How to learn, practice, and improve your Spanish - all levels

This post is updated periodically! Last update: 9/2020

As someone who learned Spanish in high school and actually still speaks and understands it, I wanted to compile a list of resources for friends who want to learn or practice their Spanish. I've divided this list by level, but definitely jump around to find what works for you. I've included my own opinions on each resource, which you are free to ignore.

Note: you can access a similar entry for French here.

Beginner:

You need to start at the beginning.

•  I'm really picky about YouTube videos that explain grammar. Most of them just have an image of someone's talking face try to explain complex grammar rules. I think that animated videos are much more engaging and clear. My own animated video lessons to introduce basic grammatical elements in Spanish - watch these until you have them memorized.

• Memorize the conjugations of basic verbs, days of the week, basic phrases. You can do this any way you want (flash cards, etc). I suggest listening to these songs to make the basics harder to forget: iTunes, Spotify, Amazon

• Duolingo app (for smartphones, also has desktop interface) definitely fragmented. Very similar to Rosetta Stone, except it’s free. I recommend this because a) the price is right and b) it’s very portable and feasible for using when you’re waiting in line or on the bus. I don’t recommend this until you have seen at least the first 3 lingolearner videos, just like I don’t recommend RS until you’ve had at least a few weeks of basic instruction.

• Coffee break Spanish: these are created by Radio Lingua. There are free podcasts but lots of pushes to buy their programs, so be aware of that. I recommend getting the podcasts straight through iTunes because the site is very clickbait heavy.

• Label your house with Spanish words. Being sure to include the gender of each noun (la ventana), put sticky notes reinforced with tape on the objects they label. Avoid putting English words on your labels. If you absolutely need more guidance, draw the object next to the Spanish word. Here's a list that has lots of vocab words you'll need. 

Beginner/Intermediate: 

You had some Spanish classes and/or have been to Spanish speaking countries and remember a few words/phrases/grammar points, but you don’t remember how to conjugate verbs or articulate your thoughts.

• Review these grammar video lessons. One viewing should be enough, if you find that you require more than one viewing to really “get” it, have a look at the “beginner” list until you feel more comfortable.

• More lessons: This BBC site is no longer updated but has tons of well-produced lessons and videos for free.

• This is a good stage in which to see which areas are going well and which areas need more work. I’m pretty Type A so I recommend literally making a list of these things to help guide your future focus. Try going through the grammar elements (on the left side, where it says "free lessons") of this site to categorize your needs.

• Coffee break Spanish: these are created by Radio Lingua. There are free podcasts but lots of pushes to buy their programs, so be aware of that. I recommend getting the podcasts straight through iTunes because the site is very clickbait heavy.

• SpanishPod101: Like Coffee Break, this is manufactured by a company that has a strong agenda when offering their free content: they want you to buy the premium subscription. Personally I get annoyed with stuff like that, BUT if you're the type who is willing to spend a bit more time maneuvering around the ads as long as things are free, you're good to go!

• Try reading a book. No, really! This one I wrote features a simple storyline, stays in the present tense, and gradually adds more complex grammatical elements as you read. There are reminders and lessons in the margins and in between the lines so you don't have to keep a dictionary nearby. It's best read on an ipad so you can easily zoom in for the verb charts, but is also available for Kindle and in paperback.

Intermediate:

You can converse in basic Spanish, but sometimes get way out of your depth when people answer your questions.  You can read some sentences in major publications in Spanish. You have trouble with complex grammatical constructions, including subjunctive and compound past/future tenses.

• Watch this series. It's from the late 1980's so it can seem dated, but it has the bonus of being comprehensive, tried and true. In fact, I remember watching this when I was first learning Spanish in high school!
  
  
  

• Look over Spanish news sites:  EuroNews is pretty neutral and has lots of interesting stories. I like the "adventures" section since I have more than enough news about politics. You can listen and watch videos AND read the transcripts below them. Be ready for the Castilian (castellano) style and accents though.

• One way to keep Spanish visible and engaging is to shift your learning from the classroom into your everyday life. One strategy: binge some memes in Spanish by following accounts on your favorite social media apps. Here are my fave instagram accounts:
• So.Mexican even though (like all meme pages) they eventually recycle their content, and some posts are in English or Spanglish. PG-13 alert: some posts are also ridiculous and/or smutty (basically, your typical instagram account). I still recommend it though, especially if you're ready to learn some slang. 
• Another one is QueBoleta from Colombia; this one is my favorite so far. It has lots of text posts and features relatively basic grammar. 
• El Periodo has tons of text based memes
• When you're ready to branch out, here's one that has a (silly) fitness focus.

Should be íbamos, but whatever.

• Give these 100 most common verbs a look-over and work on the ones you haven’t perfected yet.

• Coffee break Spanish: these are created by Radio Lingua. There are free podcasts but lots of pushes to buy their programs, so be aware of that. I recommend getting the podcasts straight through iTunes because the site is very clickbait heavy.

• Hola Viajeros: Slowly spoken Spanish with no translations. Each link has about 2 paragraphs of free content before you are begged to buy an audiobook. You know the drill: use it for what you can, and if it clicks perfectly for you, it might be worth a purchase.

Intermediate/Advanced:

You can hold entire conversations in Spanish, but you have plenty of new vocabulary to learn and need reinforcement of aural and oral skills. You still come across plenty of expressions that you don’t understand, but you can read entire sentences in major publications in Spanish.

• Brush up on your idioms. Just like the previous phrase doesn’t require an actual brush, these expressions use words that are loosely or not at all connected to their meanings. There’s a decent list of Spanish idioms here (scroll down past the ads).
• Coffee break Spanish: these are created by Radio Lingua. There are free podcasts but lots of pushes to buy their programs, so be aware of that. I recommend getting the podcasts straight through iTunes because the site is very clickbait heavy.
• Hola Viajeros: Slowly spoken Spanish with no translations. Each link has about 2 paragraphs of free content before you are begged to buy an audiobook. You know the drill: use it for what you can, and if it clicks perfectly for you, it might be worth a purchase.
• Watch some funny YouTube videos. These are NOT lessons, just silly videos that are really popular. Can be PG-13 but mostly harmless. Check 'em out: Daniela Bos (Mexico), Werevertumorro (Mexico), EnchufeTv (Ecuador). I would also check out recommended videos once you watch those to discover more channels!

Advanced:

You can speak/read/understand Spanish completely over 90% of the time. You want more practice and to keep your Spanish at a high level.

• Watch a soap opera: I go to Hulu Latino, chuck on the Spanish subtitles (basically captions), and binge guilt-free by telling myself I'm practicing my Spanish. Most telenovelas feature deliberate speech that's easy to follow (and the captions don't hurt)... but they are also painfully predictable. I'm currently watching Santa Diabla and I counted 3 times so far in one episode that the characters flashback to a memory that happened in the same episode. If this happened in an English-language show none of us would watch, but hey, we need the repetition in Spanish, right?
  
   

• There are also good quality Spanish shows. These won't be as easy to follow because they are written for people who actually expect something unique and entertaining (unlike the telenovela audience, ha!). Try Casa de Papel on Netflix (English name to search: Money Heist).
  
  
  
  
  
• I've heard good things about La Casa de Flores, or the House of Flowers, on Netflix. This will be my next show after Santa Diabla (or whenever I get tired of the relentless flashbacks, ha!), so I'll update you with my thoughts.
  
  Update: I LOVE this show! But beware, it is definitely not for kids.
  

  

• Ok. My favorite so far: Club de Cuervos on Netflix. It is all about soccer, but also has lots of business-oriented vocabulary as the main characters run several businesses in addition to the soccer team they own. Definitely Pg-13/sliding into the R range but SO entertaining, and Mexican slang out the wazoo. Also some good exposure to country-specific accents and slang, like Argentina. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Watch the news in Spanish, 24/7.  Just click on “En Vivo” to have constant video/audio.

• Watch El Pulso de la República. Similar to The Colbert Report and Bill Maher in the United States in that they do transmit news, but mock it all the while. Politicians are particularly targeted. Double entendres, references to regional Latino politics, mocking accents, and quick repartees abound – not for the faint of Spanish-learning heart!

• Watch "El tiempo entre costuras." It's a very well done period piece that is sadly no longer available on any of the regular streaming sites (the link I gave you is to a somewhat shady Vimeo channel that may be shut down soon). Castellano (Spain) Spanish, so no Latin American speech styles.





All levels:
Listen to some Spanish music!



• There are so many awesome Spanish-language songs I'm not even sure how to group them! I'll pile a list here and let you find which ones you like best. Despacito not included ;)
• Shakira
• Carlos Vives
• Maluma
• Enanitos Verdes
• Fonsi 
• J Balvin
• Nicky Jam
• Marc Antony
• Enrique Iglesias
• Ozuna
• Juanes
• Jennifer Lopez
• Celia Cruz
• Julieta Venegas
  
  
  Got any more resources or ideas for Spanish learners? Send them to me!