La Actualidad: 5 Spanish News Podcasts You Don’t Want to Miss
Are you ready to feel the power of Spanish news podcasts? By listening to your favorite show on a daily basis, you’ll gradually train your brain to think in Spanish. More importantly, you’ll notice that it’s a breeze to speak Spanish after you’ve sharpened your listening skills with regular audio exposure.
The following Spanish news podcasts are best suited for high intermediate and advanced Spanish learners. If you’re a beginner, check out 5 Spanish Podcasts for Beginners: Train Your Ear to Native Spanish, whereas if you’re still in the beginning stages of intermediate Spanish, you’ll want to read Spanish Podcasts for Learning Intermediate Spanish on Your Way to Work.
Some of you may be more interested in listening to Latin American dialects, while others are focused on perfecting your Castilian accent. We’ve got a bit for everyone here, so pick the ones that suit your goals the best.
Why Choose News Podcasts?
Not everyone craves to be conscious of the endless stream of current events happening around the world, but if you do then Spanish news podcasts are the perfect kind of exposure to the language you need.
You can stay up-to-date on the latest news, trends, and breaking stories. You can hear the Spanish dialect you plan to imitate and start practicing words, phrases, and new terms that piqued your curiosity.
What’s more, Spanish news podcasts will inspire you to have engaging conversations with your Spanish-speaking friends or partner about what’s going on in their home countries or areas of interest abroad.
Some of the webcasts in our list include transcripts. The majority of them are available in audio and video formats. As a high intermediate or advanced Spanish learner, you may prefer to watch the videos, as it gives you the added benefit of reading lips to encourage comprehension.
Latin America
Undoubtedly, you watch news stories about Latin America on English-speaking channels such as the BBC or CNN. But in reality, the features and analysis you get from real, native Spanish news sources of each region are incomparably better. In regard to authenticity, the following podcasts provide a regional view of politics and current news in Latin America.
El Periódico Radio
Country: Guatemala
Level: Intermediate (B2)
Features: Video and podcast, available on YouTube and Spotify
Price: Free
El Periódico is a daily morning newspaper in Guatemala dedicated to breaking news and strong journalistic investigations. They claim to champion readers’ interests over that of the source, referring to their penchant for exposing political scandals.
If you choose to go to their website to listen to the podcasts, you’ll find big color graphics in succession according to seasons (temporadas) and episodes (episodios). They cover interesting topics on a local scale like Guatemalan legends, fashion, and authors, as well as global pop-culture themes.
If you enjoy learning about Guatemala, then you’ll love these blog posts:
- Guatemala: The Birthplace of Chocolate
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- Guatemala: A Glimpse at Its Government
Las 5 Noticias del Dia
Country: Peru
Level: Intermediate (B2)
Features: 3-5 minute daily updates on 5 most important Peruvian or international news stories; available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, and Spreaker
Price: Free
Las 5 Noticias del Dia, a daily podcast from Lima, provides a succinct update on local and world events. It’s a product of El Comercio, the oldest newspaper in Peru—and one of the oldest Spanish-language newspapers in the world.
By visiting their website to listen to the podcast, you’ll see an introductory summary of the events they cover. They focus on breaking news, government corruption, politics, sports, and more.
El Primer Cafe
Country: Argentina
Level: Advanced (C2)
Features: 20-minute daily updates on current events worldwide, available on Spotify
Price: Free
El Primer Café is a news podcast produced by Argentina’s leading conservative daily newspaper, La Nación. Each podcast lasts about 20 minutes, delving into a broad range of local and global topics. They pride themselves in “providing a little bit of everything.”
Each new episode is published early in the morning from Monday to Friday. The best part is that you can listen to it whenever you want by accessing Spotify or La Nación’s website.
Spain
Hoy Hablamos: Noticias en español
Level: Low Intermediate (B1)
Features: partial English transcript for free, full transcript for premium users; PDFs with vocabulary lessons and practice exercises
Price: $9.95/month
Of all the Spanish news podcasts on the list, Hoy Hablamos: Noticias en español is the only one specifically designed for learning Spanish. They publish a weekly episode commenting on the latest international news to give learners like you more practical listening practice.
Each episode shares a partial view of the transcript for free and provides links to Spanish news outlets. The website offers more than just podcasts, with a tema del mes and lessons on common Spanish expressions.
Hora 25
Level: Advanced (C1)
Features: Quick overview and commentary of local (Spain) and the international news.
Price: Free
Hora 25 is a radio program on Cadena SER that is broadcast from Spain Monday to Friday in the evening. It presents the most relevant social, political, economic and cultural issues both in Spain and the international scene.
Share Your Voice
After listening to so many Spanish news podcasts, you’ve likely got some opinions to share. If your Spanish-speaking friends aren’t in the mood to hear it, then we’ve got a fun back-up plan for you. At Homeschool Spanish Academy, we offer one-on-one sessions for adults who need a tailored class to suit their language needs.
Do you want to practice for an upcoming interview? Or discuss your political opinion on a recent news-related event in Latin America? Our friendly, certified Spanish teachers from Guatemala are trained to give you the immersive experience you expect. See for yourself! Sign up today for a free trial class where we will pair you with one of our amazing teachers. You know you want to!
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