{"id":411,"date":"2019-09-18T10:05:21","date_gmt":"2019-09-18T10:05:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aubrieamstutz.com\/?p=411"},"modified":"2019-09-18T10:05:21","modified_gmt":"2019-09-18T10:05:21","slug":"the-best-way-to-learn-spanish-at-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aubrieamstutz.com\/index.php\/2019\/09\/18\/the-best-way-to-learn-spanish-at-home\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Way to Learn Spanish at Home"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

*This post was published on the Lingvist Blog.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Change the Language of your tecnolog\u00eda<\/em><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Beginner: Email Account and Phone Keyboard<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A great first step is to change the language of your email account, a specific mobile app like Facebook, or your profile on another website that you use often. Another might be to change the language of something you use frequently enough to be familiar with the layout and buttons, which allows you to get extra exposure to Spanish vocabulary in a situation that was previously automatic anyway. Of course, you can also build up your Spanish vocabulary quickly by using (Lingvist\u2019s Spanish course)[https:\/\/lingvist.com\/course\/learn-spanish-online\/<\/a>] online!
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

You can also download the Spanish keyboard so that you can start writing to-do lists or reminders in Spanish. To use accented letters, simply hold down the letter on any keyboard to choose the accented version. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Intermediate: Voice Assistant<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Practice interacting with your phone\u2019s voice assistant (Siri, Google Assistant, etc.) in Spanish! Ask your assistant to \u201cEncontrar un restaurante cerca de mi<\/em>\u201d <\/em>or \u201cTocar una canci\u00f3n de Enrique Iglesias<\/em>\u201d <\/em>and incorporate some pronunciation practice into your day. Don\u2019t worry if the speech recognition doesn\u2019t always work; the important thing is that you\u2019re practicing speaking the language out loud and becoming more comfortable with conjugating verbs in the imperativo <\/em>(imperative) form, which is what you use when you want to tell someone to do something. 
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advanced: Phone or Computer Language Settings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Chances are you\u2019re familiar enough with your phone or computer operating system layout that you rarely read the labels on the buttons you click anyway. By switching the language settings you can get exposure to new vocabulary and incorporate Spanish practice into your daily life. Of course, use discretion when employing this technique. Changing the language of your entire phone or computer may cause some issues if you\u2019re not an advanced speaker of Spanish. 
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you happen to use a VPN (virtual private network), you can even change the country that your internet traffic is routed through to see your usual daily websites in Spanish or explore new websites and search results from a Spanish-speaking country of your choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cook in Spanish<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Try either to purchase a cookbook in Spanish or find a website that provides recipes in Spanish. Though it may take a little longer to cook your favorite dishes, performing tactile actions such as cooking and having (kinesthetic experiences) [http:\/\/arno.uvt.nl\/show.cgi?fid=130886] such as handling ingredients has been proven to increase learning engagement and promote retention.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can even make your shopping list in Spanish to quiz yourself while at the store. Creating situations such as this that require you to remember the language to complete a task will not only increase motivation, but ensure you are actively incorporating vocabulary into your memory, as it\u2019s tied to an experience. You may even discover a new favorite dish from a Spanish-speaking country! 
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Get started with these: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Cocina Cubana<\/a> (Cuban Kitchen) cookbook on Amazon<\/li>
  2. Algunas Recetas Famosas de la Gastronom\u00eda Espa\u00f1ola<\/a> (Some Famous Recipes of Spanish Gastronomy)<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Spanish Media Online<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

    Podcasts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The beauty of Spanish podcasts is that they are available for all different levels of Spanish and allow you to incorporate Spanish comprehension practice into your daily routine. Explore (our list) [OUR LINK] of podcasts to find one suitable to your level and interest!
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    News<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    See current events from a new perspective by reading the news online:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. (El Pa\u00eds) [https:\/\/elpais.com\/<\/a>] : Daily newspaper in Spain<\/li>
    2. (BBC Mundo) [https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/mundo<\/a>] <\/li>
    3. (Clar\u00edn (Argentina)) [https:\/\/www.clarin.com\/<\/a>] : Daily newspaper in Argentina<\/li>
    4. (Veinte Mundos) [https:\/\/www.veintemundos.com\/en\/library\/<\/a>] : for Spanish learners<\/li>
    5. (Project Syndicate) [https:\/\/www.project-syndicate.org\/archive?language=spanish<\/a>] : provides articles in multiple languages for parallel reading<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      You can also try listening to the news in Spanish while cooking or at the gym with the News in Slow feature of the (Lingvist app)[https:\/\/lingvist.com\/course\/learn-spanish-online\/<\/a>] or via an online Spanish radio station such as those on (iHeartRadio)[https:\/\/www.iheart.com\/live\/country\/US\/?genreId=14<\/a>]. 
      <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Social Media<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      Social media provides a rare opportunity to see native speakers\u2019 usage of slang, abbreviations, and idioms firsthand! Check out Twitter accounts for famous Spanish speakers, sports teams, or news outlets, the Instagram accounts of Spanish-speaking influencers, or subreddits in or about Spanish, and make your social media browsing feel s\u00faper productivo<\/em>!
      <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Twitter<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      1. (@CNNEE)[https:\/\/twitter.com\/CNNEE] (CNN in Spanish) or (@BBCMundo)[https:\/\/twitter.com\/bbcmundo] (BBC in Spanish)<\/li>
      2. (@muyinteresante) [twitter.com\/muyinteresante] : interesting facts and news<\/li>
      3. (@elOrdenMundial) [ https:\/\/twitter.com\/elOrdenMundial<\/a>] : articles about news, politics, history, economics, and more<\/li>
      4. (@perezreverte) [https:\/\/twitter.com\/perezreverte<\/a>] : famous Spanish writer Arturo P\u00e9rez-Reverte<\/li>
      5. (@Deboconfesarque) [https:\/\/twitter.com\/DeboConfesarQue<\/a>] : random videos, memes, and safe for work content<\/li>
      6. (@TirasdeHumor) [https:\/\/twitter.com\/TirasdeHumor] : popular internet comic Cyanide and Happiness translated into Spanish<\/li>
      7. (@realmadrid) [http:\/\/www.twitter.com\/realmadrid<\/a>] or (@FCBarcelona) [http:\/\/www.twitter.com\/FCBarcelona<\/a>] : the top two (most popular Twitter accounts) [https:\/\/www.socialbakers.com\/statistics\/twitter\/profiles\/spain\/] in Spain <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        Instagram<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        1. (gracyvillarreal) [https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/gracyvillarreal\/?hl=en<\/a>] : Grace Villareal is one of the top Spanish language influencers, with 525k+ followers<\/li>
        2. (realporta) [https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/realporta\/<\/a>] : Rapper Porta from Barcelona<\/li>
        3. (leomessi) [https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/leomessi\/<\/a>] Famous Argentinian f\u00fatbol <\/em>player currently playing for Barcelona<\/li>
        4. (erealouro) [https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/erealouro\/] : Fashion blogger from Madrid<\/li>
        5. (eliandeli_) [https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/eliandeli_\/<\/a>] : Fashion and lifestyle bloggers and best friends both named Eli<\/li>
        6. (styleinmadrid) [https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/styleinmadrid\/<\/a>] : Self-described \u201cCivil Engineer and Fashionista\u201d<\/li>
        7. (dulceida) [https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/dulceida\/<\/a>] : Aida\u2019s blog recently won \u201cBest Style Fashion Blog\u201d at Berlin Fashion Week<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

          (List of Spanish language learning accounts)[https:\/\/medium.com\/@oh_yeah_sarah\/5-instagram-accounts-to-follow-if-youre-learning-spanish-3bbd13427af3<\/a>]
          <\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Reddit<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          1. (\/r\/Spanish) [https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/Spanish<\/a>] : subreddit for all things related to learning Spanish, with 57,000 users subscribed<\/li>
          2. ( \/r\/mexico, \/r\/argentina, \/r\/chile, \/r\/uruguay, \/r\/colombia, \/r\/vzla, \/r\/spain and \/r\/es) : subscribe to country-specific subreddits to see travel suggestions and cultural discussion  (sometimes) in Spanish<\/li>
          3. (\/r\/MusicaEnEspanol) [https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/MusicaEnEspanol<\/a>] : great source for new music in Spanish<\/li>
          4. (\/r\/HAQ) [https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/HAQ<\/a>] : Spanish language equivalent of TIL (today I learned)<\/li>
          5. (\/r\/chistes) [https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/chistes<\/a>] : Spanish language jokes<\/li>
          6. (\/r\/latinopeopletwitter) [https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/latinopeopletwitter] : jokes and memes about Latin American culture \u2013 native speakers sometimes explain jokes for those that don\u2019t understand<\/li>
          7. (\/r\/yo_elvr) [https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/yo_elvr<\/a>] : dark existential humor for fans of r\/me_irl<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

            Spanish Language Music<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

            Remember using catchy tunes to help you memorize a list of capitals, the alphabet, or the order of the planets? (Research) [https:\/\/blogs.unimelb.edu.au\/sciencecommunication\/2017\/10\/20\/want-to-remember-something-better-put-it-in-a-song\/] shows that music allows us to \u201cchunk\u201d incoming information into memorable bits and commit them to memory more easily. Listening to music in Spanish is great for auditory learners, as it attaches words to a rhythm and helps guide pronunciation. 
            <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            1. (Spotify playlist) [https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/playlist\/0hZlif7uDeuDQpJr5cyXXN<\/a>]<\/li>
            2. (Youtube: Best Latin Music Playlist 2018) [https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=HJ7WIko9fSs]<\/li>
            3.  (Apple Music: Essential Spanish Playlist) [https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/album\/essential-spanish-playlist\/624481568<\/a>]<\/li>
            4. (Spanish radio stations online) [https:\/\/tunein.com\/radio\/Spanish-Music-c57945\/<\/a>]<\/li>
            5. (More popular Spanish radio stations online) [https:\/\/www.radio.net\/language\/spanish]<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

              Movies in Spanish<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

              Subtitles or not, watching movies in Spanish is a fantastic way to immerse yourself in the sounds of the Spanish language, learn vocabulary from different countries pronounced with different accents, and get authentic exposure to the cultures of Spanish-speaking countries. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

              1. (Roma) [https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Roma_(2018_film)<\/a>] : This Netflix film broke all kinds of records at the 2019 Academy Awards, including first foreign language film to win Best Director (Alfonso Cuar\u00f3n).<\/li>
              2. (Biutiful) [https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Biutiful<\/a>] : The first film to be nominated for Best Actor (Javier Bardem) entirely in a foreign language.<\/li>
              3. (The Motorcycle Diaries) [https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Motorcycle_Diaries_(film)<\/a>] : Biopic about the memoir of 23-year-old Che Guevara (before he was called Che).<\/li>
              4. (Pan\u2019s Labyrinth) [https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pan%27s_Labyrinth<\/a>] : Dark fantasy drama\/horror film by Guillermo del Toro. <\/li>
              5. (Volver) [https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Volver<\/a>] :  Pen\u00e9lope Cruz plays a working-class mother south of Madrid, Spain.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                Check out (this list) [http:\/\/www.tasteofcinema.com\/2016\/the-30-best-spanish-language-movies-of-all-time\/] that ranks the top 30 Spanish language films ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                Read Your Favorite Book in Spanish<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

                Do you have a favorite book that you basically know by heart? Use that familiarity to help you read the Spanish translation. Of course, this works best for simpler \/ young adult books such as Harry Potter<\/em> or The Little Prince<\/em>. Fans of Harry Potter will enjoy seeing the translations of names (spoiler: Mad-Eye gets the literal translation of Ojoloco<\/em> and Norbert the dragon becomes Norberto<\/em>). Goodreads also has a list of books<\/a> created by its users that are appropriate for intermediate Spanish learners. 
                <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                Educaci\u00f3n F\u00edsica<\/em> <\/h1>\n\n\n\n
                \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

                Workout classes such as yoga or aerobics are an easy way to learn body vocabulary and get familiar with the imperativo<\/em> form of a verb. Plus, pairing related physical activity with vocabulary is great for memorization. The (Total Physical Response (TPR))[https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Total_physical_response] language teaching method is based on just that! 
                <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                Watching exercise videos at home allows you to watch the video closely to understand the movement and pause if necessary to ensure you\u2019re doing the correct movement. (This video)[https:\/\/youtu.be\/QUGyA0gvKEU<\/a>] goes over some of the most basic vocabulary in English and Spanish. 
                <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                This method is especially enticing if you\u2019ve become bored with your workout! Listening to the instructor in Spanish makes exercising more engaging and helps distract you from the more unpleasant parts. Try counting along with the instructor during repetitions to make Spanish numbers feel second nature. 
                <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                1. (Rutina Ejercicios Para Tonificar El Cuerpo) [https:\/\/youtu.be\/diFjQVUL7wk<\/a>]<\/li>
                2. (Pilates per Principiantes) [https:\/\/youtu.be\/kWEp5hy2mkU<\/a>]<\/li>
                3. (Cardio para Bajar Abdomen y Perder Peso) [https:\/\/youtu.be\/fni3wNOnxJo<\/a>]<\/li>
                4. (Clase completa de yoga din\u00e1mico para principiantes en espa\u00f1ol) [https:\/\/youtu.be\/J4KXxebtC2Y<\/a>]<\/li>
                5. (Introducci\u00f3n al Tai Chi. Gu\u00eda para Principiantes Completo) [https:\/\/youtu.be\/l9D6Jb2nFrQ]<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                  Label Items in Your Home<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

                  When just starting out with a language, labeling everyday items can help the words stick in your memory. Once you\u2019ve got the words for cupboard, window, and stapler down, try adding their appropriate verbs! For example: Encender la luz <\/em>on light switches, Lavar los platos <\/em>over the sink, or \u00a1Beber m\u00e1s agua!<\/em> on the water filter. To take it a step further, you can include full conjugation charts in places where you spend a few minutes each day to practice, such as in the bathroom where you brush your teeth or over the sink where you wash dishes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  Organize Spanish Language Exchanges or Meet-Ups<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
                  \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

                  If you\u2019re lucky enough to have native Spanish speakers in your community, you may be able to find someone who wants to improve their English and set up a regular language exchange (called intercambios<\/em> in Spain). Spend half of your time speaking in English and the other half speaking in Spanish: win-win!
                  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  Spanish is one of the most commonly studied languages in the world, so even if there aren\u2019t native speakers nearby, you probably live near other Spanish learners. Try websites such as Meetup.com, Facebook, or Craigslist. You can also put up flyers in your area to organize a Spanish conversation club. If you live near a university or community college, try contacting the Spanish department to see if one already exists. Conversation clubs are usually open to new members, even if you\u2019re not affiliated with the institution. 
                  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  Explore Spanish-Speaking Communities<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

                  If you live somewhere like the southwestern states of the United States, you can visit nearby communities to see Spanish being used in authentic contexts, such as on menus, signage, and storefronts. You could even try organizing other Spanish learners from conversation clubs to complete a photo scavenger hunt. For example, teams could explore communities to complete a list of objectives, such as photographing Spanish words of certain lengths, ordering in Spanish at a restaurant (You may want to let the staff know your aim is to practice Spanish first), or giving directions to teammates in Spanish to a certain location. Depending on where you plan to use your Spanish the most, Lingvist\u2019s online Spanish course allows you to select either Neutral or American Spanish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  Talk to Yourself<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
                  \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

                  Have you ever caught yourself having an imaginary conversation with a person in your life, or sometimes even an invented character? Don\u2019t worry, (everyone else is doing it, too)[https:\/\/www.theatlantic.com\/science\/archive\/2016\/11\/figuring-out-how-and-why-we-talk-to-ourselves\/508487\/<\/a>]. Some child psychologists and (language learning researchers) [http:\/\/www.academypublication.com\/ojs\/index.php\/tpls\/article\/viewFile\/tpls0503478484\/125<\/a>] have even found increased language development associated with high levels of \u201cprivate\/inner speech.\u201d Imaginary conversations in Spanish allow you to edit and perfect your responses while utilizing target vocabulary or sentence structures that you\u2019re working on. 
                  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  The next time you\u2019re out for a walk, imagine the routine conversations you hear in their Spanish form. Draw inspiration from around you and get creative with the roleplay! For example, if you see that a shopkeeper has provided a bowl or cup of water for someone\u2019s thirsty dog, think of how you would make this specific request if you were the dog\u2019s owner. Think of how you would respond if the shopkeeper asked about your dog\u2019s age or breed. How would you ask if dogs are allowed inside so that you could order a coffee?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                  *This post was published on the Lingvist Blog. Change the Language of your tecnolog\u00eda Beginner: Email Account and Phone Keyboard A great first step is to change the language of your email account, a specific mobile app like Facebook, or your profile on another website that you use often. Another might be to change the language […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":413,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-411","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-language-learning"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aubrieamstutz.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/411","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aubrieamstutz.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aubrieamstutz.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aubrieamstutz.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aubrieamstutz.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=411"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/aubrieamstutz.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/411\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aubrieamstutz.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aubrieamstutz.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=411"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aubrieamstutz.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=411"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aubrieamstutz.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=411"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}