Learn Spanish

This page is dedicated to helping YOU learn
to understand, read, and speak Spanish.

In 1981, I began my study of Spanish with THE BEST self-teaching Spanish textbook I have ever seen: Spanish Made Simple. This delightful text of 40 chapters is written in the form of a continuous story about a business man in New York who is preparing to visit his agent in Mexico City. The answers to all the exercises are in the back of the book. I am planning to produce audio CDs to accompany the text. You can order this wonderful book right here on the Internet at: Spanish Made Simple: Book Read my review on www.Amazon.com. Within a few months of starting to this book, I was conversing with native Spanish speakers about every topic under the sun. Within two years of self-study, I tested out of one whole year of Spanish at the local community college. I am certified by The Texas Education Agency to teach both secondary Spanish and elementary bilingual classes. I was a bilingual teacher for fourteen years, and taught junior high Spanish for two years. Presently I teach elementary and second Spanish at the Odessa Christian School. This books worked for me, it will work for you.
Several years ago, I taught a course to business people here in Odessa using Margarita Madrigals' Open Door to Spanish I. This is a wonderful, fast paced course especially useful for teaching conversation classes. There is a second volume which covers more advanced grammar including the subjunctive mood. It is the perfect textbook for jr. high, high school, and college conversation classes. You can purchase them at: Open Door to Spanish: Vol. 1, or Open Door to Spanish: Vol. 2. Late Professor of Spanish at Abilene Christian University, J. W. Treat, once told me that Margarita Madrigal's earlier and larger one volume work, Madrigal's Magic Key to Spanish, was an excellent volume for learning Spanish quickly. You can order a copy at Madrigal's Magic Key to Spanish: Spanish
Spanish Grammar
Free Lessons from Donald L. Potter
If you are studying Spanish on your own, you will find this Spanish Grammar (1942, 1943) by Eric. V. Greenfield very helpful. I am making the printed Lessons available in Adobe pdf, and the audio in mp3:. I found this book very helpful in my early Spanish studies, it is also good for basic vocabulary and comprehensive grammar review. It built around a graded reader that teaches high frequency words and comprehensive college level grammar.

Here are the printed Lessons in Adobe pdf. Introduction, Lesson 1, Lesson 2, Lesson 3, Lesson 4, Lesson 5, Lesson 6 Lesson 7, Lesson 8, Lesson 9, Lesson 10, Lesson 11, Lesson 12, Lesson 13, Lesson 14, Lesson 15, Lesson 16, Lesson 17, Lesson 18, Lesson 19, Lesson 20, Lesson 21, Lesson 22, Lesson 23, Lesson 24, Lesson 25, Lesson 26, Lesson 27, Lesson 28, Lesson 29, Lesson 30, Lesson 31, Lesson 32, Lesson 33, Lesson 34, Lesson 35, Lesson 36, Verbs. (Note: The Spanish Grammar "Verbs" are almost done.),

Here are the audio mp3 files: Introduction, Lesson 1, Lesson 2, Lesson 3, Lesson 4, Lesson 5, Lesson 6, Lesson 7, Lesson 8, Lesson 9, Lesson 10, Lesson 11, Lesson 12, Lesson 13, Lesson 14, Lesson 15, Lesson 16, Lesson 17, Lesson 18, Lesson 19, Lesson 20, Lesson 21, Lesson 22, Lesson 23, Lesson 24, Lesson 25, Lesson 26, Lesson 27, Lesson 28, Lesson 29, Lesson 30, Lesson 31, Lesson 32, Lesson 33, Lesson 34, Lesson 35, Lesson 36.

It is VITAL to listen to as much Spanish as possible. World famous linguist Eugene Nida recommended that beginners spend 50 percent of their study time LISTENING to the language.

Foreign Service Institute Spanish (FSI)

Teaching yourself Spanish just got easier, more powerful, and less expensive. In the 1960's the Foreign Service Institute of the United States Government developed a series of foreign languages courses for the major languages of the world. Top flight linguists analyzed these languages and developed courses using the best audio-lingual methods available. These courses are in-depth presentations which will develop high levels of fluency. They are public domain since they were developed with taxpayers money. Several publishers have made the available for purchase; BUT this site is making them available for FREE. This includes the books, teachers' manuals, and even the audio recordings. Here is the link to the Spanish materials: FSI Spanish.

Visual-Link Spanish

Recently a friend send me information on Visual-Link Spanish with the recommendation that I should make a link to it on my web site. I immediately investigated the program and discovered that it is one of the best programs for learning Spanish using a computer that is available. I will be using it with some of the students at my school this year. I plan to write a technical review in a few weeks. You can order the program at Visual-Link Spanish.

Journey into Spanish
by Elloitt Glass

Elliott is one of the most innovative and successful Spanish teaches of our times. I taught his Everyday Spanish with great success. Journey into Spanish is an updated version of Everyday Spanish. It is a comprehensive course in college level Spanish. The textbook is in an interactive workbook format. It has a very interesting story line about a group of teenagers visiting Spanish speaking communities around the world. Audio instruction is available. Order at Journey into Spanish.

Listen to the Spanish Bible on the Internet

The very best book for learning any language is none other than the Christian Scripture. To read and hear a good modern scholarly version of the Spanish Bible, click on the following link: La Biblia de las Americas. Just type in the Book, chapter and verse. You can also listen to Biblia Reina Valera Edicion 2000 at this web site: Reina Valera.
For a advanced students of Spanish, the University of Iowa has superb pronunciation course: Phonetics.
The Combined Spanish Method: A New Practical and Theoretical System of Learning the Castilian Language by Alberto De Tornos. This 1869 Spanish Method book, although a bit old, has some very excellent features for those teaching themselves Spanish. The is free from Google Book.

Learn Spanish On Line

I recently found this helpful web site that uses material similar to the Foreign Service Institute which proved very valuable to me during my early attempts to learn Spanish. Perhaps you will find them of value. There is a special section on pronunciation that will prove especially valuable to beginners Here is the Link: Learn Spanish.com here is the BBC Spanish course. BBC also has courses in two other Romance languages: Italian and French

Here is a wonderful Spanish Poetry web site: Anthology of Spanish Poetry.
Free Grammar Instruction and Practice, mostly in Spanish: CALL
Spanish Practice Exercises: Exercises.
When I started my studies of Spanish, I listened to the Voice of America (VOA) every day. You can listen to the news, music, and commentaries at The Voice of America.

Spanish Flash Cards: A super fun way to learn Spanish vocablary and grammar.

Learn Spanish: A site loaded with FREE information on Spanish vocabulary and grammar.

1. Spanish Flashcards. This is a fun way learn basic vocabulary and grammar.
2. Learn Spanish: Start with their fantastic Pronunciation Exercises.
3. Teachers of Spanish (maybe kids too) will enjoy this comprehensive web site: Center for Spanish Studies.
4. Here is a wonderful, free Online program that will allow you to practice and master the conjugation of the Spanish Verb. Every study should regularly visit this site.You can even learn to conjugate verbs in Latin, German and French! Conjuguemos.
5. Spanish Learn It On Line: Here is another must-visit site: SPALEON
6. Here is another link for learning Spanish: Quia.
7 . If you want to "Learn Spanish Like Crazy," here are some excellent free lessons: Learn Spanish Like Crazy Lessons.
8. More free Learn Spanish materials.
9. I was recently visiting the Alliance Hospital here in Odessa. One of the nurses, a mother of a former Spanish student of mine, asked me if I could help her and other
is on the staff to learn some medical Spanish to enable to them to better help their Spanish speaking patients. Here is a link to some good, free material on Medical Spanish.
10. More Spanish Flashcards. Excellent material!
11. Spanish Grammar Exercises by Barbara Nelson

Thousands of Free books for you to read in Spanish at: Libros Tauro

TextKit has some good Spanish material for free: TextKits.
Get practical information on how to learn a language: Language Impact.
Success with Foreign Languages: Seven who achieved it and what worked for them
EARL W. STEVICK