Learning Spanish takes an instructor and lots of practice. Podcasts are beneficial for those that are seeking to learn Spanish without having to take an actual class. Not to mention, podcasts are much more affordable than class tuition.
Some of the best free and subscription podcasts for learning Spanish are:
- Coffee Break Spanish
- Duolingo Spanish Podcast
- Spanish Obsessed
There are many different ways that a podcast can help with learning Spanish. If you’re interested in picking up a new language, and you’re curious about whether or not a podcast might help, or which podcasts are best for learning Spanish, just keep reading.
Why Podcasts Are Great for Learning Spanish
Spanish is a fantastic language to pick up. With 460 million native speakers, Spanish has the second largest population of speakers in the world. Learning the language can help make communication easier and more efficient. Not to mention learning a second language is great for the brain.
Learning to Speak Spanish Can Be Difficult
As with learning any new language, Spanish can be a challenge depending on how well you may pick up on the vocabulary and verbs.
Some may find that when beginning to learn Spanish that they have picked up identifying the basic items or names easily. This can be a misleading thing because the longer and further the language goes, the harder it may become to pick up on.
Learning Spanish is More Fun with A Podcast
Learning to speak Spanish is fun and exciting. But learning a language from a book or CD can fall flat after a while.
Podcasts can offer more relatable concepts by allowing news, world events, or even political aspects to be a part of the learning process.
Podcasts aren’t restricted by a school curriculum or based on a company’s marketing agenda. The content in a podcast is meant to keep listeners around, so it’s meant to be enjoyed.
The Spanish language can seem complex if you don’t know anything about the pronunciations or how to use the words or verb tenses correctly.
With podcasts, not only can you hear the words pronounced correctly, but also be able to enjoy all of the other bits and pieces offered by the podcaster.
You Can Learn at Your Own Pace with a Podcast
Some Spanish podcasts are beneficial in the time and placement that they can be listened to. People that want to learn a new language, such as Spanish, can use the flexibility of a podcast to their advantage.
Many online classes may have to take place at certain times throughout the day or for long hours. Podcasts not only can make learning Spanish fun but also a more relaxed learning experience.
You Don’t Have to Use Written Materials, But You Can if You Want
There are some podcast stations that will provide transcripts or worksheets that are available to be printed off for use during the episode or even after if the learner wishes to see how their progress is going.
A great example of transcripts being available is a podcast such as Duolingo Spanish Podcast, which provides a transcription of the episode that the person learning Spanish can follow along with.
Teaching Children Spanish with a Podcast
Many children have to use multiple methods to learn Spanish. While adults may find it more difficult, children have the ability to catch on to learning a new language.
There are many podcasts that are designed for children. One of these child-friendly podcasts is Eat Your Spanish, which is more for a beginner learning Spanish. Children-inspired podcasts can be a great alternative to textbook studies. Podcasts can be a great benefit to helping children, and even their parents, to learn Spanish.
Advantages of Using A Podcast to Teach Children Spanish
Teachers can benefit from using podcasts in their classrooms because children can enjoy reading along while hearing how the words sound. Teachers are also able to use podcasts to help students at home.
- Convenience and accessibility. Since podcasts can be listened to or watched anywhere, it makes it convenient for students to be able to access this information for homework help or help with study time at home.
- Easy for parents to listen in on. Podcasts can also help parents who are not native Spanish speakers or even those that only know a few words be able to offer that homework help that children tend to need on occasion.
- Available anywhere you bring a device. Even the littlest learners can listen to a podcast at home or in the car. Or if you’re grocery shopping with a toddler that’s in a mood, why not turn on a podcast- instead of judging you for letting your child have screen time, other parents will admire you for letting your child learn in public.
- Keeps children more engaged. Podcasts are also beneficial for students who may be easily distracted. Being able to read or follow along while listening or watching podcasts can make learning a new language easier. Headphones are incredibly beneficial in tuning out any excess noise and allowing children to focus on what they’re listening to.
Podcasts make a great addition to any Spanish language curriculum and can provide that extra stimulation kids need to stay engaged in language learning.
What to Consider in Choosing a Podcast for Learning Spanish
In order to teach children Spanish with podcasts, it is important to find the right podcast for your child or class. Of course, all children are different, so finding the perfect podcast pairing for your kiddo to learn Spanish is crucial.
Podcasts often have suggested supplementary activities.
These are great for children that need something to do while they listen. Other podcasts include a lot of music and movement; these are ideal for those that don’t like to or simply can’t sit still.
What to Look for in a Spanish Podcast for Your Child
Here are a few things you can do before committing to a podcast for your child to learn Spanish.
- Check out any lesson plans that are provided with the podcasts
- Find a podcast with worksheets if that’s your kids’ thing
- If you have a visual and auditory learner, find a podcast with transcripts available
Each of these will help you narrow down your options. After all, nobody knows your child better than you.
Best Podcasts for Learning Spanish
Since there are many different podcasts out there in the world, it may be difficult to pinpoint exactly what type of podcast can be the most helpful or the best to help your kiddo learn how to speak Spanish.
There are both paid and free subscriptions that listeners can use that have been the best podcasts for others to learn Spanish.
The rest of this article will introduce the majority of these podcasts that are deemed some of the best.
Coffee Break Spanish
This podcast is great for beginners. It is a free podcast that also offers online courses. There are four seasons for this podcast, with each one focusing on different situations for learning Spanish.
- Season 1 is meant for beginners. This season can be used for going in public or travel, with topics like ordering food or drinks, making friends, and for shopping.
- Season 2 focuses on Spanish grammar. This season teaches how to manipulate for use in different tenses.
- Season 3 gets into more complex grammar usage. This season introduces Spanish soap operas to hear examples of the flow of conversations.
- Season 4 covers advanced grammar. This season will follow the story of two people on the Balearic island.
When a new listener first starts this podcast, they will be able to use this to their advantage. By the end of all the seasons, listeners should be able to understand and have conversations.
Cost
This podcast also offers paid subscriptions as well. While it is free to access the podcast library, they also have a purchase plan that includes audio and video lessons, lesson notes, and bonus audio lessons. However, the only thing that should be considered is that the listed price is per season that you do.
How to Access
Where can you listen to this podcast? There are a couple of ways that you can listen to or access this particular podcast.
- On their website: Coffee Break Spanish
- Apple podcasts
- Google podcasts
- Spotify
- YouTube
These are free access points that allow the learners to use at the pace and convenience of having podcasts.
SpanishPod101
This podcast is for all levels: beginner to advanced. SpanishPod101 offers free daily podcasts, with the host being from different countries that have native Spanish languages. This gives listeners the opportunity to listen to all the different language variations and accents that can make up a wide range of accents that the Spanish language can consist of.
Cost
This podcast also offers some videos with subtitles, and with a paid subscription, users can gain access to the transcripts and lesson notes that are included. However, this podcast is only accessible from their website: SpanishPod101
How to Access
SpanishPod101 offers a free download for beginners on their website that offers a PDF for a Spanish workbook.
This workbook consists of the Spanish alphabet and will help learners better understand and become familiar with using the Spanish alphabet as they continue on their Spanish speaking journey. The SpanishPod101 Spanish Alphabet Chart helps learners with basic alphabet phonetic pronunciation, for instance.
Duolingo Spanish Podcast
Duolingo Spanish Podcast is part of the language-learning app Duolingo. The podcasts are true-life stories to help improve listening and comprehension skills of Spanish language study. The narration is very slow, which is great for kids. Sometimes the content is a little more mature, so parents are urged to check them out before turning them on.
Cost
This podcast offers access to not only the audio podcast but also the transcripts for free. However, since this podcast is not for language lessons, they are more for intermediate learners.
How to Access
You can find this podcast at any of these sites:
- Apple Podcasts
- Google Podcasts
- Spotify
- iheartRadio
Spanish Obsessed
This content includes lessons on learning vocabulary and grammar, certain phrases, and different topics that help with pronunciation. This podcast can be used for all types of learners, and the episodes are short, making it easier and less time consuming to do.
If you have absolutely no idea anything about the Spanish language, this podcast does offer a “Spanish From Scratch” podcast lesson that can be done before the beginner courses. The course will start with essential phrases and vocabulary that a Spanish speaker will need to use throughout their journey to learn Spanish.
Cost
This is a free program for all levels, with episodes being released weekly. There is a paid subscription that can give the learners access to transcripts and/or quizzes to help along the way. However, most of the content is free.
They do have transcripts that can be read as you are listening to the podcast. There are two speakers or hosts. The transcripts are located underneath the podcast play strip.
How to Access
This podcast is only accessible through their website Spanish Obsessed.
Podcasts in Spanish
This podcast can be used for all Spanish learners: beginners to more advanced. This podcast contains very short episodes that allow listeners to be able to listen to them over and over to help with more understanding about learning the language.
Cost
Even though they have free content, they do offer options for a paid subscription that gives access to worksheets, transcripts, and other materials that can help learners along their Spanish speaking journey.
How to Access
These podcasts can be listened to at Podcasts In Spanish or at their other site: https://www.podcastsinspanish.com/.
A Zero to A Hero
This podcast is created by Babbel. Located on their site, this podcast has different episodes that make just starting out with learning Spanish seem easier. This consists of following along with a host’s journey through Spanish and learning all the basics that are needed to start learning this language.
A Zero To A Hero podcast asks questions to get a better understanding of where you need to start the podcast for your lessons. They also ask how much time you, the learner, wants to commit to each day. This makes it easier and more convenient for learning if there are only a few minutes throughout your day that are free to pursue Spanish speaking.
Cost
These podcasts are available as a free add-on to Babbel.
How to Access
This podcast can be listened to on:
- Spotify
- Their website: Babbel
Notes in Spanish
Notes in Spanish let Spanish learners become more familiar with Spanish that you may hear every day, such as when in a Mexican restaurant where most of the staff speaks Spanish. These podcasts are more relatable to real-life by using realistic experiences that may be present throughout life. The episodes range from beginner to advanced.
Cost
The podcast offers a full index where all the lessons can be accessed and downloaded. When the premium packs are purchased, the worksheets are designed so that the listener can get the most from the audio that the free subscription offers. The beginner lessons can be found here. They promote the sale of their “Super Pack.”
How to Access
This podcast is only accessed and listened to on their site.
LightSpeed Spanish
This podcast covers the alphabet, as well as grammar and how to use expressions. This podcast is great for beginners that are still figuring out the language. Each episode is short, so listening time is compatible with that short ride home.
Cost
LightSpeed Spanish offers free lessons online and on their website. This podcast has “helpsheets” that are emailed to the subscribers that purchase the paid subscription. These helpsheets include:
- Transcription and translation of the podcast
- Clear explanations of why words or phrases are used
- Frequent but fun tests that give a review on the learner’s progress throughout the podcast lessons.
How to Access
To listen to this podcast:
- YouTube
- iTunes
- Their website: LightSpeed Spanish
Unlimited Spanish
Unlimited Spanish is for help with practicing your Spanish speaking and listening skills. This podcast is free and lets the learner have access to transcripts for each episode. This podcast has a wide range of topics that can include colors, as well as even holidays like Christmas. The episodes are short with an audio length of approximately 10 to 15 minutes.
Cost
This particular podcast has a holiday deal that those wishing to purchase a subscription can get a discount for their overall payment. They can have a Christmas offer for 50% off.
How to Access
To listen to these podcasts, Spanish speakers can go to:
- iTunes
- Spotify
- Soundcloud
- TuneIn
News in Slow Spanish
This Spanish podcast talks about different world events as well as news and other events that are happening in other cultures. The podcast does offer episodes for beginners but is mostly designed for those that are a little more experienced with speaking and understanding Spanish.
Cost
This podcast is free for the most part. There is access to free materials such as transcripts that are accessible for each podcast. These are available on the same page that the audio bar is located for easier access for learners to be able to follow along and pause as they go.
Although there is also a paid subscription that gives access to interactive materials such as transcripts, quizzes, notes, and other materials that can help with speaking and understanding Spanish.
How to Access
This podcast can be found on their site at News in Slow Spanish. There is also an app that is available on the App Store and Google Play.
Learn Spanish- Survival Guide
This podcast is for learning everyday situations. They offer pauses throughout the podcast to give learners the ability to repeat or say what is heard throughout the entire audio. They also give a more detailed breakdown of complicated words as well as phrases that some listeners may need for correct pronunciation.
The Learn Spanish- Survival Guide podcast can also be set apart from the others. Other than just providing a transcript or quizzes, this podcast also offers songs and games that can make learning Spanish even more fun for the person learning. They also do a podcast for the “Word of the day.”
Cost
Much of the content is available for free, though there is premium content that is only accessible via a reasonably-priced subscription service.
How to Access
This podcast can be downloaded and listened to on their site.
I Can Speak Spanish Podcast
This podcast updates every two (2) weeks. They are stories that have a line breakdown in both English and Spanish to help listeners to be able to keep track and understand how to spot phrases and words. They also offer full transcripts to help those that need to use them follow along with the audio to make learning easier.
Cost
This podcast is a paid subscription. Before purchasing the subscription, they offer samples of new and old episodes they have made or released so that buyers can make sure they can be satisfied with the way the podcasts will or can work.
How to Access
I Can Speak Spanish Podcast is mostly for intermediate and advanced learners. It is only accessible through their site.
Hoy Hablamos
This is a podcast for those that are more attuned with knowing some Spanish to more advanced speakers and learners. Listeners can find that the website offers two (2) different reading languages: Spanish and English.
Since their websites offer access to both Spanish and English translations, this can:
- Give Spanish learners the ability to work with a Spanish website
- As they progress with their speaking, this allows them to be able to practice their Spanish reading skills.
Cost
There is both free and paid content.
How to Access
Hoy Hablamos also offers complete transcripts with their audio files directly on their website. Like other podcasts, they also give access to worksheets. This podcast is daily and offers vocabulary building skills.
Charlas Hispanas
This is the “sister” podcast to Hoy Hablamos. This Latin American show releases new episodes every weekday. Their episodes are between ten (10) and fifteen (15) minutes long. There is a vast range of topics that are talked about.
- Vocabulary and grammar
- Culture and the news
- Expressions
- Latin American history and culture
Charlas Hispanas is for more intermediate skilled Spanish speakers.
Cost
There are no free transcripts or materials. Transcriptions and exercises are only available to premium subscribers. The website also has the option to be translated into English or Spanish, giving it the same benefits that Hoy Hablamos provides.
How to Access
Charlas Hispanas podcast content is available on their website.
No Hay Tos
No Hay Tos is not a beginner podcast. This podcast is designed for more intermediate to advanced learners. The accent that will be the most associated with this podcast is Mexican. If the listeners are patrons on the Pateron, they will have access to the vocabulary sheets and any bonus material.
Cost
These free lessons can be paired with another online podcast with the hosts called iTalki Spanish Lessons. They offer a free newsletter that also contains a transcript each month.
How to Access
This podcast is available on their site but also can be watched through YouTube at a slower pace.
Español con Juan (1001 Reasons to Learn Spanish)
For low intermediate to advanced Spanish learners, this podcast offers transcripts for free on their website.
This podcast is hosted by a popular teacher that is from Spain but lives in London presently. The podcast is light and comedic that offers unscripted grammar and vocabulary in entertaining audio.
The host has a unique twist on his confessions and storytelling ability. With in-detail explanations on vocabulary, the host repeats phrases throughout the podcast to help listeners obtain the information.
The host also will offer suggestions on how to use the material and each episode of the podcast, such as:
- Reading the transcripts before and after the podcast
- Listen to the podcast at least twice before moving on
- Study the worksheets and materials that are provided with each episode
Cost
Free. Donations are accepted. Not only is there repeated help from just listening to the podcast, but there are free transcripts that are included with each episode.
How to Access
The Podcast and materials can be accessed on the website as well as on YouTube.
Final Thoughts
Podcasts can make learning Spanish fun. Some podcasts may offer songs and games, while others may have a more traditional approach like just audio and perhaps a transcript. While there are a lot of free subscriptions, there are twice as many paid subscriptions out there. Each offers its own style of Spanish language learning and many come with enrichment materials.
As with anything, learning Spanish can be difficult or easy depending on each individual person and the time they are able to commit to the podcasts combined with the learning materials they offer.