Explore the resources below to learn about strategies for reading, listening, writing, and speaking in Spanish. There are also practice activities and links to Spanish-language TV shows, social media channels, and radio stations.

Additional Strategies for Developing Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing Skills

Reading Strategies in Spanish

• Use clues like the title, author, pictures, and genre to understand the topic.

• Skim the text first looking for just the general main ideas. What is the purpose? Who is the audience?

• Use cognates, which are words that are the same in Spanish and English, to make meaning of the text.

• Scan and re-read the text for specific details and ideas.

• Annotate, or take notes in the margins of the text as you read.

• Translate or use AI to simplify the text when you get stuck or don’t understand.

• Look up background information, definitions, and concepts about the topic to build your knowledge.

• Analyze the text by breaking it into parts and identifying each part of its organization.

• Evaluate, or critique, the message and effectiveness of the text.

• Reflect on the text and make a list of new ideas, words, and thoughts you learned from it. 

Listening Strategies in Spanish

• Listen and watch 1-2 times in Spanish without subtitles. Try to understand main ideas and listen for repeated words and phrases that you know. You’ll be surprised at what you can understand without needing translation.

• Look for visual clues, body language, and on-screen text that can help you understand the situation and meanings of words and phrases. Context clues like these can help you understand even when you don’t know the meanings of all the words and phrases people are saying.

• Try to “think” in Spanish. You don’t have to translate everything in your head from Spanish to your first language in order to understand. It’s okay to use translation a lot at first, especially when some of the words are tricky. But little by little, you will get better at understanding without needing too much translation.

• Turn on Spanish subtitles and watch the video another 1-2 times. On Youtube videos, you can do this by clicking the CC. You can then pause the video to read what people are saying, take notes, and make lists of new words and vocabulary.

• If possible, turn on the subtitle translations to your first language and watch the video another 1-2 times. This can help you clarify your understanding and make connections between the languages. To do this on Youtube videos, click on the settings icon. Then, click auto-translate and select your first language, such as English.

• Use Google Translate and Wordreference.com as tools when needed. These resources are great for making vocabulary lists, double-checking your understanding, and clarifying the meanings of words and phrases.

• Reflect on what works for you as a learner. Think about these strategies and your own way of learning new things by listening and watching videos. What works best for you?

Speaking Strategies in Spanish

• Know that it is perfectly normal to be anxious and nervous about speaking a new language. It’s okay if you have a “silent period” in which you don’t speak the language while learning it.

• Try to relax and embrace the awkwardness of making mistakes, mispronunciations, and misunderstandings.

• Listen closely to Spanish conversations in person and in videos, TV shows, and movies. Pay attention to the interactions, body language, and phrases people commonly use. 

• Make a list of vocabulary words, greetings, and expressions related to topics you like to talk about.

• Practice speaking with real people as much as possible. Put yourself out of your comfort zone and meet Spanish speakers in your community.

• Keep it simple at first. Use short words and phrases that you know before trying out longer, complex sentences. It’s okay to mix the languages and use Spanglish, too.

• Use online translator tools to help you with pronunciation and the sounds of the language. Many translators include an audio button to let you hear the words and sentences you are translating.

• Imagine yourself speaking in Spanish conversations before you have them. You can even prepare dialogues and scripts for what you think you will say and what others would say to you.

• Use AI tools to practice written conversations. You can ask an AI bot to be your Spanish tutor and converse with you on a variety of topics.

• Have fun, be silly, and play with the language through games, rhymes, and songs. Don’t be shy about entering your “childlike mind” and learn like a kid.

Writing Strategies in Spanish

• Read like a writer in Spanish. One of the best ways to improve your writing is to read in Spanish.

• Use a writing process in which you plan, write a rough draft, get feedback on your writing, revise your draft, and edit it with final touches.

• Use the words you know and keep your messages simple at first.

• Avoid translating entire paragraphs from English to Spanish. Translate short phrases or sentences at a time. Use technology and AI tools to translate, revise, and proofread your writing. You can ask AI bots to explain the mechanics and writing norms of the language too.

• Keep a journal in Spanish and practice writing every day.

Spanish Language Videos, TV Shows, Social Media, Movies, and Radio Stations

Explore Spanish language videos by searching for them on Youtube, social media, Hulu, Netflix, and other streaming services. Try changing your TV settings to Spanish. Watch your favorite shows in Spanish. You can watch the videos and click the links below to view some examples. Add any of these resources to your Spanish language toolkit for project 3.