#Spanish #Resources I have found a Subreddit, [r/SpanishLearning](https://old.reddit.com/r/SpanishLearning) that specifically deals with the topic of learning Spanish, and I believe it may be of some use in my case as I embark on my own Spanish learning journey. One of the top posts is from someone detailing all the things that they wished someone had told them about learning Spanish. They then went on to say that it is for those ranging from A2 to B1 on the language learning scale. It says that for those starting from zero, a foundation of basic grammar and vocabulary will need to be established first. Also that the post in question will most likely not be needed once past the B2 stage on the scale. The author of that Reddit post then went on to add a disclaimer, saying that some techniques and resources may not be right for some people, saying that everyone’s brain is different, so experimentation with different methods is encouraged. ## Core Vocabulary The author of that Reddit post says that learning Spanish vocabulary will be like eating your vegetables in that you’ll have to do it every day if possible. That is regardless of what level you are at. And that without a foundation of core vocabulary, listening practise is basically noise. They then went on to day that once the most frequent 800 to 1,000 words are learned, a majority of daily spoken language will be learned, and that movies and news will be unlocked at 5,000 words. And that regardless of the exact numbers, the building blocks will be needed as a foundation for learning through immersion. They then went on to talk about spaced repetition. Their personal opinion is that ANKI is the king of vocabulary memorization, and that 10 to 25 new vocab cards per day is the sweet spot for most people. They advised that cognates should be leveraged, citing that many people know more vocabulary than they think due to thousands of Spanish words are nearly identical to their English counterparts. Words such as *información*, *importante*, and *perfecto*. They cite it as a massive shortcut for vocab building, though they do warn of false friends, citing that *embarazada* does not mean “embarrassed.” They also mention that Duolingo should be avoided, citing that it is a dopamine casino that is designed to create the illusion of progress. > [!Note]- > It explains why I felt like I was gaining no progress on Duolingo despite a streak of 1,277 days. It is why I am actively looking for other ways to learn Spanish to counteract the fact Duolingo is a bit shit. ## Listening The author of the Reddit post said that once the base vocabulary is locked in, listening is the easiest skill for practicing passively and on the go, and that even 100 words is enough to start with beginner content. They give an example of 30 minutes in the car being 30 minutes of free listening practice, though in my case, it’s on the train instead. They mention that there is a ton of free content out there, but time will need to be spent finding content that is in your Goldilocks level of understanding (i.e. your level of comprehensible input), and that is actually interesting so you pay attention. Furthermore, they mention the following sources: - Podcasts - Coffee Break Spanish - A2 to B1, structured lessons. - How to Spanish - A2 to B1, practical phrases. - Español con Juan - A2 to B1, stories from Spain. - No Hay Tos - B1 to B2, Mexican slang and culture. - Radio Ambulante - B2 onwards, NPR storytelling in Latin America. - YouTube - Easy Spanish - A1 to B1, street interviews, natural conversations. - Spring Spanish - A1 to B2, bite-sized lessons. - Qroo Paul - A1 to B1, practical vocabulary, real-world phrases, expatriate perspective. - Dreaming Spanish - A1 to C2, levels labelled and colour-coded. - Why Not Spanish? - B1 to B2, pronunciation and grammar. - Shows and Movies - Telenovelas and Drama Series - Yo soy Betty, la fea - Columbian workplace telenovela. - Rebelde - Mexican teen drama. - Reality TV - Love is Blind - Spain and Mexico. - MasterChef Latino - Exatlon - Sports competitions. - Streaming Services - *La Casa de Papel* (Money Heist) - Narcos - *Club de Cuervos* - *El Ministerio del Tiempo* (The Ministry of Time) The author of the Reddit post has mentioned that some people have strong opinions on English vs. Spanish vs. no subtitles; before then saying to do whatever suits you. They mention that the key is to get your ears used to the sounds instead of trying to translate or look up every single world you don’t know. ### Speaking The Reddit author says that this is the biggest struggle and also the most anxiety-inducing. They give advice saying to speak early and often, before you feel ready. They say to try talking to yourself, or to your cat, or to anyone willing to entertain your attempt to train your mind and your mouth to move in new ways. Likewise, they also say that you shouldn’t sleep on the fact that speaking is the gateway to a more comprehensible input. Not only that, but they say phrases like “*¿Cómo se dice…?*” and “*¿Qué significa eso…?*” are powerful tools in the toolbox. That learning to speak in chunks instead of individual words will help out a lot with the *stop translating in your head* issue without boring you too much on the concept of a lexical item. The author says that native speakers comprehend words in 2 to 4+ chunks of words that when combined form a natural phrase, fixed expression, or an idiom with a unique meaning. And that the sooner you stop thinking in individual words and use the bigger chunks, the sooner you begin to speak automatically without translating. The author then goes on to say that filler words and transitions are an often overlooked area of focus and can be described as the glue that ties sentences together, and that knowing even a handful of words such as “*o sea*”, “*vale*”, and “*pues*” goes a long way into maintaining a rhythm and making you sound more like a native speaker. The author then goes on to say that if you are tired of speaking to yourself and need a sparring partner, they recommend tools like ChatGPT and Boraspeak. While they say that the two services are great daily drivers for speaking practice, I would have to do more research into their uses as language tools if I am to be convinced that they could actually live up to the task. The last thing I would want is either of them to hallucinate some bullshit. The author then goes on to say that the shadowing technique should be used for pronunciation practice, and it is where you listen to a native speaker for 10 to 15 minutes at a time and repeat their sentences. They author does say that there is a gold standard for learning languages would be in the form of a tutor or through taking a class. The author on Reddit says that they have experienced decent results learning Spanish through Italki, though cites that the gold standard is expensive and it can take a while to find one that is the right fit for you. Coincidentally, my boss is learning a language – but he is learning Korean from a Korean woman living in Ciudad de Mexico. I showed him the Korean-language Wikipedia front page, and he did seem to grasp some of it, which is itself impressive. Another good method the author suggests is finding a study buddy that is of a similar or higher level to yourself as it would be a game changer, due to studying together, sharing notes, and keeping one another accountable. However, finding one of them would be by chance, like the roll of a d20. ### Reading The author says that reading is the most boring skill for them, saying they prefer to listen and read at the same time with subtitles. However, they also say other people swear by it. It personally makes me think that Spanish-language fanfiction could work as a method somewhere down the line. I know other people have used fanfiction to learn English, so I see no reason why it should not work for learning Spanish. The author recommends that for this, starting with a book you already read in English and liked is a good start. They cited the following. - El Principito - B1. Only 3000 unique words. - La Casa en Mango Street - B1. Sandra Cisneros. Accessible. - Cuando Brillan Las Estrellas - A2 to B1. Graphic novel. Very approachable. - Persepolis - B1. Graphic novel. - BBC Mundo - A2 to B1. Easier Spanish. International news. - [20minutos.es](https://20minutos.es) - B1 to B2. Spain. Short articles. - El País - B2. Spain. More advanced. ### Writing The author recommended writing in the form of a daily journal entry. They say they personally love this method as it helps thought structuring, and aids in learning high frequency vocabulary that you’d actually use to express yourself and get ready for speaking; and that it is also cool to go back and see progress over extended periods of time. They cite a Subreddit too – [r/WriteStreakES](https://old.reddit.com/r/WriteStreakES) – for daily practice and corrections.