney film like Aladdin or Bambi. This way you already know the film well so you won’t get lost and maybe you’ll recognize more words.
- You could go for a Spanish film like Pan’s Labyrinth, it’s an internationally known film so it’s available in lots of other countries, but it has a Spanish director and it’s great to watch in Spanish.
- If you’re an advanced learner then any Spanish film will be useful but if you want a challenge try Relatos Salvajes. It’s a 6 episode of black comedy, which is considered challenging even for Spanish speakers!
8. Learn Spanish with Songs
Getting a catchy tune stuck in your head might sound like a bad thing. If that tune has Spanish words to it then it’s actually great for helping you learn.
If you’re often on the go then listening to Spanish songs is perfect because you can multitask while you learn! You’ll be singing Spanish words and practicing your vocab in no time.
It’s the perfect way to work on your listening comprehension. When you listen to a Spanish song you’re usually listening to a native speaker and they can sing quite fast. So this really builds up your skills. You can also work on your pronunciation, make sure you’re saying “Despacito” just right.
Which songs should be on your playlist?
- Well obviously “Despacito” is a must by Luis Fonsi ft Daddy Yankee
- Calle 13’s song “Latinoamerica” teaches a lot about this history and culture of Latin America. Focusing on themes like poverty.
- “Me Gustas Tu” by Mano Chao, you may regret listening to this one because it will be stuck in your head for weeks.
- Also, don’t forget to include a good dose of Shakira, many of her songs include a lot of Spanish.
Want a full list of songs to listen to every day? Check out our full article which includes tips for learning with Spanish songs.
9. Learn Spanish with Dictionaries
We’ve been talking about great new online technologies you can use to learn, but now let’s talk old school. Learning Spanish from a dictionary may sound like something from the dark ages but online Spanish dictionaries are actually a great tool to enhance your learning.
One of the basic ways of using an online tool like a dictionary is when you’re learning whenever you come across a word you don’t know write it down and look it up. This way you keep improving your vocabulary. Or try reading Spanish books or texts and highlighting the words you don’t know and then using a dictionary.
There are online resources like google translate which everyone uses especially on holiday, but there’s also a lot of online dictionaries which are unsung heroes. Sites like PONS, dict.cc and Word Reference are really useful. Learn more about How to Learn Spanish with a Dictionary in our full blog post.
Now you’re armed with the full power of the internet to tackle learning Spanish Online. The best way to really learn the language is to use a combination of all the online learning we’ve discussed. Immerse yourself in Spanish and you’ll find your skills increase in no time!
There’s one thing missing from online learning.
Practice with Native Speakers Online!
You can’t learn a language without speaking it. Which is why here at Let’s Speak Spanish we’re offering online conversational lessons!
You get all the benefits of learning from your own home, on your schedule but you can actually learn to speak Spanish! Out native teachers have designed the perfect lessons for you to reach your speaking goals.
If you think our online conversation lessons might be what you need to succeed in Spanish then get in touch!
Want To Learn Spanish The Fastest Way Possible?
With a flexible class schedule, you decide when’s the best time to take private Spanish lessons!
We teach you according to our 24 Level System to Spanish Fluency®, where we clearly define your next goals to be accomplished fast so you stay motivated all the way to Spanish fluency.
