I’ve recently started a project where I am learning Spanish (also reviewing my French and Irish, but that’s a bit of a tangent for this thread) using duolingo which is free, offers a variety of languages, and has worked for me. By “work” I mean makes it easy and convenient to do a least some study daily and I often find myself wanting to do more than the minimum to keep my “streak” going. I’m also starting to understand more snippets of Spanish on TV and also in overheard dialogue at work (we have a certain number of Spanish-speaking customers).
However, I know that learning a language is more than just using one software program.
So… I’d like some suggestions as to where to go for hearing more Spanish being spoken. I’m at a very basic level at present so, say, Spanish soap operas are more than I can handle at present. I’m thinking more Sesame Street at this point. In fact, I’ve looked into the Spanish version of that. But I’m open to more suggestions. On-line would be ideal. Also, very basic texts in Spanish. I’m sort of at the “Dick and Jane” level. Americans that learned to read before 1980 will know what I’m talking about, but for the rest of you “See Dick. See Dick run. See Spot. See Spot run. Spot is a dog”. OK, maybe a little more advanced but right now more practice and exposure is what I need, not necessarily thrilling adventure (although that would be a bonus). Especially hearing the language, my ears are still having some trouble deciphering audible Spanish.
OK, that’s the main point, read further if you’re interested or stop here if that’s enough.
I also have some workbooks and websites for things like learning more basic vocabulary, discussing grammar details further than Duolingo does, and drilling in things like verb conjugations. I just didn’t want anyone to think I was relying on just one website or one form of language input. I don’t have tons of time to spend on Spanish, nor hardly any money, but between what’s freely available and the fact that virtually every day I’m at work I hear some Spanish spoken, even if not directly to me, that I’ll be able to acquire some small skill at this. Maybe even more than that.
If someone can suggest such things for Irish, too, that would be wonderful but Irish being such a minority language I don’t expect there to be much on the internet. But I’d be happy to be wrong!
(French is not such an issue - I still understand written French very well, read French newspapers, and I’m currently re-reading Vingt Mille Lieues Sous les Mers: Tour du Monde Sous-marin and Saint Exupery’s works in the original. My French is rusty but still there. Spoken French is a bit more difficult but there is a LOT of French video/audio on the Internet and I know where to get it. It’s my ability to speak it and write it on my own that has gone to hell, and that’s a different problem.)
” “¡dátis decuestión!”*). But it’s also a big cultural reference, and being a comic strip it doesn’t tend to walls of text (well, except when Susanita starts talking about her future marriage plans… or when Mafalda starts analyzing politics… but uhm, well, usually not!)
If you happen to know what nationalities are common in your area, you may be able to find videos by adding the adjective or the country to the search.