Learning a New Language in Times of Social Distancing
As the new age of technology is constantly bringing us new and improved ways to learn, many people have begun to take advantage of learning online. Learning a language online is great for many reasons, as it gives the learner a much wider variety of useful tools, and is especially advantageous for those seeking to improve their conversational skills. Practicing speaking from day one is the absolute best way to be successful when learning a language. Speaking Spanish is a skill and in order to master any skill, it must be practiced and practiced as much as possible. Following the online route when learning Spanish gives you an edge that many people may not think about and that edge is connection with native speakers and teachers. When in contact with native teachers as opposed to non-native teachers you are much more likely to be compelled to actually use the language as it is much less likely to be able to revert back to your native language. In this article, I am going to talk about five of the best online resources that are out there to assist you on your journey to mastering the Spanish language.
1. Online Spanish Classes at Vamos Spanish Academy
Vamos Spanish Academy is a wonderful institution and has been bringing high quality Spanish education to students from all over the world for more than ten years. It is located in the heart of Buenos Aires, Argentina and provides a one of a kind experience to those seeking to learn Spanish and acquire the skills they need to succeed in achieving fluency. Vamos Spanish Academy implements a unique learning system that focuses on conversation from day one. The courses that Vamos offers aim to get students talking as soon as possible, while incorporating the necessary grammar into each class as well as the other three main language skills; reading, writing, and listening. Vamos Spanish Academy succeeds in providing its students with a tailor made curriculum that is fun and enjoyable and fits the needs of each student so as to ensure their success in gaining proficiency as soon as possible. Vamos successfully brings this same energy and interaction to their online classrooms. Do not hesitate to give them a try especially now as they are offering discounted online Spanish courses.
2. Rosetta Stone
One of the next best online learning apparatuses is very well known, and it is called Rosetta Stone. Rosetta Stone stands out because it captures every aspect of Spanish language learning when it comes to applications compared to real time classes. The Rosetta Stone program teaches language in context, in order to reflect day to day situations. You have the option to choose between Latin American Spanish or Spanish from Spain, giving you the opportunity to to learn about many hispanic cultures from all over the world. Another great asset that this program has is speech recognition technology. This is the closest you can get to perfecting your speaking and pronunciation skills without taking live action online classes, such as those that Vamos Spanish Academy offers.
3. Busuu
Moving on to another very effective online resource to learn Spanish is an application called Busuu. Busuu includes comprehensive grammatical lessons like many other great language learning applications, but it also includes extensive audio files and reading/writing exercises to assist in the development of these equally important skills. One of the best tools that this product offers, that many other online learning apps do not, is the ability to get in contact and speak with other learners and/or native speakers in order to practice the most fundamental skill when learning a second language, and that is speaking. Busuu has proven to be one of the most user friendly and engaging apps there is when it comes to language learning applications and is highly recommended.
4. Duolingo
Another great online learning tool is an application called duolingo. Duolingo is especially useful for beginners or those who have little to no experience at all with the language. Duolingo has one great advantage and that is the fact that it is free, which makes it accessible to practically everyone and anyone who would like to learn a new language. Duolingo uses a proficiency tracking system that sends you daily reminders that motivate you to excel each day in order to ensure that you advance. The app uses a system that implements the usage of images and repetition which is great for many people, as more than half of the population are visual learners. The only main downfall of the app is that it does not offer interaction with other learners so it lacks the opportunity to practice speaking.
5. Babbel
The online application, Babbel, is another great tool for those seeking to learn Spanish on their own time and at their own pace. Babbel offers pre recorded lessons for all levels of learners so that you can take your lessons while you are at the gym, at the grocery store, or even driving to work! Babbel provides its subscribers with structured lessons that facilitate the practice of reading, writing, and listening, but as mentioned previously, it is another app that lacks exercises to practice conversational skills. As we discussed, conversation is one of the most, if not the most, important aspect of learning a language. There are many people who have a very high level of Spanish when it comes to reading and an understanding of the grammar, but when they speak, they just find it impossible. This is why it is so important to practice speaking from day one.
