Spanish Language Studies

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Dictionaries

These resources can aid when writing a paper that calls for the use of a standardized style in written Spanish.

• ehubsoft This free translator can translate between common languages in the world. Keywords: A1-A2, B1-B2, C1-C2, Multilingual Dictionary, All
• Busca palabras It's a word finder, it's good especially for writing activities and even creative writing. You can look for words that rhyme, with certain letters. Also antonyms, synonyms, definitions, etc. Keywords: A1-A2, B1-B2, C1-C2, Monolingual Dictionary, All
• Lingro – Webreader + Dictionary Read German Websites with this awesome dictionary that allows you to click on words and get their translation. On the main page, choose the respective languages (i.e.Spanish –English) , insert the website you want to read! Keywords: A1-A2, B1-B2, C1-C2, Web Reader, Multilingual Dictionary
• Linguee Finds ways phrases and idioms have been translated to and from English. Spanish, German, Italian, Russian, French, Chinese, Japanese. Keywords: B1-B2, C1-C2, Sayings/Phrases Dictionary, Multilingual Dictionary
• Linguee – Editorial Dictionary A unique translation tool combining an editorial dictionary and a search engine with which you can search billions of bilingual texts for words and expressions. It contains about 1,000 times more translated texts, which are displayed in full sentences while professional editors are working continuously on adding new entries and enhancing the quality of the dictionary. Keywords: B1-B2, C1-C2, Web Reader, Multilingual Dictionary
• Real Academia Española Official dictionary of the Spanish Language: monolingual Spanish dictionary with definitions in Spanish Keywords: A1-A2, B1-B2, C1-C2, Monolingual Dictionary
• Rimaro.io Welcome to the new version of RhymeZone for poems and compositions of the Spanish language. This resource includes a dictionary of rhymes and a thesaurus. Both classify millions of words and phrases, and organize the results en a list that can be organized and filtered by the quality, popularity, and metrics of the rhyme. Keywords: A1-A2, B1-B2, C1-C2, Word Finder, Thesaurus, Monolingual Dictionary
• SpanishDict Helpful, user-friendly, and overall great website for translating and conjugating between English and Spanish. Also provides examples and breaks down multiple possible definitions of words. Keywords: A1-A2, B1-B2, C1-C2, Pronunciation Dictionary, Monolingual Dictionary
• Spanish Checker Great online tool to check grammatical and spelling errors. Keywords: A1-A2, B1-B2, C1-C2, Grammar Checker

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Test Your Language Level

The following resources will help you determine your language level, practice for exams, or understand the certificates you need to attend Spanish Colleges and Universities.

Most exams to apply to undergraduate or graduate schools are aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) – the international standard for describing language ability. Find out what level you are or need to have.

Everybody who wants to study in Spain will have to pass the Spanish entrance examination, called Selectividad.

Language Proficiency Quick-Test

• Lengalia
  The following placement test will allow you to evaluate your level of Spanish online so that you can enroll for the most suitable course for you.This test follows the same proficiency scale as the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
• TrueNorth Test
  This program allows for a student's level of Spanish to be assessed against common proficiency scales such as the TOEFL and the CEFR simply by having the student listen to sentences and repeat them. View a demo here! Faculty can log in here.
• WebCAPE Placement Test
  Bard's Language Center, upon faculty request, provides Spanish students with access to the WebCAPE language placement exam which is designed to accurately and efficiently place students in the first two years of college language courses.

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Required Exams to Study Abroad

Argentina

• CELU (Language and Use)
  CELU is a proficiency test of Spanish as a foreign language. It can be taken by any foreigner whose mother tongue is not Spanish and who wants to prove his or her ability to use Spanish as a second language in working and academic contexts. The format of the exam is divided in an oral and a written part. You can practice here.

Dominican Republic

• PAEP
  Exam meant for those who want to start a graduate education in Dominican Republic. The exam includes grammar, math, reading, and writing portions. This test will validate your capacity to study in private schools. For more information, click here.

Spain
In a major change to the system of undergraduate admissions for Spanish universities, a royal decree recently removed the Selectividad exam as a mandatory entrance requirement for foreign students.

• D.E.L.E
  The official accreditation of the degree of fluency of the Spanish Language, issued and recognized by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport of Spain. The exam of level B2 is the most appropriate for those wanting to study in Spain. The format of this exam is divided in reading comprehension, written paper, listening comprehension, grammar and vocabulary, and an oral exam.
  There are also exams in other levels:
  Diploma de español A1 –Exam training and additional practice material
  Diploma de español A2 - Exam training and additional practice material
  Diploma de español B1 - Exam training and additional practice material
  Diploma de español C1 -
  Diploma de español C2 - Exam training and additional practice material

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Other Tools

• Compare European Grades
  Check how you score in other European countries.
• The European CV
  A standard CV template widely used in Europe for exchange, full
  degree or PhD students to communicate academic and work history.

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Grammar and Vocabulary

• Anki - Flashcards
  Anki is a free program that allows you to create your own flashcards from which to study vocabulary, conjugations, or grammar. Flashcards can be downloaded from Quizlet, and Anki can be used on multiple devices, so you can practice on the go! The program allows you to categorize the cards by how well you know the information, presenting cards you are less familiar with more frequently and helping you learn more quickly!
• Cooljugator
  Fun and easy games to practice grammar and vocabulary with both multiple choice and fill-in-the-blank settings. Corrects your work and provides explanations for missed questions.
  Level: B1-C2
• Flashcards-Quizlet 
  Free and easy tool to create flashcard sets, tests and study games tracking learning progress in any language. Includes class room settings, natural voice audio files for all flashcards, and adjustable reading speed for dictation exercises. Accessible on the go from anywhere.
  Level: A1-C
• SpanishDict
  Helpful, user-friendly, and overall great website for translating and conjugating between English and Spanish. Also provides examples and breaks down multiple possible definitions of words.
  Level: A1-C

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Listening and Comprehension: Podcasts

Language

• Notes in Spanish
  About 100 well organized podcasts where native speaker Marina speaks with non-native speaker, Ben about culture, current events, and history.RSS
  Length: 10-12 min.
  Level: A2-B2

• Tell it to me Walking
  This podcast is dedicated to Spanish language learning, Latin America travel, and on-the-ground education.
  Length: 10-15 minutes.
  Level: A1-B2

• HoyHablamos
  Podcast explaining the meanings behind several colloquial Spanish phrases.
  Length: 10-20 minutes
  Level: A1-B1

Art

• Planeta Arte Radio
  A podcast discussing advances in the art market, galleries, art fairs and expositions.
  Length:20 to 60 minutes
  Level:B2-C2

Books and Reviews | Contemporary Artists

• La Milana Bonita
  Podcast aired since 2010. La milana bonita encourages the love of reading in sound format (audiobooks). Features reviews and summaries of books. Length: 90 minutes; Level: B1-C1

• La Biblioteca del Té
  Mother and daughter Aurora and Mónica talk about recent books they’ve read during tea time. Length: 30 minutes; Level: B2-C2

• Guines Adaptados
  Do you prefer the book over the movie version? This podcasts goes in-depth about the books that inspire the movies. Length: 2 hours; Level: B2-C2

Crime Stories

• Fausto
  Covers the year-long investigation of a decades-old murder in Mexico. Each installment recreates the events for listeners through testimonies from real people involved with the case. The final episode reveals the missing puzzle piece in the unsolved mystery.
  Length: 13-22 minutes
  Levels: B2 – C2

Environment

• El Reciclaje
  A short intro to recycling and reducing our over-consumption of resources.
  Length: 9 minutes
  Level: A2 - B1

• Iberdrola
  Podcast solely dedicated the issue of global warming from scientific and ethical perspectives.
  Length: 10-20 minutes
  Level: A1-B1

Film and Cinema

• Mujeres de cine
  An exploration of cinema through renowned women in acting and stories
  Length: 9 - 10 minutes
  Level: B2 - C1

• Sucedió Una Noche
  Short podcasts about classic cinema and actors
  Length: 8 – 12 minutes
  Levels: B2 – C2

Human Interest Stories

• Mejor vete, Christina
  The gripping true story of Cristina Martínez, an undocumented Mexican chef who fled her home to save her life.The title (“You better leave, Cristina”) comes from her family’s pleas for her to leave Mexico to escape her abusive ex-husband. After overcoming huge obstacles, Cristina opened her first restaurant, South Philly Barbacoa, which became a critical sensation and was named one of the 10 best in the country. Length: 16-27 minutes; Levels: B2-C2

• Radio Ambulante
  Spanish-language podcast telling uniquely Latin American stories. Length:30-60 minutes; Levels: B1-C1

• Radio Bilingue
  The only US distributor of Spanish-language public radio programming. Its mission is to serve as a voice to empower Latinos and other underserved communities. Features stories relevant to the Latino community. I listen to this every week; it’s short and sweet with an interesting focus on immigration, politics, and civil rights.
  Length: 14 minutes; Levels: B1-C1

History

• Retazos de Historia
  A short narrative that centers on different historical and humanistic events, focusing on those occurred in the ancient times.
  Length: 15 - 30 minutes
  Levels: B2 - C2

• Historias Perdidas
  This entertaining series narrated by Mexican journalist León Krauze examines historical enigmas such as the whereabouts of lost Nazi loot, the truth behind the legend of the mad monk Rasputin, and the resting place of Noah’s Ark. Length: 10-15 minutes; Levels: B2-C2

Language Learning

• Hablando en Plata
  Short podcast about different words, how to use them and common misconceptions. A great way of learning new vocabulary while being exposed to Spanish. Length: 3 - 4 minutes; Levels: B1 - C1

Music

• Sofá Sonoro, con Alfonso Cardenal
  Each space is a monograph that reviews the life and work of a key figure of twentieth-century music. Features sit specialists and voices authorized to immerse ourselves in the legend of artists such as Amy Winehouse, Bruce Springsteen, Patti Smith, Van Morrison, David Bowie, Leonard Cohen, Aretha Franklin, Jimi Hendrix, Nirvana, etc. Length: 60 minutes; Levels: B2-C2

• Programas
  Pop, rock, reggaeton, electronics or urban sounds are the styles that have more strength in Spain, but what about the women who succeed in them? What challenges do they face? In each episode we have several outstanding artists of the genre and experts who will help us understand how their careers develop in an industry that is still very male-dominated. Length: 30-45 minutes; Levels: B2-C2

News

• Weekly News in Slow Spanish
  A discussion of the Weekly News, Spanish grammar, and Spanish expressions, and much more at a slow pace so that you can understand almost every word and sentence. You can choose to listen to Spanish from Spain or Latin America. Length: 2 - 4 minutes; Levels: A2 - B1

Poetry

• Lyrik Line
  This website allows you to listen to poems from a huge selection of languages and countries read by their authors. It also provides written translations in several languages depending on the poem. An excellent resource for all language learners to improve listening and reading skills.

Politics

• Lo que la política esconde
  “Lo que la política esconde” covers the national and international political and economic reality, trying to go beyond the politically correct news. Length: 10-90 minutes; Levels: B1-C1

• La ContraCrónica
  A program that starts where others end. International politics, economy, analysis and opinion with Fernando Díaz Villanueva. Length: 20-120 minutes; Level: B1-C1

Theater

• "A Telón Abierto" ZARZUELA,MUSICALES,TEATRO,REVI
  Streaming theatre productions from Spain.
  Length: 60-90 minutes
  Levels: B2-C2

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Speaking and Conversation

• Pronunciation Guide
  Comprehensive pronunciation guide including vowels, consonants, and diphthongs. Includes audio examples of pronunciation. 
• Alphabet Pronunciation
  Explains letter by letter how to pronounce the Spanish alphabet. 
• PHONETICS SITE 
  University of Iowa. A marvelous resource! This site contains animated libraries of the phonetic sounds in German. Available for each consonant and vowel is an animated articulatory diagram, a step-by-step description, and audio-video of the sound spoken in context.               
  Level: All levels
• ielanguages.com (Spanish) – Pronunciation
  This is a website that provides pronunciation lessons – divided by level – to assist with everything from basic phrases to tenses and vocabulary. Most of the lessons come with audio.
  Level: All levels

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Reading and Writing

Grammar Rules

• Learn Spanish
  Grammar, vocabulary and other useful resources for people who are begining to learn the language as well as those who still struggle with things like accents.
  Level: A1 - B2

Proofreading/Help

• Lang-8
  Lang-8 is a free language-exchange social network. Just write a journal entry in any language you’re learning, and it will appear to native speakers of that language. They’ll correct it and leave useful comments and feedback. In return, you check other users’ journals written in your native language.
  Level: A1 - C2
• LanguageTool – Proofreading Tool
  LanguageTool is an Open Source proof­reading program for English, French, German, Polish, and more than 20 other languages. It can be added to your browser as an add-on.
  Level: A1 - C2

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Visual Media: Film and Video Collection

Notodofilmfest
They have a lot of short films (those who participate in the festival) and also film news

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Bibliographies and Citations

MLA Citation Guide
Comprehensive guide to creating MLA style citations.
Level: B2-C2

APA Citation Guide
Comprehensive guide to creating APA style citations.
Level: B2-C2

Chicago Style Citation Guide
Comprehensive guide to creating Chicago Style citations.
Level: B2-C2
 

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Literature and Art

ArteHistoria
Close analysis on historic famous pieces of art, the content, the relation with the author, and the impact on the society.
Level: B2-C2

PalabraVirtual
Audio and video files, information, and texts for various Latin-American and Spanish poets.
Level: B2-C2

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General Teaching Resources

Formespa
Formespa offers countless activities for all language levels. covering a variety of Spanish vocabulary and grammar concepts!
Level: A1-C2

Hispanos.About
It provides precise, short and fun to read news about Hispanics people in the United States. Also it has a section on different commonly say expressions and idioms by the Latino community.
Level: B1-C2

LanguageGuide.org
LanguagGuide offers many groups of vocabulary words which can be studied with colorful images and autitory pronunciations!

marcoELE
marcoELE has a massive archive of detailed lesson plans for all levels of Spanish language learners! All of the materials are organized according to language level and through a chronological system. A variety of supplemental materials are also offered. This is an impressive website and will definitely help you teach any Spanish lesson you desire!

Pinterest
Collect resources for learning about the target culture with this virtual bulletin board; create a class board,  where all students can "pin" images or websites that could later be used to spur discussion. See this example of German Teaching with Pinterest

StudySpanish
StudySpanish offers thorough and comprehensive lessons for Spanish pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, and verbs.

Tourbuilder
Tour Builder is a tool to tell a story. It is a new way to show people the places you've visited (literally, virtually or in a text)  and the experiences you had along the  way using Google Earth. It lets you pick the locations right on the map, add in photos, text, and video, and then share your creation.

tumblr
Really simple for people to make a blog and put whatever they want on it. Stories, photos, GIFs, TV shows, links, quips, dumb jokes, smart jokes, Spotify tracks, mp3s, videos, fashion, art, deep stuff. Tumblr is 229 million different blogs, filled with literally whatever.

Worksheet Builder
Create your own fill-in-the blank worksheets quickly- this webpage has a similar tool

Centro Cervantes
This website, especially in the art and literature sections, has resources you can take to the classroom.

Practica Español
Current news divided by levels (those of the Common European Framework) can read and listen to real news, and many also have comprehension / grammar or vocabulary activities at the end. There is also a section on grammar and music.

Profe de ELE
It has very clear explanatory videos of grammar and vocabulary, and online activities to both at home or in class. Also podcasts, etc.

Todoele
This website has teaching materials, planned classes, web resources, a lot of everything

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Tutor Favorites

Games Folder
This folder contains worksheets with fun games for students at varying language levels!

Vocabulary & Grammar Folder
This folder contains a variety of worksheets and charts covering vocabulary and grammar for students at varying language levels!

Literature & Culture Folder
This folder contains activities, worksheets, and other files pertaining to cultural topics such as music, politics, general knowledge, and more!

Vocaroo
An online recording tool. Record your voice and improve!

con c de cine
They offer didactic guides of films, they are very complete and are divided by levels. They also organize a short film contest that is quite good.