Original subtitles

If you want to learn Spanish on your own, this video has everything you need,

including the best free tools to help you develop each of these skills.

Para que, sea cual sea tu nivel actual, puedas encontrar el camino hacia la

fluidez en español que más te convenga. Thanks to Unacademy for sponsoring this

video. Let's get started.

Core learning.

If you're just starting to learn Spanish, or if you feel like you're at

beginner level for whatever reason, it's important that you build a solid

understanding of the basics.

how to conjugate verbs, how to make sentences, how to ask questions, etc.,

And to do that, you should use this textbook or this audio platform.

Complete Spanish Step -by -Step is, in my opinion, the best textbook for

learners who want to study on their own. It's easy to understand, it's

comprehensive, and it includes free audio guides for every lesson. If you're

type of person who likes learning from a textbook, swing by your library and

pick up a copy. Language Transfer, on the other hand, is a free audio

and it's a great way to learn the basics on the go.

This series includes 90 lessons at about 10 minutes each, and each lesson is

presented as a conversation between a Spanish teacher and a novice student.

a bit like listening in on a private class, and it's a great introduction to

language for total beginners.

Spanish pronunciation and dialect.

Now, depending on where you go in the Spanish -speaking world, there are some

variations in vocabulary and pronunciation.

For instance, you may already be aware that Castilian Spanish makes use of the

apical S sound, as in the word cereza, or in Latin America, cereza. And if you

want to learn more about regional differences in Spanish, you can check

video that compares speakers and dialects from Spain, Mexico, Colombia,

Argentina. That said, if you're just starting to learn the language, it's a

idea to master neutral pronunciation.

And this excellent video will help you master every letter and sound in

Spanish. It's short, it's sweet, and with a little practice, you'll be

those R's like a pro in no time.

Building vocab.

Of course, one of the pillars of learning to speak fluent Spanish is

your vocabulary.

So let's talk about how you should do it. We'll start with the tried and true

flashcards. As you may know, I'm a big fan of the Anki platform, which is free

on your desktop or through your mobile browser.

And this series of five Anki decks will expand your Spanish vocabulary

massively. These decks are all free, they have native audio spoken by a real

person, and they each include a staggering 2 ,000 cards. Now, look, I

recommend using any of these decks until you've got a strong handle on the

basics. And that would mean you've either completed the language transfer

or made it to at least chapter 10 in Spanish step by step.

But if you're past that point and you're a fan of flashcards, by all means, go

for it. If your Spanish is at the intermediate level, B1 and up, you can

try using the Toucan extension for Google Chrome. This is a free browser

extension that will automatically analyze any web page you're looking at

translate a handful. of words into Spanish.

It's an interesting system because most of the time you'll be able to figure out

what individual words mean just from looking at the English context.

But of course, you can also click on a word to get a definition.

If you're looking for a more casual, free -form way to boost your vocab, I'd

it's worth trying.

Listening resources.

If you're learning Spanish solo, listening resources are, in my opinion,

best way to build your skills over time.

They'll help you develop an ear for the language, and just as importantly,

they'll get you in the habit of expressing yourself like a native.

And once you've got that core learning under your belt, podcasts are your best

friend. So what should you be listening to?

Well, now's the time when you might want to start leaning into a specific

dialect of Spanish.

They're all mutually intelligible, but maybe you like the sound of a certain

dialect, or you're planning to travel to X country, etc., etc.

For the sake of this video, I'm going to recommend podcasts largely from either

Spain or Mexico.

But there are, of course, plenty of other options out there. So if you have

recommendations, please leave a comment and let other viewers know. So at the

beginner level, I recommend Coffee Break Spanish and Cuéntame.

At this level, the dialect differences are going to be pretty slight. You're

really going to hear a lot of regional slang or idioms, so you should really

just pick whichever one you prefer. For low intermediates, I would suggest

listening to Español con Juan or How to Spanish.

These are both fully Spanish podcasts, but they're specifically designed for

learners, so the pace is pretty gentle and the vocabulary is mainstream.

Upper intermediate learners can also check out Hoy Hablamos or No Hay Tox,

are similar to the previous offerings, but they're generally a little faster,

there's more slang, and the hosts definitely do go off on tangents. Now,

you reach the advanced level, the Spanish language podcast world is truly

oyster. However, I will recommend three excellent shows that are all fascinating

for different reasons.

Number one is Radio Ambulante. The host of this show creates short audio

documentaries about individuals living all over the Americas.

Argentina, Cuba, Colombia, the USA.

It's an amazing window into different Latin cultures and a great way to get

familiar with various Spanish dialects. Number two is Caso 63, which is a

Chilean audio drama about, wait for it...

Time travel.

It's very fun to listen to, it's addictive, and if you're at all into sci

you'll love it. And number three is Nadie Sabe Nada.

And this is an improvised two -man comedy show from Spain.

It's pretty advanced, but it'll help you get familiar with more idiomatic

expressions and the Spanish sense of humor.

Mastering grammar.

As I've mentioned in other videos, you don't need to go out of your way to

Spanish grammar. If you consistently use the other resources that I talk about

in this video, you'll naturally internalize the various rules and

time. That said, it can obviously be frustrating when a phrase or a sentence

just doesn't make sense.

And when that happens, you should turn to this video.

That's right, this one video covers more or less all of Spanish grammar.

tenses, reflexive verbs, direct and indirect objects, and of course,

favorite, el supuntivo.

Is it the prettiest video on the internet?

No, but the explanations are fantastic and streamlined.

And if, for whatever reason, you'd prefer to consult a book for your

needs, I recommend this one. It's got everything you need and plenty of

exercises for the grammatical overachiever. TV shows and movies.

Can watching TV and movies in Spanish really help you learn the language?

Yes. But I wouldn't recommend relying on video content to boost your skills

until you reach a relatively advanced level, B2 or above.

And the key here is that while you're watching, you should use either no

subtitles or Spanish subtitles, not English. At this point, you're ready for

immersion and you should be challenging yourself to make consistent progress.

So what should you watch? Well, your options are practically limitless.

But I do have three Netflix recommendations for the undecided.

Casa de Papel. And if you haven't seen this yet, why are you even here?

Coolest character in the history of television?

Maybe. Number two, Club de Cuervos. This is a very funny show about a Mexican

soccer team. If you're a fan of Ted Lasso, check it out. And finally, number

three, Jugando con Fuego Latino.

And this is basically one of those absurd reality shows where they stick a

of hot people with zero self -awareness on an island and then roll the cameras.

It's pretty entertaining and a great way to get familiar with Spanish slang and

everyday language.

Speaking skills.

What's the best way to improve your Spanish speaking skills?

Practice. There are no shortcuts, but there are a handful of ways to get

started. Method one, chatting with AI.

If you haven't yet practiced speaking Spanish with ChatGPT, it's worth a try.

Download the free app, use the voice -to -text feature, and simply start making

conversations. This is a good way to get comfortable making small talk, and you

can also ask the system to point out and correct your mistakes.

Method two, video chatting.

A much more effective and enjoyable way to boost your language skills is by

hiring a private tutor through an online platform like Preply. And if you do a

language exchange with someone who's learning English, it's totally free. And

finally, method three, in -person meetups. If you live in the U .S. or a

European city, it's very easy to find in -person Spanish conversation groups.

You can use a free site like meetup .com to search for a gathering in your area,

and then all you have to do is show up and join the conversation.

Reading skills.

Learning to read comfortably in Spanish will help you develop a true mastery of

the language, and it's a great way to complement your listening practice.

If you're at the low intermediate level, I would recommend downloading this free

e -book. It's a collection of children's stories that you're probably familiar

with, and if you happen to have a Kindle, you can tap on any words you

know to get an instant definition.

Beyond that, you can also check out Paco Agde's excellent graded readers.

These are short Spanish novels that are specifically tailored to learners of a

given level, from A1 all the way up to C2.

So you can get on that proficiency ladder and just keep climbing.

And there you have it. Everything you need to learn Spanish efficiently and

enjoyably. If you have any questions or comments, please let me know. And as

always, thanks for watching.