If you're like millions of other Americans, you're somewhat interested in learning Spanish, maybe have even taken a class or two in your day, but can't really do much with it, let alone hold a conversation with native speakers. You've spent some money on language software or books but haven't gotten through much of it.
The reason for this is because most of the common ways of learning a language just aren't fun. Above all, learning a language should be a lot of fun, and if you aren't enjoying it, you won't get very far.
The number one way to have fun and learn is to live abroad for a while, or at least take an immersion language learning trip. But if you don't have the money or time to do that yet, you are in luck that you can at least get started for when you do travel (What, you aren't packing yet?). The Internet is absolutely chock full of free, entertaining ways to jump start your language learning. It doesn't matter if you are a complete beginner with just a few words, like hola, under your belt.
Here are ideas that can get you "virtually" immersed in the moments when you can't physically immerse myself in another country. Remember, pick a few ideas from the list below that you like and don't get discouraged. It doesn't matter if you are just a beginner or whether you are intermediate or advanced in Spanish. These ideas are useful for learners at all levels.
Free Online Radios. Very cool. There are several big companies offering free radio now, and most of them offer artist bios and stories, plus links to similar music that can keep you going in loops for hours. Type in any artist or genre and find the lyrics online to follow along. Bookmark the artists you like and find similar songs and artists by browsing. Try some traditionally Latino genres like vallenatos or bachatas or you can try Latino Rock. You can also find local radio stations from all over the world that stream for free online by searching for: radio escuchar en vivo.Blogs. Learn from people who actually learned to speak Spanish or whatever language you are interested in, not just the sites selling you their software. Blogs dealing with immersion language learning usually offer a wealth of free information about how they succeeded in learning or becoming fluent. Because these people have had so much fun learning a language, they have a ton of interesting stories and give you really specific tips for free about how you can do it. It's like your own personal consultant or book without having to pay for it. These sites usually have community discussion groups and free newsletters, video or audio tutorials, games and learning programs, e-books, and links to other great online resources. Try searching for "immersion language learning Spanish," "why study abroad," or Spanish plus the word "blog" and start exploring. You can also browse blog directories and find sites of interest that way.
Online video sites. You can find just about anything on YouTube, Yahoo videos, and other similar sites. There are tons of videos that are in Spanish but have English subtitles. You can often find your favorite show, movie, or cartoon. Cartoons are great because a lot of times you can follow the plot very easily and pick up isolated words here and there more easily than in movies. Try to find a clip of some of your favorite scenes but with Spanish audio or subtitles. Get a little creative with your searches. Also, you can look for interviews and commercials with Latino or Spanish actors and actresses in their native language or dubbed or subtitled versions of programs you like. If they are international superstars, their Spanish interviews can often be found with English subtitles. If you are a beginner, audio in Spanish with English subtitles should be the goal. If you are an intermediate or advanced learner, you should be looking for Spanish audio with Spanish subtitles, so try searching for shows you like and adding "en espanol." Remember, the goal isn't to understand everything, or even 2% if you aren't there yet. Try to catch a single word that is repeated frequently and start building your vocabulary. Eventually you will want that foundation when you do have time or money to travel (Looking at maps yet?).
Online Pen Pals. Or should we start calling them text pals? You are probably already on some of the social media sites, and maybe you even have a bunch of friends. The beauty of social networking is that you can connect to people all over the world. Search for friends from countries you are interested in and send them a message. It's free, and a lot of people might be interested in being pen pals. There are even sites dedicated completely to international pen pals and offer their services for free. Once you get a little better at writing, you can begin instant messaging (also free).
Web Chat. And if you are at the stage where you can speak a bit, ask your pen pal to do free video chat through your social media site, instant messaging service, or free computer-to-computer calling service. There are tons out there so just search for them and pick the one you like.
Futbol Online, or maybe as you know it, soccer. I know, I know, you think soccer is boring. Okay, but that's mostly probably because you don't know many players so it doesn't mean much. Read a few bios about Ronaldinho, Messi, and other players at ESPN's Soccernet or other sports sites, wait for the big games, and even watch some free games and replays online. Watch Barcelona face off with Real Madrid next season for the rivalry rematches and see some of the best players in the world stacked together on one field. And of course watch in Spanish any time you can. Watch a replay of the third-place match between Uruguay and Germany from the 2010 World Cup with a Spanish commentator. You can't say you don't like soccer until you watch the final of the World Cup or Spain's professional soccer league and the voice on the big screen screams Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooolaaaazo golazo golazo golazo goooooollllaaaaaazzzzooooo! By the way, golazo translates to "absolutely brilliant fantastic amazing goal." You gotta love how much you can say with online little word. Compare that to a U.S. commentator calling some of the most important goals in U.S. soccer history (Goal!). It just doesn't match up!
Spanish Cable Online. Head over to a cable station from Latin America or Spain, such as Telemundo or Univision, and click on the Videos menu. Not only can you watch small clips of video online for free, and if you are a beginner or intermediate small is better for now. You will also see short, 5- to 30-second ad spots. Normally you might zone out when ads come on, but you can use those ads to your advantage because they are often new and entertaining in a new language. When you see a particular brand that you are familiar with, you will hear the slogan or tagline that the company uses in Spanish. After hearing it a few times, try to write it down. Try looking up the phrase and you will most likely learn not only a few words, but also a new grammatical structure. And stumbling across grammar in context is much more likely to stick in your head than hours or reading in textbooks.
Company Web Sites. Go to your favorite electronics, clothing, food, or beverage company and click on the link to turn the page into Spanish. Companies that appeal to young or college-age audiences often build in videos, games and other fun things to do. When you get to the site, look for the spot on the page where it lets you go to the Spanish version of the site (most of the big companies have this now). Sometimes you can change the region to Latin America or even pick a particular country and get specific types of Spanish versions of the site. If it's a supermarket, look at all of the pictures they have and the names of the products and you've just got yourself a free bunch of flashcards. If it's a different site and you are a beginner, it will be difficult to read most of the content, so concentrate on the ads and the pictures and captions. The picture gives you context for what is happening, and you can put the caption into a free online translator.
Free Online Translators. Just don't expect their translations to be totally accurate. Use them as a basis to get started, not as your ultimate source, and then look up the words in the free online dictionaries...
...such as Wordreference.com, a free online dictionary that is more than just a dictionary. The secret? The forums. Even after 6 years of learning Spanish, I find myself constantly going to the bottom of a given word entry and perusing the different contexts where the words and phrases are used. And the best part is that native speakers chime in every day with nuggets of cultural and linguistic knowledge that otherwise might only be available to you if you traveled to their home countries (Searching for plane tickets yet?).
Spanish Magazines Online. Most online magazines give free samples, and you can search for People en Espanol or other magazines you like. Although you might not understand much as a beginner, you can pick up a lot of fun sayings from the figure captions and cover pages, and you don't have to pay for the subscriptions at first because you will have more than enough material to keep you busy.
Search engines. It doesn't matter what your favorite search engine is, it matters what you search for. First, in your head, complete this phrase "I really love ____!" Whatever that word or phrase is, search for it and then add the word "spanish" and start browsing. Every day there are new things to learn about.
Anything that you can do or find online to have some fun will help you. Once you have a foundation of vocabulary, you are ready to start traveling and studying in other countries, which is even more fun and is really where your Spanish learning will take off!
Rocky Citro is a self-taught language learner, freelance writer, and editor. With no formal background in Spanish, he went from knowing just 50 words of Spanish in 2003 to becoming nearly fluent a few years later.
On his blog, ImmersionLanguageLearning.com, he shares his stories, resources for learning to speak Spanish, and if you are ready to immerse yourself in Spanish, free advice on planning your study abroad trip.
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