Resources

 

Spanish-speaking people

Strike up a conversation!  Don’t be shy!

 

 Dictionaries

A dictionary is a great investment for your study of Spanish. Pick one that suits you.  Consider:

             Size: A pocket or small dictionary, such as VOX Compact Spanish and English Dictionary or Webster’s Spanish English Dictionary for Students, can be carried around easily and will have most of the words needed by beginners.  However, as you get more advanced you will want a bigger dictionary that has more words and more nuanced definitions, such as Harper Collins Spanish College Dictionary.

         Format:  Can you easily read the font?  Is it user-friendly, i.e. does the format (bold type, color-codes) allow your eye to easily separate word entries and expressions using the word?  Does it give examples?

         Practicality:  Since Spanish varies from region to region, a good dictionary will include regional words, phrases and colloquialisms. You may also want a dictionary that gives examples of how to use a word.

More on dictionaries

 

Picture Dictionaries   

A Picture Dictionary is also helpful.  A basic one is the Oxford Picture Dictionary.  This is great for beginners. There are more detailed ones such as Merriam-Webster Spanish-English Visual Dictionary  for higher levels.

More on picture dictionaries

 

Online Dictionaries and Apps:

        Google Translate       https://translate.google.com

        SpanishDict                http://www.spanishdict.com/

        Word Reference       http://www.wordreference.com

more on online dictionaries and apps

 

Free online programs and apps for study Spanish : (Some only offer the beginning lessons free and thereafter you can pay.)

Nowadays, there are amazing resources for practicing Spanish online:  Here are just a few:

Duo Lingo       https://www.duolingo.com – match pictures with phrases; translate in both directions

Mind Snacks   https://www.mindsnacks.com – learn vocabulary through games

L Lingo           http://www.l-lingo.com – match pictures with oral and written phrases

Mango             http://www.mangolanguages.com   – your library may offer this online language course free

 

Software and CD’s

Rosetta Stone  http://www.rosettastone.com/

Pimsleur          http://www.pimsleur.com

Drive and Learn Spanish       Drive and Learn Spanish  –  Uses catchy tunes and rhythms to teach vocabulary and useful expressions (audio CD)

 

Videos for learning Spanish:

Yabla              https://spanish.yabla.com  – for a monthly fee you can watch hundreds of videos with Spanish and English subtitles to help you along; some free videos

Destinos     http://www.learner.org/series/destinos  – learn Spanish as you watch this telenovela and do exercises

Mi Vida Loca – http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/spanish/mividaloca  – fun, interactive story to learn Spanish

 

Radio and TV

These local radio stations (North New Jersey/NYC) and channels are also online and have interesting content!

Radio –  93.1 FM (WPAT)      96.3 FM (WXNY)       97.9 FM  (WSKQ)       1280 AM (WADO)

Television – Univision       http://www.univision.com

Discovery en Español      http://www.tudiscovery.com

Websites:

basic vocabulary http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primarylanguages/spanish

General: links to many sites – http://www.aprenderespanol.org

Veinte Mundos    http://www.veintemundos.com/en   –  online Spanish magazine, 3 levels, hover over a word and it will translate for you

OR just put in a search for key words like “ejercicios” (exercises) “videos de cocinar” (cooking); “dibujar” (drawing) and see what comes up.