March 26, 2019 by Ashley Reid How to Learn Spanish, Online Classroom, Spanish Resources

Learn Spanish Online: How to Find the Best Course for You

Nothing beats the smell of a fresh textbook, newly sharpened pencils, and a bright, clean eraser. At least, for those of us who liked school. But you have to admit – even if you didn’t like school, brand new school supplies always seemed to bring a sense of fresh beginnings. You had the chance to start over – a new you, new classes, new friends.

Now, maybe you’re still in school, or perhaps those years are well behind you. Either way, the fact remains the same that online learning is surging in popularity – despite missing out on those exciting new school supplies. How can you get the same level of quality that in-person classes offer while studying online? Let’s be real. There may be classes available near us, but our hectic schedules and thin wallets don’t always allow us that privilege. So, logically, we turn to online tools but get overwhelmed by the options.

Lucky for you, we’re here to help you discover how to learn Spanish online!

Pick a program that is right for you

Before you get bombarded by the thousands of results that come up when you google ‘how to learn Spanish online,’ you should decide what type of online classes will work best for you.

Why do you want to learn Spanish online?

Of course, we all want to learn Spanish for different reasons. Maybe you want your children to learn Spanish from a young age, or perhaps you want to travel to Latin America on your next vacation. You may even need Spanish to finish school or for your work. Whatever your reasons, clearly defining your learning goals will definitely help you pick the perfect program for you.

Supplement:

If you are looking to learn Spanish online as a supplemental tool to your regular classes, then I would definitely recommend an app or programs like Memrise or Duolingo. These programs will not get you to fluency, but they are a great supplemental tool to practice Spanish (or any other language, for that matter) while on the go or in short periods of time.

Pronunciation:

One of the most important aspects of language learning is actually speaking. If you are looking for a platform that has an extra special focus on pronunciation, I would have to recommend Pimsleur. This program sells packages of audio lessons that you can listen to at home or on your way to work. Every time a word or phrase is introduced, the teacher breaks down the pronunciation for you in a very simple, straightforward way.

Dialogue Practice:

There are a couple of courses that are specifically designed to help with conversation to make sure you are equipped to travel abroad. Pimsleur does this through their audio courses by utilizing relevant conversation phrases and prompting the listener to respond appropriately. Another tool is Babbel. Similar to Duolingo and Memrise in its setup, its software directly focuses on dialogue and conversational skills.

School:

Rosetta Stone is a very well-known language program for both students and adults. It teaches the student Spanish through a more natural method, just like how kids learn their native tongue from their parents. Instead of translation, it focuses on teaching implicitly. Another option for school Spanish would be Homeschool Spanish Academy, or HSA. This course has programs specifically designed for students if all ages – especially those looking for high school courses. Instead of sitting in a large class, listening to a non-native speaker teach Spanish, HSA offers live one-on-one classes. The classes help each student reach fluency while learning the same material offered in most schools.

Kids:

For those of you looking for courses specifically for kids, I found two great programs expressly geared towards your little ones. The first is Panda Tree. While other platforms offer various languages, Panda Tree offers only Spanish and Chinese, giving it expertise in those two languages. The programs are designed for children to have live teachers and interactive dynamics. Similarly, HSA also has classes just for kids, and only teaches Spanish. This is great for those of you wanting to learn Spanish online because you know you’re working with experts in the language. HSA has its own curriculums for each age group, and the teachers work with the children to create fluency using the curriculum and engaging activities.

Travel:

Honestly, you could use any of these options mentioned to prepare for your trip abroad. It all depends on how serious you are about learning Spanish online. If you just want to know a couple of phrases to survive on your trip, I would recommend sticking with the free apps. However, if you plan on staying for an extended period of time, or if you want to be able to converse with the locals, a program like Babbel or HSA is the way to go. Although HSA’s classes are structured around its own curriculum, just mention that you want to focus on travel, and the teacher will accommodate accordingly.

Cost to learn Spanish online

But…how are you going to choose between one of these courses? Well, the price is normally the deciding factor. Each program sells its classes and software differently, but let’s compare the costs.

Both Duolingo and Memrise have free or Premium options. While you can learn a decent amount just with the free account, there are benefits to paying a little extra. For example, with Memrise you can get extra practice with all those difficult words that you just can’t quite remember.

Duolingo – $9.99/month
Memrise – $5.00-$8.99/month

Although it may seem that Babbel is also mainly free, you actually need a subscription to get access to the lessons.

Babbel – $6.95-12.95/month

Those are the cheapest programs to learn Spanish, and if you want a more intense program, you will have to pay more.

Rosetta Stone – $179 for 1 level, $479 for 5 levels
Pimsleur – $550 for 5 levels, or $15-$20/month for a subscription

Of course, none of these courses have a live tutor. So, how much more do you have to pay to learn Spanish online as if you were in a real class? If you opt for private tutors, such as those offered through Italki, you could be looking at $30 per class. Likewise, the classes from Panda Tree can range all the way up to $45 per session.

Panda Tree – $19-25 per class of 25 minutes, $34-45 per class of 50 minutes

Is there any way to get quality classes with a live tutor without breaking your wallet? Well, the classes with HSA come as low as $6.65 per live class! That’s over half the price of Panda Tree for live, one-on-one classes that can be tailored to your student’s needs.

Homeschool Spanish Academy – $6.65-9.93 per class of 25 minutes, $9.98-14.60 per class of 50 minutes.

Start learning Spanish online

Alright! We’ve given you the basics for just a couple of the online Spanish programs. There are many more options, of course, but these are just a few of the more popular choices.

If you are looking for high-quality, live classes that actually get you to fluency, we would invite you to try our Free Trial Class. These classes are tailored to your needs and won’t send you into bankruptcy. ¡Pruébalo!

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Ashley Reid

Freelance Writer at Homeschool Spanish Academy

I have lived in Latin America for 6 years now, and I have worked as an ESL teacher, translator, and missionary during that time. I absolutely love languages and am always learning a new one. However, Spanish is my preferred language! I am a happy wife and mom to an adorable baby boy. In my free time, I love drawing and painting portraits and reading fantasy novels.