Everybody has their own reason for learning a new language. Perhaps they are required the learn the language for school or work. Or perhaps they are trying to impress a beautiful women or a handsome man. This is exactly why I’m learning Spanish. Just kidding! Actually, to me learning a new language is like cracking a code. Every time I discover the meaning of a new word or phrase it feels like I’ve just found a chocolate Easter egg hidden behind the couch. Once I “crack” this code I have access to a completely different world, a different way of living, a different way of thinking. When I hear someone speaking another language I get a craving to understand what’s being said. And I’m impressed very much by people who can speak fluently in multiple languages and switch between them effortlessly. Anyways, enough about that for now. I’m writing this article to give you some more resources for learning Spanish.
Let’s think about how we learned our native language. As children, our parents and teachers simply spoke to us and we naturally acquired the language over time. We never asked the question “Why” regarding the structure of the language and we never got hung up if we didn’t understand something. We just kept listening until we understood what was being said to us. So why not apply this childlike mentality when we are learning a new language? I think as adults we sometimes get frustrated if we don’t understand something quickly, especially if we’ve heard it several times and it still doesn’t make sense. However if we just have faith that eventually the language will make sense, we can continue listening over and over again and just enjoy those moments where we identify new words, phrases, and structures. So keeping this in mind, let’s take a look at some additional resources you can use to absorb the language.
1. Podcasts
In my previous post I recommended the podcast Coffee Break Spanish (CBS) for a basic introduction to the language. Although CBS teaches you some valuable core vocabulary and important rules such as verb conjugation, the majority of the podcast is spoken in English. In effect you’re actually practicing your English more than your Spanish. So I would suggest, after you reach lesson 40 of CBS, that you start listening to podcasts that are entirely in Spanish. At first, you will not understand much. Don’t let that frustrate you. You WILL eventually understand everything. Just listen to them over and over again as you continue with the CBS lessons. Make sure that you listen to the same audio files over and over again so that the rhythm of the language becomes ingrained in your head. It’s also easier to pick out new words and phrases this way. I like to listen while I’m in bed because at that time I can give my undivided attention to to the podcast. I also listen while I’m driving or walking, but I find that I learn most effectively when there are no distractions.
OK so I am going to suggest a couple of podcasts here that you can download for free, add to your iPod (or MP3 player), and listen to repeatedly.
Created by a couple living in Spain, this website was designed to help learners acquire the Spanish language. Ben has been living in Spain for eight years and Marina is a native Spanish speaker who grew up in Madrid. Together they have put together some very interesting and entertaining podcasts where they discuss issues in Spanish. My advice is that you jump straight into their “Notes in Spanish Intermediate”, although they do have basic lessons if you’re interested in starting there first. When I began listening to these intermediate podcasts I understood maybe 5-10% of what they were saying. Now, after listening dozens of times I understand nearly 90-95% of the first few episodes. I listen for about 1 or 2 hours every day. Currently I cycle through 25 episodes.
Listen while you drive, while you walk, or while you wait at the doctor’s office. With a portable MP3 player, you always have the language with you.
Show Time Spanish (STS) is basically a continuation of Coffee Break Spanish. However, in STS nearly 50% of the content is spoken in Spanish giving you much more listening practice. This podcast also includes explanations in English which, I believe, can help you to learn the language faster than if you were just simply listening.
2. Language Settings
Of course, the best way to learn a new language is to immerse yourself in a country where it is spoken. If that’s not possible then take every opportunity available to increase your exposure to the language. For example, I spend a lot of time on the computer so I’ve changed the default language to Spanish in most of my programs including Google Earth, Skype, and iTunes. I’ve also changed the language on my iPod to Spanish. In Firefox I selected Spanish as the preferred language so whenever I visit a website, it displays the Spanish version if one is available.
Firefox allows you to change the default langauge web pages are displayed in
3. YouTube Videos
I mentioned this is my last post, but I think it’s worth repeating. YouTube is a great resource to find videos which are in the language you are learning. Use YouTube to find interviews, music videos, and interesting shows in your target language. Below is an interview in Spanish with Penolope Cruz:
4. Reading
You could just learn how to hear and speak the language, but I find from my experience that reading the language helps to solidify the structure of the language in my mind. Reading can be quite boring if you understand less that 50% of the words, so make sure that you read something that really interests you or contains pictures! For example, whenever I read articles on Wikipedia about language or culture I always read the Spanish version. While I’m reading I’ll copy and paste some unknown words into an online translator. You could also visit the library and borrow a Spanish book if you prefer reading a hard copy.
5. Music
The better you feel about the language and the more positive emotion it evokes from you, the easier it will be to understand and remember. For this reason I like to listen to music in the language I’m learning. In order to find good Spanish songs I listen to a Spanish radio station in iTunes. When a good song is played, I’ll take note of the artist and title and search for it in either YouTube or the iTunes store. Then I can add the song to my YouTube favorites or download it from the store and listen to it over and over again. Slowly the songs begin to make more sense, especially if you expose yourself to other sources of the language. You can also easily find the song’s lyrics by searching Google.
You can find Spanish radio stations in iTunes
6. International Friends
On the Internet I’ve made friends who are from Mexico, Columbia, and Peru. I communicate with them via MSN and Skype. Sometimes we simply write messages back and forth in Spanish and other times -I attempt- to have a conversation with them on a voice or video call. I’ve met most of these friends through online chat rooms which are very easy to find. Just type “Spanish chat” into Google and you’ll find dozens of chat rooms with native speakers. Make friends with them and get their contact info to develop a lasting relationship.
So above all, learning a language should be fun. If you’re not enjoying the process, you will learn little. However, if you have the motivation and are dedicated a whole new world will open up for you. Good luck 
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