Why learn Spanish on YouTube? If you are working towards your goal of learning Spanish independently, give yourself a pat on the back. You are already taking an important step towards proficiency! The good news is, the Internet is your friend. YouTube is a great platform that is filled with resources that can improve your language skills. You can absolutely use it to learn Spanish.
Why not use videos to learn Spanish and supplement your language journey, and have fun while doing it! It’s easy to get overwhelmed with the choices available, but there are specific learning channels to support your language learning journey that include music and tv shows accessible to any Spanish language level. When considering whether to learn Spanish on YouTube, check out the list of recommendations below to jumpstart your language learning journey from our suggestions for optimizing your learning time. And, it’s all free! Why not use this excellent, budget-friendly tool?
1.Destinos
Destinos is an excellent starting point for beginning learners. Yes, it is a little dated, but it was created by Spanish language instructors to promote learning at a beginning level. The series follows Raquel, a woman investigating a missing persons case. You have the added benefit of being entertained by the older technology and wardrobe styles while learning key phrases necessary to have basic conversations. The added advantage is the series takes you to different Spanish-speaking countries, so you get virtual vacations that expose you to different accents. At the end of each episode, the essential phrases and grammar are reviewed and put on the screen, which is an excellent opportunity for note taking!
2. Practiquemos
While listening to a series is a great way to supplement your listening comprehension, there are additional resources with structured exercises that can support your Spanish language learning for those who wish to supplement their learning. This channel puts together videos and materials from a very seasoned Spanish language teacher, who provides you with Spanish language exercises, PDFs, and more resources that you can take with you on the go. Use the additional resources to build your own collection of Spanish materials, so that you can use them for reference later on. Reinforcing your language learning is key to retaining new information and progressing.
3. Lirica
Language is not just about the grammar. For those of us who love music, it can be a great way to start learning a language or to deepen your understanding of the language. This channel puts together language learning exercises to help you with your grammar and vocabulary, while you listen to songs in the Spanish language. Even if you’re not feeling like practicing grammar that day, you can have some fun listening to music and learning Spanish on Youtube, with translated lyrics included to supplement your language learning journey. Maybe you’ll even find some new tunes to add to your playlists and incorporate into your daily life, or words to add to your vocabulary lists.
4. Butterfly
This is a great channel with lots of options to help you learn Spanish on Youtube. Even better, it supports language learners of all levels. It exposes you to speaking Spanish like a native and exposes you to different cultural specialties from Spain to Mexico. The language evolves with the county of origin, so this is a great way to supplement your Spanish learning at home and expand your understanding of different accents, cultural nuances, and vocabulary. You can pick a video for review one day if you are not ready to tackle a new concept. Or, play around and challenge yourself with videos of differing difficulties.
5. CultureAlley
This YouTube channel supports many different languages, Spanish being one of them. They’re really experienced as language instructors, and the Spanish videos are well made and easily accessible. You can review the lessons, numbered for convenience, and choose one that targets some grammar points you’re working on. There are interactive exercises and audio-visual lessons for a self-taught student. Keep a folder on your computer or jot down the grammar and vocabulary in a notebook to review later.
6. Maria Español
If you’re an immediate or advanced learner, this is a perfect vlog for you. Maria creates entertaining video content that will further supplement your practical Spanish knowledge. If you’re looking for an immersive experience, this is a good channel to use. She will also share cultural information with you to deepen your knowledge of the diversity in Spanish-speaking cultures. Part of improving in a language is to continue working on your listening comprehension, and an immersive environment is the best way to do it. Having English subtitles or translations is never bad, but sometimes taking that out of the equation and focusing purely on the Spanish, with the added context provided, is an excellent way to assess your learning progress and identify vocabulary or different aspects to add to your learning goals.
7. Learn Spanish Like Crazy
This is a great resource if you’re interested in learning specific interactions in Spanish on Youtube. The lessons cover targeted situations, such as having a meeting in Spanish. It’s a great resource if you are working on targeted learning goals. And it even provides English translations that can help you improve your understanding of the mechanics of written Spanish. Make sure to take the opportunity to keep notes on key phrases, vocabulary, and verbs that you need for places like restaurants and supermarkets. These lessons will give you opportunities for later practical application.
Whether or not you are building on classes or creating your own lesson plans, remember that you can learn Spanish on YouTube as a great way to supplement your language journey. For best results, create a structured plan for yourself that involves some form of daily language practice, whether it is watching an episode of a Spanish show, or finishing a chosen grammar video. Keep a notebook on hand, or use your computer, and take notes and create vocabulary and verb flashcards. You can pause and replay as many times as you need, from the comfort of your own home. And you can review your notes to help you retain the new Spanish you’ve learned. One of the most important aspects of language learning is daily practice, and with so many fun online options, you may even enjoy it, too!
Catherine Donnelly