5 Ways to Learn Spanish from the Comfort of Your Phone
According to Stastista, the typical person in the US spends some 3 - 5 hours per day on their mobile! In reality, phones have come a long way and nowadays, we use them to carry out many functions beyond simple phone calls; everything from banking to dating. Let’s face it though, not all our time is productive. The average user blasts through some 2h and 23 minutes of social media, each day! That’s a lot of time consuming content. What if we used, even just some of that screentime to do something really amazing?
Long story short: I took Spanish in school - and failed it in 2011. Four years later, I began my real Spanish learning journey with blistering motivation. Other than the motivation that made this all possible, I wouldn’t have been able to do it without the power of my mobile. Since 2015, when I began my journey, I’ve spent around 12 months total in Spanish speaking countries. The remaining time, I’ve been in the UK. That’s 90% of my time learning Spanish in an English speaking society, away from the rich immersion that I so crave. How have I been able to do it?
My mobile, the smartphone - my portal to the Spanish speaking domain. It’s been everything I’ve needed, when I’ve needed it. No pen pushing going on here. Textbooks, hardcopies - I’ve avoided them, and that’s been quite fine.
As long as you come with motivation, you don’t need much more than your phone, which is something we couldn’t say even just 15 years ago. The game has changed! Below, you’ll find 5 ways to learn Spanish from the ease of your mobile.
1. By having access to a dictionary, without the hassle…
When I was taking Spanish in school, our curriculum mandated that we bring in a dictionary to class. Indeed, a dictionary is a highly useful resource and back then, you weren’t getting far without one.
The big problem was that, in order to be effective, you needed to get into the habit of opening up a thick dictionary and sifting through its many, many pages to find the word you are looking for. I, as a 15 year old, with the attention span of a dog in a room full of squirrels, found this to be quite the challenge.
It’s safe to say, that dictionary didn’t get opened up much, if at all actually. Now, compare this to the number of times youngsters open their phones each day… some 79 times, according to Statista.
Unlike a dictionary, must of us have no problems at all when it comes to ‘opening up’ our phones. For this reason alone, all the juicy, vocabulary enriching benefits of a dictionary are so much more accessible when digitalised within our mobile phones.
Which option looks more practical?
All those 1000s of words are now compressed into a device that fits snuggly within your pocket. Gone are the days of needing to carry a thick hardcopy around with us.
Whenever I hear a word I don’t know in Spanish, all I need to do is press one button and hit the search function. I can do that within seconds. Can you imagine trying to do that with a thick hardcopy? This is a game changer! Our mobile phones are always with us, meaning we can discover the meanings of new words as of when and where we need them. As long as you have your phone with you, then you’re set!
There are many different free Spanish dictionary/translation apps. Here are some of the higher reviewed options:
SpanishDictionary.com:
Download on App Store here.
Download on Play Store here.Google Translate:
Download on App Store here.
Download on Play Store here.
I recommend you download Google translate on your phone and set up a widget for the quickest access. This is what I do personally, as it has helps me translate words as I’m hearing them.
2. Commit to a digital course
There are many ways to learn a language, but it is important to have some structured learning going on - a resource that identifies your mistakes, corrects them, and systematically guides you through the different concepts of the language. For me, this has always occurred within the digital space, on my phone! That’s not to deny the benefits of learning in class, or any of the older fashioned methods. I prefer to use my phone // laptop.
Since I started learning in 2015, I had heard of various structured learning options such as Babbel and Rosetta Stone. What I have used consistently though is none other than Duolingo. It’s by far the most popular platform to learn Spanish and also the most replete with criticisms. So, let me clarify that Duolingo alone will not make you a Spanish speaker. It is however a fantastic resource that will teach you almost everything you need to know about the language, conceptually speaking.
Again, one of the greatest benefits of Duolingo is that it’s on your phone, meaning you can access it anywhere, at any time. There’s no need to have a pen and paper, nor are you bound to a specific classroom. You’ll never have to worry about getting to lessons late or waste time getting there. It’s something you can download and start using right now, for free!
Again, I’m aware that many people use Duolingo with high expectations of being able to speak authentic Spanish like Antonio Banderas, only to then be disappointed when this doesn’t happen. Let’s be clear: No-one resource is going to make you fluent. Duolingo is brilliant though and I used it intensely within my first year of learning Spanish before travelling abroad. It was the only resource I used in the beginning of my learning journey and it helped me nail down the basic fundamentals of the language. I’d pick it over a classroom any day of the the week.
I would also like to add that Duolingo doesn’t limit you to the basics… Conversely, the course is designed to teach you all the grammatical concepts of the language; all the conjugations and tenses. The Spanish course on Duolingo can teach its students up to a proficiency level of B2 - Upper Intermediate. I repeat, you’ll need to actually apply your Duolingo education to the real world. You’ll never speak Spanish without practicing just that. I believe this is what many people who get disappointed with Duolingo often forget.
PROTIPS: The more you put into Duolingo, the more you’ll get out. Try not to simply race through lessons for the sake of brevity. You’ll only be cheating yourself. Always try to mimic // repeat out loud what you’re reading. This will help strengthen your tongue, which also needs lots of practice. If you can do anything from 30 minutes - 1 hour of Duolingo everyday, you’ll be on the right path!
3. Change Your Settings to Spanish
If you’re serious about learning Spanish, but aren’t in a Spanish speaking place, then you absolutely must change all your settings so that they’re in Spanish. This includes your mobile phone settings, as well as any applications such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, etc.
I know, it won’t be comfortable. Not at first. However, the dividends on your Spanish will be well worth the initial discomfort. Stick with it, and I promise each day, each week, it’s going to get easier until before you know it, you’re able to navigate your phone in that same language. It won’t take long. Here’s why:
It’s intuitive = Within our mobiles, off the bat, there are many functions and buttons that we already know the meaning of, regardless of language. We recognise them by where they’re located within our screens, or by the icons that they use. Once we change our phone settings to another language, such as Spanish, you’ll be surprised with how much you're immediately able to understand. An example is the ‘restart’ button. Most of us know how to execute a restart, so when you do it with your settings in Spanish, your mind will start subconsciously making those translations. This kind of subconscious pairing happens all the time. The more applications you convert to Spanish, the better.
There’s no procrastinating = Unlike that textbook tucked away somewhere in the back of your room, the smartphone never collects dust. On average, we pick up and engage with our mobiles over 50 times a day. This means, like it or not, you’ll be exposed to Spanish throughout the day, every day! That’s a form of immersion, and it’s available regardless of where you are. It’s something that even 15 years ago, we wouldn’t have imagined. Imagine being able to improve your Spanish every single time you open up your phone, without even trying! Change your phone settings, I promise it’ll improve your Spanish a lot!
4. Get Speaking - On Your Mobile
One of the main reasons we endeavour to learn a new language is so that we can talk in it, right? That’s not to downplay the amazing benefits of reading and listening, but it’s our ability to talk that surprises locals and impresses friends. Talking is the most tangible result of your hard work, as it’s felt immediately by those around you. Reading in another language is important, but it’s speaking that allows us to reveal a whole new side of our character.
Well, despite all that, speaking is the area of language learning that gets the least love. It’s the area of practice that we’re most likely to skirt around or avoid. It’s understandable though. Speaking tends to generate more anxiety than reading or listening does. Not only that, but all other areas of language learning (reading, comprehension, listening) can be improved alone, on our phones, following all the tips within this article. We can’t improve our conversational skills in the same way on our phones, can we?
Actually, yes. Yes we can!
In order to improve your conversational abilities in Spanish, I highly recommend you download this free application: Tandem.
Tandem is an online language exchange. Make an account, let the app know which language you speak and which you wish to learn, and it’ll then place you in an online platform whereby you can meet others wishing to improve their English in exchange for their Spanish.
You can let the application know what level of proficiency you have, what your goals are, what you wish to discuss with others and so on. I personally started using Tandem before I ever went abroad to practice my Spanish and have logged many hours worth of voice calls with others. After using it extensively, and still having it on my phone (8 years later), I can wholeheartedly recommend it you as a way to improve your Spanish speaking skills from the comfort of your phone.
Of course, nothing will ever beat the ‘real thing’ - meeting others in person and practicing your Spanish accordingly. However, there are some significant benefits to using Tandem to improve your Spanish conversational skills:
Having more control: Speaking a language that you’re learning can be daunting. Tandem is great because you can make an informed decision as to whom you interact with. Before engaging someone, you can explore their profile to see who they are, what their level of proficiency is, what kind of feedback they’ve received from others, what topics they want to talk about, and more.
Additionally, you don’t have to go full-throttle. You can choose everything from a video call to simple text messaging - whatever you feel most comfortable doing.
Tandem is efficient: Life is busy. We don’t always have the time to fit meetups or language exchanges into our schedules. It takes time to get places! Tandem, however, can be realised from anywhere with an internet connection. It is extremely time-efficient. For this reason, interactions can be as short as they need to be, without having to justify the cost of getting there. E.g., it doesn’t make sense to travel half an hour to a language exchange to only talk for 5 minutes, but on Tandem many of my calls were less than 15 minutes.
Tandem offers brilliant variety: Where else, other than your phone or PC, can you practice with people from all over the Spanish world side-by-side? Within Tandem, there are thousands of users from all over the Americas & Spain, meaning you can choose which accents you want to be exposed to, if not all.
Let me once more reiterate that speaking and conversational skills, despite being a large motive for learning a new language, are painfully underserved. You, from your mobile, right now, can do something about that, for free!
Tandem does offer a premium service but this is not essential. You’ll receive an ad-free experience, and enjoy some extras perks but I’ve never felt the need to pay for it.
Download Tandem from the App Store.
Download Tandem from Google Play.
5. Consume, consume, consume!
We all love to consume content on our phones. In fact, it’s my favourite (and easiest way) of killing time. Can you relate? But here’s the catch, unlike the majority of people who admittedly waste their time doing so, my content consumption actually benefits my brain and Spanish skills. Instead of binging on English content, it’s time to make that sweet, sweet switch.
Start consuming content in Spanish, from day 1! You don’t need to wait until you’re fluent, as you can take advantage of both subtitles and the sheer wealth of content out there catering to all levels. Start off with content designed for learners. The benefits of doing this are plentiful. Even if you don’t understand what is being said at first, this is all normal and is an essential part of the process as your ears begin making this adaptation to the new language. I don’t think of this as a chore, but rather a benefit of learning Spanish, as I’ve indulged in plenty of entertaining content over the years.
Don’t get me started on music - Spanish music is vast with something out there for everyone. Again, by simply listening to it, you’ll undergo that crucial process of adapting your ears, or ‘oídos’ as we’d say in Spanish. Below, I shall leave you songs and series that I’ve used to help my Spanish grow over the years:
Series (Beginners)
(1) ¡Ven conmigo!
‘¡Ven conmigo!’ is a vintage series from the 80s or 90s that provides the perfect place to start consuming your content in Spanish. It’s retro but easy to digest. I have fond memories, as it was one of the first things I watched in Spanish back in 2015. Even then the show was showing its age, but it’s a blast from the past. The entire series is available on YouTube and takes place in both Spain and Latin America, giving you exposure to a range of accents within the language.
(2) Extra en Español
Another old but gold gem from YouTube. This series follows a group of young Spaniards in Barcelona who live in the same apartment building. The Spanish is very slow and subtitled so that you can follow along. It’s a bit cheesy and scripted like a Friends-esque sitcom, but I love that it gives some insight into life in Barcelona back in the early 2000s. Perfect for beginners.
(3) Name unknown
Yet again, I found this series a long time ago on YouTube when I was starting out. It follows a Dutch man that moves over to Spain and into a flat with some eccentric locals. Learn Spanish vicariously through the Dutch protagonist as he’s given lessons in Spanish by his flatmates.
Conclusion
It’s never been easier to learn Spanish, or any language for that matter. Our phones are a major resource, or should I say, many different resources, packed into one small device that we always have available in our pockets, right at our fingertips. Travelling // being immersed in the language is always going to better than not, but it’s absolutely possible to get some degree of immersion out of your phone, depending on how much you’re willing to go for it. The tools are absolutely there. I, for one, had a bit of an aversion to classrooms, textbooks, and big dictionaries and used my mobile phone to replace them all!
If you have any questions about how I’ve gone about learning Spanish, then please do get in contact.
