This page will be a list of useful websites in practicing your Spanish at home and completing your assignments.
Practical Things
Spanish.typeit.org - This website allows students to enter Spanish text with the accent marks and other special characters easily available as "insert" buttons at the top. Then simply copy and paste the text into Word, PowerPoint, etc. There are versions for several other languages. Bookmark this!
Wordreference.com - This is the ONLY online Spanish-English dictionary that students should use. Most other online dictionaries operate as translators, allowing one to type full sentences in one language and get a translation of dubious accuracy without understanding the sentence structure or grammar required. Remember, Google Translate and other translators are considered violations of the Honor Code at Jordan.
Conversion Calculator - Since the U.S. is still using Imperial measurements while the rest of the world is metric, sometimes you need to convert.
News and Current Events
Práctica Español - This news aggregator from Spain updates daily with news stories from around the world. Each article is given a level of difficulty (A=easier/C=harder) and a set of questions at the end that test comprehension and grammar points. Almost all of the stories are recorded so students can listen to native Spanish at varying speeds while following along in the reading. Many of the stories include video from the news agency as well.
BBC Mundo - This is the Spanish version of the news website for Britain's BBC network. It has plenty of up-to-the-minute news stories and video about world events.
RTVE.es A la carta - Spain's radio and television station offers video and audio news and features on all kinds of topics.
Cervantes TV - Internet TV from the Cervantes Institute, featuring news of cultural interest about Spain and the Spanish language in the world.
Skill-building Support
Languages Online - This site sponsored by Victoria, Australia, has listening and vocabulary practice for fifteen different concept sets.
Study Spanish - This site has pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary support in short, focused sections. Most lessons have instruction, examples, and self-quizzes/tests to see if you have mastered the concept. There is a paid level but it is not necessary for access to the basics.
Spanish 411 - This site has Spanish lessons arranged in both grammar and vocabulary sections and each one has very clear examples in both languages.
Spanish Language & Culture - This site from a professor at Colby College has verb charts for the major tenses, activities focused on a large number of grammar concepts, and interactive videos to practice listening.
SpanishPod101 is a new website that can be extremely helpful in improving vocabulary, reading, and listening skills. Lessons include a conversation between native speakers, .pdf files of vocabulary and grammar points, and the chance to repeat vocabulary to improve pronunciation. The biggest downside to this site (besides having to pay a subscription fee for more features) is the lack of speaking practice.
123 Teach Me - The link goes to a page that focuses on verb conjugation but be sure to explore the whole site through the menu link near the top. There are plenty of grammar explanations and practices and tons of vocabulary games to practice Spanish.
Ver-taal - This site, based in the Netherlands, has a large selection of practices for reading, listening, grammar and vocabulary.
Games
Digital Dialects - many games for learning basic Spanish vocabulary
SpanishSpanish.com - a number drill game. Hear the Spanish number and type it in the space.
Rockalingua - Tons of drag & drop vocabulary games
Geography and Map Skills
Sheppard Software - This site helps you learn where the countries are on a map by quizzing in different ways and can also help you learn capitals.
Purpose Games - This website challenges you to identify the countries on a map and then beat your own best time.
Lizard Point - This site has geography games covering the whole world and you can find specialized quizzes forCentral America and South America, along with capital cities, states, etc.
YouTube Music and Video Channels
FLAMA - Joanna Hausmann, a Jewish girl from Venezuela, heads this series of comedy videos that tackles all kinds of Latino topics, from weird words in Spanish to the accents in different countries. Also included: people from one background try to pronounce words or name geopraphy or try foods from the other. Note a PG-13 rating for the occasional four-letter word or sexual innuendo.
Señor Jordan - This series of videos presents tons of grammar points, vocabulary sets, stories, and songs to practice Spanish from levels 1-4.
Cuenta Cuentos de Salvat - This is a channel that presents fairy tales and children's stories, "Reading Rainbow" style. Look for your favorite fairy tale!
#LatinAmericanMusic on YouTube - Central stop for exploring popular music in Spanish, including a sidebar of filters for all kinds of Latin American music styles.
Apps for Mobile Devices
(coming soon)
Spanish.typeit.org - This website allows students to enter Spanish text with the accent marks and other special characters easily available as "insert" buttons at the top. Then simply copy and paste the text into Word, PowerPoint, etc. There are versions for several other languages. Bookmark this!
Wordreference.com - This is the ONLY online Spanish-English dictionary that students should use. Most other online dictionaries operate as translators, allowing one to type full sentences in one language and get a translation of dubious accuracy without understanding the sentence structure or grammar required. Remember, Google Translate and other translators are considered violations of the Honor Code at Jordan.
Conversion Calculator - Since the U.S. is still using Imperial measurements while the rest of the world is metric, sometimes you need to convert.
News and Current Events
Práctica Español - This news aggregator from Spain updates daily with news stories from around the world. Each article is given a level of difficulty (A=easier/C=harder) and a set of questions at the end that test comprehension and grammar points. Almost all of the stories are recorded so students can listen to native Spanish at varying speeds while following along in the reading. Many of the stories include video from the news agency as well.
BBC Mundo - This is the Spanish version of the news website for Britain's BBC network. It has plenty of up-to-the-minute news stories and video about world events.
RTVE.es A la carta - Spain's radio and television station offers video and audio news and features on all kinds of topics.
Cervantes TV - Internet TV from the Cervantes Institute, featuring news of cultural interest about Spain and the Spanish language in the world.
Skill-building Support
Languages Online - This site sponsored by Victoria, Australia, has listening and vocabulary practice for fifteen different concept sets.
Study Spanish - This site has pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary support in short, focused sections. Most lessons have instruction, examples, and self-quizzes/tests to see if you have mastered the concept. There is a paid level but it is not necessary for access to the basics.
Spanish 411 - This site has Spanish lessons arranged in both grammar and vocabulary sections and each one has very clear examples in both languages.
Spanish Language & Culture - This site from a professor at Colby College has verb charts for the major tenses, activities focused on a large number of grammar concepts, and interactive videos to practice listening.
SpanishPod101 is a new website that can be extremely helpful in improving vocabulary, reading, and listening skills. Lessons include a conversation between native speakers, .pdf files of vocabulary and grammar points, and the chance to repeat vocabulary to improve pronunciation. The biggest downside to this site (besides having to pay a subscription fee for more features) is the lack of speaking practice.
123 Teach Me - The link goes to a page that focuses on verb conjugation but be sure to explore the whole site through the menu link near the top. There are plenty of grammar explanations and practices and tons of vocabulary games to practice Spanish.
Ver-taal - This site, based in the Netherlands, has a large selection of practices for reading, listening, grammar and vocabulary.
Games
Digital Dialects - many games for learning basic Spanish vocabulary
SpanishSpanish.com - a number drill game. Hear the Spanish number and type it in the space.
Rockalingua - Tons of drag & drop vocabulary games
Geography and Map Skills
Sheppard Software - This site helps you learn where the countries are on a map by quizzing in different ways and can also help you learn capitals.
Purpose Games - This website challenges you to identify the countries on a map and then beat your own best time.
Lizard Point - This site has geography games covering the whole world and you can find specialized quizzes forCentral America and South America, along with capital cities, states, etc.
YouTube Music and Video Channels
FLAMA - Joanna Hausmann, a Jewish girl from Venezuela, heads this series of comedy videos that tackles all kinds of Latino topics, from weird words in Spanish to the accents in different countries. Also included: people from one background try to pronounce words or name geopraphy or try foods from the other. Note a PG-13 rating for the occasional four-letter word or sexual innuendo.
Señor Jordan - This series of videos presents tons of grammar points, vocabulary sets, stories, and songs to practice Spanish from levels 1-4.
Cuenta Cuentos de Salvat - This is a channel that presents fairy tales and children's stories, "Reading Rainbow" style. Look for your favorite fairy tale!
#LatinAmericanMusic on YouTube - Central stop for exploring popular music in Spanish, including a sidebar of filters for all kinds of Latin American music styles.
Apps for Mobile Devices
(coming soon)
