learning spanish on youtube

Costs are rising and times are tough.
Please consider a donation to keep this
place going.

Welcome to one of the most active flamenco sites on the Internet. Guests can read most posts but if you want to participate click here to register.

This site is dedicated to the memory of Paco de Lucía, Ron Mitchell, Guy Williams, Linda Elvira, Philip John Lee, Craig Eros, Ben Woods, David Serva and Tom Blackshear who went ahead of us.

We receive 12,200 visitors a month from 200 countries and 1.7 million page impressions a year. To advertise on this site please contact us.

You are logged in as Guest

Users viewing this topic: none

Printable Version

All Forums >>Discussions >>Off Topic >>

Page: [1] 2 > >>

Message

<< Newer Topic Older Topic >>

spain

Posts: 49
Joined: Aug. 9 2017

learning spanish on youtube

do u know any good links? havent found any, either just spanish speaking videos, or lessons

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 5 2019 23:57:17

mrstwinkle

Posts: 551
Joined: May 14 2017

RE: learning spanish on youtube (in reply to spain)

I gave up on Youtube lessons other htan searches for specific topics. They're almost all bait to paid services. So now use Preply - can shop around Airbnb style for one to one online lessons at extremely good prices. Chap I have lessons with (Gaspar) is from Cadiz and really good.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 6 2019 11:44:45

flyeogh

Posts: 729
Joined: Oct. 13 2004

RE: learning spanish on youtube (in reply to spain)

Spain HTH. I think it is important.

Before looking for resources decide what you want to learn in the first instance and stick with it.

Decide on the type of Spanish. Mixing any of the many forms of Spanish just slows learning.
Decide if you want to learn academic Spanish, vertical subject Spanish, or general Spanish.
Decide if you want to focus on: talking/listening, reading/writing, both.

When you answer those questions then start to look for resources. I might have a few suggestions depending on what you want.

But wishing the very best. It really is as hard as learning to play advanced flamenco guitar if you are not 100% with Spanish speakers, or have an incredible natural talent for languages.

_____________________________

nigel (el raton de Watford - now Puerto de Santa Maria, Cadiz)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 6 2019 21:03:25

BarkellWH

Posts: 3458
Joined: Jul. 12 2009
From: Washington, DC

RE: learning spanish on youtube (in reply to flyeogh)

I would add a couple of comments to Nigel's excellent advice. First, I would go the whole route and learn both spoken and written Spanish. You will not only be able to speak and understand the language, but you will be able to read newspapers and magazines, and more importantly, begin to immerse yourself in Spanish literature.

I assume you want to learn Spanish as spoken in Spain. Don't discount Latin American Spanish, however. Some of the most beautiful (and classical) Spanish is spoken in Chile and Colombia, for example. Many in both countries still refer to the language as "Castellano."

Finally, do not be deceived by those who will tell you that "Spanish is an easy language to learn." If you want to learn proper Spanish, you will have to work as hard at it as you would for any other language. The grammar and syntax are important. Just one example: In Spanish one uses the subjunctive probably 60 percent of the time. In English, we hardly use it at all. Proper use of the subjunctive and other elements of the language is a mark of elegance.

For those who think Spanish is an easy language to learn, I would counter with: Spanish is an easy language to learn to speak poorly.

Good luck and have fun.

Bill

_____________________________

And the end of the fight is a tombstone white,
With the name of the late deceased,
And the epitaph drear, "A fool lies here,
Who tried to hustle the East."

--Rudyard Kipling

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 6 2019 22:40:36

flyeogh

Posts: 729
Joined: Oct. 13 2004

RE: learning spanish on youtube (in reply to BarkellWH)

Bill that subjunctive certainly is a tricky fellow. I remember a teacher saying it would be better to learn when not to use the subjunctive rather than learning when to use it.

As for Spanish being easy I think there is one big plus over learning say English. In general if you can read it you can say it. So I'd say your suggestion to learn both r/w and s/l is the way to go.

On materials if I had to pick one thing that helped me most, beyond boring the barmen of Madrid senseless, it was buying DVDs of films with both spanish/english - subtitles and voice. Catching up on old films or the latest didn't seem like studying to me.

ps: Of course the best approach is to get a boy/girl friend who doesn't speak English. But if you go that route be prepared. I ended up with a Spanish wife

_____________________________

nigel (el raton de Watford - now Puerto de Santa Maria, Cadiz)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 7 2019 7:56:26

BarkellWH

Posts: 3458
Joined: Jul. 12 2009
From: Washington, DC

RE: learning spanish on youtube (in reply to flyeogh)

quote:

ps: Of course the best approach is to get a boy/girl friend who doesn't speak English. But if you go that route be prepared. I ended up with a Spanish wife

Ah yes, the "sleeping dictionary." When I was young I spent a few years in the US Air Force before entering the US Foreign Service for a career in diplomacy. In the Air Force I was assigned to Germany for a couple of years and took German classes from a professor who taught at the University of Hamburg, Herr Professor Kohler. On the very first evening of class, Professor Kohler's advice to those of us studying German was, and I remember his quote exactly:

"You must get a German girlfriend. That is called 'horizontal inspiration.'"

Bill

_____________________________

And the end of the fight is a tombstone white,
With the name of the late deceased,
And the epitaph drear, "A fool lies here,
Who tried to hustle the East."

--Rudyard Kipling

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 7 2019 14:31:27

soclydeza85

Posts: 60
Joined: Feb. 27 2017

RE: learning spanish on youtube (in reply to spain)

If you want to learn Spanish, check out Assimil (book and audio), that's the best all-around program to really get good exposure and vocabulary. Supplement youtube for grammar explanations (I dont know any speciric channels for Spanish, but I'm sure there are tons of them). Eventually use Italki for Skype lessons (unless you have access to a face-to-face tutor). Once you can understand a bit, check out Easy Spanish on youtube, they basically walk around asking random people questions on the streets, great for listening and learning colloquialisms).

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 8 2019 0:29:09

flyeogh

Posts: 729
Joined: Oct. 13 2004

RE: learning spanish on youtube (in reply to soclydeza85)

soclydeza85 this might work for some people but I'd be very cautious. It is based on an outdated approach (1929) and even the publishers appear to offer no research or evidence of success.

That doesn't mean for some it might not be good of course.

But experience says that there are no methods for language learning that have proved so successful that anyone can say 'this will work for you'.

Also the method needs to meet the individual students expectations and, just like learning flamenco guitar, needs to fire enthusiasm. The idea of going through 50 lessons before being invited to say or write anything would bore me to death. My students for sure would not find that acceptable.

But maybe it worked for you?

_____________________________

nigel (el raton de Watford - now Puerto de Santa Maria, Cadiz)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 8 2019 15:18:20

mrstwinkle

Posts: 551
Joined: May 14 2017

RE: learning spanish on youtube (in reply to flyeogh)

You an ELT teacher?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 8 2019 22:36:34

flyeogh

Posts: 729
Joined: Oct. 13 2004

RE: learning spanish on youtube (in reply to mrstwinkle)

Yes, but to be honest ESL* qualifications are easily gained by any native speaker. They just check you have a reasonable understanding of grammar, know how to lesson plan, and suggest how you might handle troublesome children. I never work with animals or children I'm glad to say.

I helped create and run an English/Spanish language learning web site (with my friend from Galicia) for several years. That was fun, but just like with flamenco guitar students too many would drop out. We also suffered from too many wanting to learn Spanish and not enough the other way around. But now I just do one-to-one intensive teaching.

It's incredibly rewarding seeing students get their B2 or C1 when things like Visas, Uni entry or job applications depend on it. Of course these guys are highly motivated. I take my hat off to school teachers teaching students who would rather be elsewhere.

*English as a second language as opposed to an English teacher. Sorry wittering on here. I'll get my coat.

_____________________________

nigel (el raton de Watford - now Puerto de Santa Maria, Cadiz)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 9 2019 7:39:14

soclydeza85

Posts: 60
Joined: Feb. 27 2017

RE: learning spanish on youtube (in reply to flyeogh)

@flyogh

This was more or less the approach I used to bring a few languages to intermediate level (B1/B2 in CEFR); once you get there, really only exposure to native materials, vocabulary and speakers will help. As for Assimil, it's a great program if you enjoy that kind of approach (I generally do, though I'll admit I'm kind of jaded of it at this point) and it's very popular in the language learning community, but I do agree that if the learner finds it boring then it's not the best choice, nor should it be used as a be-all-end-all either way. No single program can bring a learner to success, it takes multiple approaches and also real-world interaction with natives; but by the time he's done with something like Assimil (or similar programs, assuming he's learning on his own and not hiring a tutor), he should be able to start stabbing at native materials and work on using the language, which is where the real learning begins.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 9 2019 12:52:47

Piwin

Posts: 3559
Joined: Feb. 9 2016

RE: learning spanish on youtube (in reply to spain)

Can't help you there, but I'll be curious to see what you find so I'd enjoy an update on your search if you don't mind. Never really dawned on me that you could look for language lessons on Youtube.

FWIW, there are three things that I've kept using from the beginning until now:
- RTVE/RNE for listening material
- grammar books from the university of Salamanca
- a pocket reference book on Spanish conjugation

I can second soclydeza85's recommendation for Italki. I've been using it for another language I'm working on and it's been pretty useful.

_____________________________

"Anything you do can be fixed. What you cannot fix is the perfection of a blank page. What you cannot fix is that pristine, unsullied whiteness of a screen or a page with nothing on it—because there’s nothing there to fix."

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 9 2019 13:56:09

spain

Posts: 49
Joined: Aug. 9 2017

RE: learning spanish on youtube (in reply to spain)

lol my fated platonic love is near to barcelona, so im looking for that area. i had spanish at school, so i know some, not much. looking for listening material, found "whynotspanish" channel on youtube. rtve have a radio station online?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 9 2019 14:28:28

Piwin

Posts: 3559
Joined: Feb. 9 2016

RE: learning spanish on youtube (in reply to spain)

Yeah it's the national TV/radio services that encompasses several channels. You can stream them here: http://www.rtve.es/
It's not Youtube, but you can also find a lot of podcasts in Spanish. For instance, I listen to Nuestro flamenco (flamenco show), Memorias de un tambor (history) and HistoCast (also history). If that's difficult to the point where you can't follow anything at all, don't shy away from looking for material for children. Cartoons or whatever. That's usually a decent way in.
You sure this platonic love of yours prefers castellano and not catalan?

_____________________________

"Anything you do can be fixed. What you cannot fix is the perfection of a blank page. What you cannot fix is that pristine, unsullied whiteness of a screen or a page with nothing on it—because there’s nothing there to fix."

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 9 2019 15:12:33

spain

Posts: 49
Joined: Aug. 9 2017

RE: learning spanish on youtube (in reply to spain)

its used to speak both as well there right? castellan and catalan.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 9 2019 15:29:42

flyeogh

Posts: 729
Joined: Oct. 13 2004

RE: learning spanish on youtube (in reply to spain)

spain beware this is not a language issue. It is a political issue. In my Spanish family we have active supporters of Catalan independence and others as close to Franco as you can get.

We would never ever risk them meeting up.

Learn a few greetings in Catalan at the very least if you value life.

_____________________________

nigel (el raton de Watford - now Puerto de Santa Maria, Cadiz)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 9 2019 16:51:26

Piwin

Posts: 3559
Joined: Feb. 9 2016

RE: learning spanish on youtube (in reply to spain)

Sure, I think the vast majority of people understand both. It's just that it sounded like you had a specific person in mind, and people have their own preferences (which language they're more likely to use in their everyday life, which language they identify with, etc.). Like Nigel said, it can become a heated issue. Given the political landscape today, emotions are running high.
So, if it's really about 1 single person, first of all you're nuts

and second of all I figure it'd be best to know what language that person prefers / identifies with.

@flyeogh

quote:

In my Spanish family we have active supporters of Catalan independence and others as close to Franco as you can get.

I'm lifting my glass to you out of sympathy. Good grief that must be complicated!

_____________________________

"Anything you do can be fixed. What you cannot fix is the perfection of a blank page. What you cannot fix is that pristine, unsullied whiteness of a screen or a page with nothing on it—because there’s nothing there to fix."

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 9 2019 17:12:27

spain

Posts: 49
Joined: Aug. 9 2017

RE: learning spanish on youtube (in reply to spain)

lol dont understand english so well, so dont know why we re nuts, but she neutral, prefering neither one.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 9 2019 17:25:41

Piwin

Posts: 3559
Joined: Feb. 9 2016

RE: learning spanish on youtube (in reply to spain)

just joking around

_____________________________

"Anything you do can be fixed. What you cannot fix is the perfection of a blank page. What you cannot fix is that pristine, unsullied whiteness of a screen or a page with nothing on it—because there’s nothing there to fix."

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 9 2019 21:43:39

Paul Magnussen

Posts: 1805
Joined: Nov. 8 2010
From: London (living in the Bay Area)

RE: learning spanish on youtube (in reply to Piwin)

quote:

I listen to Nuestro flamenco (flamenco show)

I like Nuestro flamenco a lot, largely because it’s a good show, but also because their enunciation is very clear and easy to understand.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 9 2019 22:11:32

spain

Posts: 49
Joined: Aug. 9 2017

RE: learning spanish on youtube (in reply to spain)

lol fly got it ur spanish. found dues dones divines show so got what i exactly was looking for. ofc its all showing up i was right, catalan seems like destined to me

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 29 2019 23:04:12

tele

Posts: 1464
Joined: Aug. 17 2012

RE: learning spanish on youtube (in reply to spain)

I tried learning with youtube but didn't have much success, the best source I found was www.studyspanish.com
Talking and listening is the fastest way to learn, also spanish subtitles on movies in your language or english can be helpful to learn new words quickly.

_____________________________

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 3 2019 0:20:15

flyeogh

Posts: 729
Joined: Oct. 13 2004

RE: learning spanish on youtube (in reply to spain)

Something worth a try is to use visualisation. One tends to initially learn words and short phrases by translation. Problem is that once the translation approach is embedded in the brain it is difficult to break the habit, but broken it must be if anything beyond a basic level is to be attained.

I get my students who are learning English to spend time visualising words and phrases (it could be a symbol, a simple stick drawing, a picture, a scene, a sensation, whatever) and try to not translate.

There is nothing like that moment when a student constructs a multi-word phrase and then realises that they didn't have a translation in their head. It isn't a matter of learning to speak the language but learning to think in the language.

At least Youtube has lots of visualised materials that can be used as just a small part of the approach taken.

_____________________________

nigel (el raton de Watford - now Puerto de Santa Maria, Cadiz)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 3 2019 5:18:33

mrstwinkle

Posts: 551
Joined: May 14 2017

RE: learning spanish on youtube (in reply to spain)

Another trick I've learned is to watch Spanish TV shows on Netflix with subtitles on.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 3 2019 11:01:30

Piwin

Posts: 3559
Joined: Feb. 9 2016

RE: learning spanish on youtube (in reply to mrstwinkle)

It's amazing how much bad television I've watched just for the purposes of learning a language. Things I would never watch in my own language, like talk shows where they bicker over the latest gaffe of this or that politician or celebrity, all the sudden are great to watch. It's also a great excuse for an adult with no children to watch cartoons

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 3 2019 13:58:59

spain

Posts: 49
Joined: Aug. 9 2017

RE: learning spanish on youtube (in reply to spain)

was just listening to a saturday show on catalunya radio, was very funny, didnt understand but tey had some fun. ofc the visualization works the show seems kinda ok too.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 3 2019 22:32:25

spain

Posts: 49
Joined: Aug. 9 2017

RE: learning spanish on youtube (in reply to spain)

fly dont tell me dues dones divines is the only one show. i mean comedy one, do u know any else? cos its really good one for me like it much.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 14 2019 23:10:25

flyeogh

Posts: 729
Joined: Oct. 13 2004

RE: learning spanish on youtube (in reply to spain)

quote:

fly dont tell me dues dones divines is the only one show. i mean comedy one, do u know any else?

Spain I'm glad you enjoy it but I can't think of comedy programs that would be good for language learning. I'd have thought that the subtleties/double entendre/irony of comedy would make it very difficult in most cases. And where english language sits have been dubbed even less useful.

One session I'll be doing this weekend for a spaniard in the UK learning English, is discussing Brexit and UK politics. Just in general conversations we use a huge vocabulary that relates to current day events. She was recently foxed by the terms 'first past the post' and 'you can't believe what you read on buses'. So it is not only about grammar but also being up to speed with the vocabulary/phraselogy of the day.

Of course I'll cover the raving loony party but she may not quite get to grips with that

_____________________________

nigel (el raton de Watford - now Puerto de Santa Maria, Cadiz)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 15 2019 10:31:51

spain

Posts: 49
Joined: Aug. 9 2017

RE: learning spanish on youtube (in reply to spain)

was just curious if there is similar shows. havent found any, just drama telenovelas, which cant watch for being creepy, was mainly looking just for listening material, need to learn catalan words yet, then i think its the best way for me.
"ojala" lol new word for me, like it.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 15 2019 13:09:01

mrstwinkle

Posts: 551
Joined: May 14 2017

RE: learning spanish on youtube (in reply to spain)

Careful with 'ojala' - you're heading into subjunctive territory there which is a large can of worms.

Currently watching what is listed as 'Nailed It! Spain' (¡Niquelao! in Spanish) on Netflix. Trashy braindead comedy-cookery show. More useful for me than dramas as it uses real-world Spanish.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 15 2019 18:43:58