Top Six Tools for studying Spanish

 Top Six Tools for studying Spanish:

This is how I set up my browser tool bar with my five major tools at the far left so I can get to them easily. Good tools are always important. Left to right: Google Images, Forvo.com, 123 Teach Me, Google Translate, Deepl. These are also listed on the right side of the blog under Top Tools.

Here's a bit more about each of  them: 

#1 - Google Images: it's interesting that this site, which makes no claims for language studies, is one of the most powerful. Using it to increase your vocabulary engages your visual memory and gives you a sense of how the word is used in that language.  

Look at the example below. This is the power of your visual memory. Chances are you'll remember this word much longer than if you just saw: panza = belly.  I now use this as my first stop on figuring out what a word means.

# 2 - Forvo.com should become one of your best friends. If we can't accurately pronounce a word, no one will understand what we're saying ... and isn't that the purpose?  If you're uncertain about how to pronounce a word, go to Forvo and listen to a native speaker say it. Listen and repeat until you can say the word easily.

#3 - 123 Teach Me: Verbs are the backbone of Spanish and many of them are irregular in their conjugation. This site has amazing resources and is my favorite conjugation sites. Over time, you will not only learn which verbs are irregular, but also how they are irregular. This site most consistently shows you the irregularity and gives you a translation for each tense.

Translators are important ... 

but remember, you want to ACQUIRE Spanish, not just translate it.

#4 - Google Translate  or Deepl - neither are perfect, but they are a start for looking up new words, checking your own Spanish writings or translating short phrases.

 

Deepl - it's sometimes better than Google Translate and it's nice to have confirmation.





#5 You Tube -    You tube is a treasure trove of Spanish lessons. Search for anything you're confused about and you'll probably find someone who has done a lesson on it. Some channels are better than others. Check out the Favorite Resources on the right column of the blog for some of my favorites.
 
#6 - Your camera phone - take pictures of anything that has Spanish words on it and build your own collection of. If you're in a Spanish-speaking country, it will be easy ... but there are Mexican stores in lots of places and Home Depot has bi-lingual signs.