Wednesday, March 10, 2010

ONLINE SPANISH FORUMS

Web Address
Description

Rating

A thriving community of Spanish learners and native speakers alike with a range of different discussions available. Brilliant for practicing your Spanish and for finding links to useful resources.

Excellent

Another busy community of Spanish learners and native speakers. Some discussion topics are exclusively about Spain, whilst others refer to Spanish learning in general.

Excellent

This forum has a great range of discussion topics and a healthy amount of posts per day. Excellent for learning new vocabulary and getting answers to your questions.

Excellent

With only a few posts a month, this forum is not particularly active, but has a range of different topics to choose from.

Average

This is a small forum with only a few discussion threads, but is still a handy place to post questions and comments.

Average

This website has a range of forums, one a Students Forum. It’s an active discussion group, but applies to all subjects, not just Spanish, meaning that you will have to hunt around for Spanish-relevant topics.

Average

This is another general learning website, so again, you will have to hunt around for Spanish-relevant topics. It is not the most active forum available.

Average

 

INVALUABLE ONLINE SPANISH LEARNING RESOURCES

Web Address
Contents
Spanish Level
Origin of Spanish

Rating

Park Ridge

Online Spanish resource links

N/A (English)

N/A (English)

A great set of grammar, vocabulary and general Spanish practice links. go.hrw.com is especially good (see below).

Proyecto Sherezade

A collection of free, short Spanish stories from all over the world

Advanced

Spain, Latin America

A great resource for advanced learners who want to branch out and experience some first-hand Spanish texts

About Spanish Language

Free Spanish grammar lessons, pronunciation tutorials, vocabulary lists and other resources

Comprehensive: Basic – Advanced

Spain, Latin America

A comprehensive set of well-explained grammar lessons, as well as many other interesting and original articles, such as a comparison between the sizes of English and Spanish vocabularies and a study of the Arabic influence upon the Spanish language. Follow the links on the left hand side of the page.

Colby Liberal Arts College in Waterville, Maine

Free Spanish study modules and grammar exercises

Comprehensive: Basic - Advanced

Grammar is from Spain

Study modules are from Spain and Latin America

Well-presented, comprehensive and interesting grammar exercises. Varied and thought-provoking study modules from several Spanish-speaking countries. A key resource.

Bowdoin College

Free Spanish grammar explanations and exercises, a guide to Spanish writing-style, articles and comprehensions

Comprehensive: Basic - Advanced

Spain, Latin America

Clear and comprehensive Spanish grammar modules ranging from basic to advanced level. Inspiring articles and comprehensions about Latin America (advanced level). A great website.

BBC Languages

Free Spanish grammar explanations, exercises and vocabulary lists. Other resources include a Spanish audio magazine, Spanish slang guide, music, lyrics and Spanish GCSE Bitesize, AS and A2 material

Grammar Explanations and Vocabulary Lists: Basic – Intermediate

Other Resources: Intermediate – Advanced

GCSE, AS, A2 Material: Intermediate – Advanced

Grammar is from Spain

Other resources are from Spain and Latin America

Clear grammar explanations with audio facilities. The Spanish audio magazine contains stimulating articles and reports. Well-presented and fun materials for UK national curricula Spanish courses. A broad-ranging and contemporary Spanish learning website.

Learn Spanish

Spanish pronunciation help, vocabulary lists, grammar tutorials and exercises. Other Spanish learning resources include cultural articles and comprehensions, an online translator and a Spanish idiom generator

Comprehensive: Basic - Advanced

Spain, Latin America

Free, clear and comprehensive grammar explanations, including a random Spanish verb test generator; an invaluable grammar practice resource. A diverse range of interesting cultural articles. Also the option of purchasing additional ‘premium services’.

 

GOOD ONLINE SPANISH LEARNING RESOURCES

Web Address
Contents
Spanish Level
Origin of Spanish

Rating

WebSpanish

One-to-one, online, live Spanish lessons

Comprehensive: Basic – Advanced

Spain, Latin America

A contemporary, effective and convenient method of Spanish study with the option of choosing your own personal schedule. A professional and user-friendly interface.

Rocket Languages

Online Spanish learning program

Comprehensive: Basic – Advanced

Spain, Latin America

If the real program is anything like the free starter pack, then it’s well-designed, clear and thorough, including plenty of audio, as well as written lessons.

Loquella

Spoken Spanish language drills

Comprehensive: Basic – Advanced

Spain, Latin America

A wide variety of listening materials, including samples from specific dialects. Great for listening practice and vocabulary learning.

Trinity University

Free online Spanish grammar explanations and exercises

Comprehensive: Basic – Advanced

Spain

Good for those who want to get to grips with the intricacies of Spanish grammar. Comprehensive topics ranging from the basics to more advanced rules

Enchanted Learning

Free, short Spanish books, quizzes and general vocabulary

Basic – Intermediate

Spain

The lay-out of the page is terrible but the quizzes themselves are great for Spanish vocabulary learning and practice

Spanish Romance

Lists of free Spanish vocabulary, phrases, proverbs, stories, poems, lyrics, names and more

Comprehensive: Basic – Advanced

Spain

A rather random collection, but good for ‘dipping-in to’ as an extension to, or break from, your regular Spanish program

Don Quijote

Free Spanish grammar lessons plus many additional resources including Spanish jokes, games, lyrics and media links

Comprehensive: Basic – Advanced

Spain, Latin America

Brief but helpful grammar lessons, useful links and interesting practice tools

E Learn Spanish Language

Online Spanish grammar exercises, vocabulary and audio lessons

Basic

Spain

A broad and well-explained free grammar section. Most of the online Spanish audio lessons have to be paid for, however, and they are the same as those offered by the US Institute of Languages spanish programs.com (see above).

Net Languages

Online Spanish lessons

Comprehensive: Basic – Advanced

Spain

This is a well-presented and seemingly professional site offering paid online Spanish classes. However, there is little sample material available on the website, so it is hard to ascertain the quality of the classes.

Spanicity

Free Spanish grammar lessons, vocabulary lists and a few audio lessons

Comprehensive: Basic – Advanced

Latin America

A wide range of grammar consolidation lessons and comprehensive vocabulary lists

Conjuguemos

Free Spanish verbs, vocabulary and grammar tests

Comprehensive: Basic – Advanced

Spain

A great way of practicing grammatical constructions and vocabulary

Vocabulix

Free Spanish grammar and vocabulary memory exercises

Comprehensive: Basic – Advanced

Spain

An effective method of testing how much vocabulary and grammar you have absorbed, although it can be frustrating when the online testing system does not recognize synonyms

Glencoe Online

Free Spanish worksheets, games, quizzes and general vocabulary practice

Basic – Intermediate

Spain, Latin America

The worksheets and quizzes are good for extra comprehension and vocabulary practice

Florida State University

Online Spanish resource links

N/A (English)

N/A (English)

An interesting selection of cultural links as well as learning resources

Spanish Resources

Online Spanish resource links

N/A (English)

N/A (English)

A useful and varied list of resources

Shambles

Online Spanish resource links

N/A (English)

N/A (English)

A comprehensive list of Spanish learning websites, including Spanish news, songs and literature

Spain and Portugal for Visitors

Online Spanish resource links

N/A (English)

N/A (English)

A short, but handy list of resource websites, including Spanish literature collections

Edvisors Education Directory

Online Spanish resource links

N/A (English)

N/A (English)

A list of very helpful Spanish learning and practice websites

Educared Perú

Spanish grammar and language links

N/A (English)

N/A (English)

A great set of links for getting to grips with tough grammar topics. In the event of a link not loading properly, simply visit the websites’ homepages and then access the specific links from there.

Wikipedia The Spanish Language

History, geographic distribution and variations of the Spanish language

N/A (English)

N/A (English, except for quoted Spanish words and phrases)

An interesting and comprehensive study of the origins as well as the modern-day developments of the Spanish language

Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, Virginia Tech

Spanish Media and culture links

Intermediate – Advanced

Spain, Latin America

A comprehensive list of useful and interesting links, great for listening and reading practice

Annenberg Media

Episodes of ‘Destinos’, a Spanish soap-opera

Comprehensive: Basic – Advanced

Spain, Latin America

The episodes begin with basic and end with advanced language, providing a fun and effective way to practice your Spanish listening skills

Hello World

Free Spanish grammar topics, vocabulary lists and a few online lessons

Basic – Intermediate

Spain

An interesting vocabulary section, including text message and football Spanish, a clear but rather limited grammar section and helpful lessons

Language Exchange Community

A data base of conversation partners from all over the world

Comprehensive: Basic – Advanced

Spain, Latin America

A fun and helpful Spanish practice resource

 

AVERAGE ONLINE SPANISH LEARNING RESOURCES

Web Address
Contents
Spanish Level
Origin of Spanish

Rating

Spanish grammar and vocabulary exercises

Basic

Latin America

A few helpful free exercises, though rather limited in range unless you purchase a course

Grammar exercises and vocabulary practice

Basic – Intermediate

Spain

Fun grammar and vocabulary consolidation exercises, but not without mistakes and some are a little confusing. You will need to register as “individual” if you don’t have a teacher to register with you. Registration emails seem to take a rather long time to arrive.

Online Spanish lessons

Comprehensive: Basic – Advanced

Spain, Latin America

A few fairly useful free online Spanish lessons but most come at a price

Spanish lessons via email

Basic – Intermediate

Spain, Latin America

You have to pay for the emails and sample material is scarce so it is hard to judge their quality

Free Spanish learning games

Basic

Spain, Latin America

A limited selection of very basic games aimed at children

Free Spanish comprehensions with audio facilities and lists of Spanish courses

Comprehensive: Basic – Advanced

Spain

Good for extra Spanish reading and practice, but otherwise rather limited

Data base of Spanish schools, online Spanish study programs, Spanish literature and other topics

N/A (English)

N/A (English)

A well organized list, but few practice resources available

4Teachers

List of Spanish vocabulary, grammar and language practice links

Comprehensive: Basic – Advanced

Spain, Latin America

A wide range of Spanish practice resources, although most of which are already listed in this document

International House Madrid S.A.

Free online Spanish grammar and vocabulary teaching resources

Comprehensive: Basic – Advanced

Spain

This is another site that is mainly aimed at Spanish teachers, but the grammar consolidation exercises are still useful

California State University

Online Spanish resource links

N/A (English)

N/A (English)

An average list of links to websites that offer Spanish learning and teaching resources

University of Northern Iowa

Links to learning resources and other topics of interest to Spanish students

N/A (English)

N/A (English)

A broad range of links, but some pages do not load properly

LearnPlus

Links to Spanish courses and other topics of interest to Spanish students

N/A (English)

N/A (English)

Good links, but the range is rather limited

Lingolex

Free Spanish vocabulary lists, grammar topics and additional resources

Comprehensive: Basic – Advanced

Spain

Useful vocabulary and clear introductions to tough grammar topics. Some pages don’t load properly and some duplicate their information.

Spanish Learn it Online

Free Spanish verb conjugator and tense practice

Basic – Intermediate

Spain, Latin America

Useful conjugation practice of a number of main Spanish verbs, but limited scope

Optimnem

History of the Spanish language, text excerpts, proverbs and punctuation notes

Basic –Intermediate

Spain

An informative but brief guide to the history of the Spanish language. Interesting proverbs and handy punctuation information. The text excerpts have faltering English translations, but are otherwise fairly helpful. Follow the links to the Spanish section from the homepage.

Spanish Pronto

Free Spanish vocabulary lists and reading practice

Intermediate – Advanced

Spain

Good vocabulary and reading articles, but only one article seems to be available at a time and the page is not updated very often

Department of Modern Languages, Ursinus College

Free online Spanish grammar exercises and a few vocabulary sections

Intermediate

Spain

Useful grammar exercises, especially pronouns, ‘por’ and ‘para’ and conjugations, but rather limited in scope. Vocabulary sections also slightly limited.

Instituto Cervantes

A collection of free interactive online Spanish practice materials

Comprehensive: Basic – Advanced

Spain

Good material, but rather limited in scope

Spanish Numbers

Free Spanish numbers, other vocabulary and verb practice

Comprehensive: Basic – Advanced

Latin America

Not particularly well-presented, but handy for extra verb and vocabulary practice

Teach-nology

Online lesson plans for learning/teaching Spanish

Basic

Spain, Latin America

A fairly broad range of Spanish lesson plans, some of which require varying levels of membership

Jennifer’s Language Page

Online Spanish resource links

N/A (English)

N/A (English)

Provides links to useful websites that offer Spanish learning resources or Spanish courses

LiveJournal

A forum for those who want to start learning a new language or perfect a language they have studied previously

Comprehensive: Basic – Advanced

Spain, Latin America

Great for conversation practice. Add an entry if you need help with or simply want to practice your Spanish

Jiffy Spanish Free lessons, vocabulary lists and grammar explanations Basic – Intermediate Spain, Latin America A helpful set of grammar explanations and vocabulary lists, but the lay-out and contents of the alphabet pronunciation guide are little confusing. The free lessons are clear and useful for consolidation, but progress too slowly to be used as a first-hand learning program.