Skip to main content

Resources

Spanish learning tools and authentic content sources

A curated collection of tools I've personally used for Spanish language learning.

Geographic & Cultural Immersion

Geoguessr

Geoguessr

Geographic & Cultural Immersion

I explored Latin American regions with tutors, describing what we saw and comparing with U.S. equivalents. Practiced articulating cultural differences: architecture, signage, landscapes. Natural conversation starter for geographic vocabulary.

Google Earth/Street View/Maps

Google Earth/Street View/Maps

Geographic & Cultural Immersion

Virtual walks through U.S. and Latin American cities with tutors. Natural conversation starters about daily life, architecture, and cultural differences. Used extensively to explore Medellín before traveling there, getting local insights from tutors familiar with those areas.

Seterra

Seterra

Geographic & Cultural Immersion

Solo practice learning Latin American geography. Knowing countries, capitals, and regions made conversations with tutors flow better. I could ask informed questions about their home countries and neighboring regions without interrupting conversation flow.

Memory & Retention Systems

Anki

Anki

Memory & Retention Systems

Created cards from tutoring session notes and personal interests leveraging LLM tools. Both EN→ES and ES→EN directions for active recall. Topics that arose naturally in conversation became cards, ensuring I was learning vocabulary I'd actually use again.

Anki Remote

Anki Remote

Memory & Retention Systems

Bluetooth remote control to review cards without holding or looking at my phone. Park walks, couch sessions, casual review throughout the day. Small convenience that significantly increased daily practice time.

AI-Enhanced Learning

LLMs (ChatGPT/Claude)

LLMs (ChatGPT/Claude)

AI-Enhanced Learning

Converted tutoring notes into Anki cards, generated personalized exercises, explored synonym networks. Instant explanations for grammar confusion. Available between sessions for practice conversations and contextual examples of difficult phrases.

Visual Learning Resources

Unsplash

Unsplash

Visual Learning Resources

Searched for images to test vocabulary sets. Searched "kitchen" to practice utensil names, "office" for work vocabulary. Used before lessons to assess gaps, during sessions for visual reference and conversation prompts, after for self-testing. Cleaner than Google Images, no ads or clutter.

Personal Photos

Personal Photos

Visual Learning Resources

Instagram and Google Photos as lesson material. Apartment tours, childhood memories, college years, teaching experiences. Learned vocabulary for things actually in my life. Natural motivation to tell stories since these weren't hypothetical scenarios, they were real experiences to share.

Design & Organization Tools

Figma

Figma

Design & Organization Tools

Vocabulary mapping with sticky notes for visual layouts of related terms. Scientific and conceptual diagrams labeled in Spanish. Uploaded photos and added labels to practice object names.

Google Sheets/Docs

Google Sheets/Docs

Design & Organization Tools

Productivity vocabulary through real task descriptions and practice like editing a spreadsheet or sharing a document. Learned workplace Spanish by actually doing simulated work tasks in Spanish with tutors.

Multimedia Practice Methods

YouTube Drawing Tutorials

YouTube Drawing Tutorials

Multimedia Practice Methods

Two-phase practice: First watched tutorials in Spanish with audio for comprehension. Then muted and narrated the actions myself: "now draw a curved line, shading gently..." Perfect for learning sequence words, action verbs, and descriptive vocabulary.

Music Platforms

Music Platforms

Multimedia Practice Methods

Explored Spanish artists I actually liked, got recommendations from tutors during lessons. Discussed lyrics, cultural context, shared favorites.

Social Integration

Instagram/Social Media

Instagram/Social Media

Social Integration

Beyond sharing personal photos for conversation practice, explored Spanish content alongside tutors. Asked about captions, slang in comments, cultural references in posts.

Tutoring

BaseLang

Tutoring

Unlimited one-on-one tutoring with native speakers. Averaged 3-4 hours daily, 5-6 days per week for six months. 400+ hours total. Flexible scheduling made this intensity sustainable. Built real relationships with regular tutors who knew my interests and goals.

Visit Website →

Authentic Spanish Instagram accounts I follow for immersive language exposure across various topics and regions.

My Learning Strategy

Multi-Modal Engagement Approach

Through years of language learning, I've developed a comprehensive strategy that combines multiple approaches:

  • Visual Learning: Using Unsplash and personal photos for vocabulary building and scene description practice
  • Geographic Immersion: Virtual exploration through Geoguessr and Google Earth for contextual learning
  • Systematic Retention: Converting messy notes into structured Anki flashcards for spaced repetition
  • AI Enhancement: Leveraging LLMs for note transformation, exercise generation, and interactive practice
  • Social Integration: Following authentic Spanish accounts for real-world language exposure
  • Active Production: Moving from passive consumption to active narration and description

The key is using personal life experiences as learning material - this emotional resonance significantly improves retention and engagement.