Language Resources: Spanish Language Learning Links
Spanish Language Learning Links
This is a living document of web sites that can be used as additional resources to learning languages face to face and online. We hope to curate this list and add and subtract sites as necessary.
If there are any web sites that you love, and are not on this list, give us a shout out in the comments below and we’ll add your web site to the list ASAP!
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123TeachMe
http://www.123teachme.com
123TeachMe is a great site for the beginning language learner. The site excels in media, utilizing video, audio and especially games! The site contains hundreds of games on a wide variety of topics. The games also work well with SmartBoard classrooms, iPads, iPhones, or other portable devices.
About Spanish
http://www.spanish.about.com
About Spanish is concise and to the point, but their variety of topics is surprising and refreshing if you’re looking for something unique to teach. There is limited media, but you could spend a good amount of time just surfing around and seeing what there is to see!
BBC Spanish Lessons
http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/spanish
BBC Spanish Lessons are definitely for the traveler. These lessons are very clean and well polished. Activities are limited, but the real-world video and audio are second to none. BBC also utilizes a wide variety of accents and regionalisms in their recordings.
BBC Guide to Watching Spanish TV
http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/spanish/tv/
This is technically an addendum to the BBC languages web site, however it merits its own link since many language teachers love to use media resources like video and audio to supplement their own lessons. It’s clean, easy to navigate, and the BBC is a very reliable resource in world languages.
Conjuguemos
https://www.conjuguemos.com/index.php
Think of Conjuguemos as an online workbook for your Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese or Latin language students. The site stores a large amount of practice activities, with more exercises added during the year by users. Teachers can also create their own activities.
Culturally Authentic Pictoral Lexicon
http://capl.washjeff.edu/
So, this isn’t exactly for language learning but it is a big name with a big goal. The Culturally Authentic Pictoral Lexicon is an image/media archive for culturally authentic images from across the world, managed by Washington & Jefferson College. The images are all Creative Commons Licensed, and are free to use in any educational work. There are dozens of countries, and hundreds of images to choose from!
Digital Dialects
http://www.digitaldialects.com/Spanish.htm
Digital dialects has games! Lots and lots of games! Flash-based games on a huge variety of languages! (Which unfortunately means it’s not iOS friendly.) Highly recommended for SmartBoard work, computer lab time, and other in class activities.
FrenchSpanishOnline
http://www.frenchspanishonline.com
Although a little busy in terms of design, there’s a lot of great mini-lessons, and audio for vocabulary and grammar. In fact, the audio is superb all the way across the site! There’s also video lessons hosted by YouTube for easy access and embedding.
GoComics
http://www.gocomics.com/explore/espanol
GoComics is exactly what it sounds like, comics in foreign languages! This particular site has famous american comics translated to Spanish, and native Spanish comics mixed in too. Looks like a good resource for those times when only cartoons will do!
Language Guide Spanish
http://www.languageguide.org/spanish/
The site is a little rough around the edges on design, but the content is very solid. Contains vocabulary and grammar lessons. Also contains a separate section on Spanish verb conjugation. Overall a solid resource for practicing Spanish!
Mahalo
http://www.mahalo.com/category/language
Mahalo is a web site dedicated to learning about anything on the planet. Their YouTube videos are very short, but precise and well spoken. Production values are high. You’ll also find a huge variety of other topics to explore in addition to Spanish.
NativeMonks
https://nativemonks.com
Pretty simple premise, hooking up students with individual tutors over video chat. Simple fee structure and pretty easy to get going. Many languages offered.
No Tengo Enie!
http://www.notengoenie.com
This is a simple site meant to help you copy odd ASCII characters (like accented vowels, etc) to the clipboard and then paste them wherever you like!
So You Really Want To Learn Spanish?
http://www.realspanish.net
Like the French counterpart website, this site will contain vocabulary, grammar, and games. Still under heavy construction as of 08 March 2012. Links to PDF materials and random Spanish websites. Account registration not required for some content, but is required for full access to matierals.
Spanish Center Mérida
http://www.spanishcentermerida.com
Spanish language immersion school, based in Mérida, Mexico. Classes and activities for a wide variety of groups.
SpanishDict
http://www.spanishdict.com
Long ago this was a prett slick Spanish dictionary site, but over time it has evolved into a full language learning resources. Lessons, flashcards, audio, and video examples are all available. Account registration required for full content.
Speakado
http://www.speakado.com
Speakado takes a great media-centered approach to learning. Speakado focuses on very simple words and phrases and YouTubes like crazy. Good clear recordings that are simple and to the point. Not so much on full blown lessons, but a great add-on for listening and speaking help. Other languages too!
StudySpanish
http://www.studyspanish.com
The StudySpanish website contains a handful of free vocabulary and grammar lessons, but saves the good stuff for their paying users. However, it is very informative and contains basic audio and quizzes for each lesson. For a subscription you can unlock more content.
Tandem (iOS App)
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tandem-language-exchange/id959001619?mt=8
Practice any language, at any time, with people from around the world who share your interests. It’s the easiest way to practice foreign languages one-on-one with other language learners, and make friends along the way.
Visual Link Spanish
http://www.learnspanishtoday.com/learning_module/guide_index.htm
Visual link Spanish has a good collection of free utilities, including links to some free vocabulary games that are SmartBoard friendly. Also includes flashcards and other study tools.
Wespeke – Spanish
http://en-us.wespeke.com
WeSpeke is the social network to learn and practice languages online for free with native speakers. Find practice partners for language exchanges or tandems in our large global community. Use text, audio, or video for conversation practice with native speakers.
Wikibooks – Spanish
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Spanish/Contents
From The Wikimedia project comes an attempt to create a fully functional free textbook online, and community editable. They’re still on the basics, and there’s a long way to go, but there are some great resources here in the short term. It’s an ambitious project worth supporting. (And a reminder, most things online with “wiki” in their names are still good things!) Other languages supported too!
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