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Language skills

Listening

Atlas interactivo de la entonación del Español

Audiria
Materials and exercises for all proficiency levels. A wide variety of exercises not only for listening comprehension but also for vocabulary and grammar. Transcripts are provided for all audio and audiovisual texts. Explanations are available in English and Spanish.

Cadena Ser
Also offers the option to listen to radio broadcasts live and for free. It also has a “Podcast” section.

ECOS
Online version of the magazine for Spanish learners, featuring in-depth exercises on listening comprehension, grammar, and vocabulary (Premium login available for access to more interactive exercises in the self-study center).

En sintonía con el español
“En sintonía con el español” from the Instituto Cervantes is designed for learners at the A2–B1 level and above. With podcasts and interactive exercises, you can practice listening comprehension while simultaneously improving your grammatical and lexical skills. Further information can be found at http://cvc.cervantes.es/ensenanza/ese/presentacion.htm.

Estaciones de Radio
A list of numerous Spanish radio stations to listen to.

News Sources from Spain
Directory of Spanish media: radio stations, TV stations, etc.

COSMO
Current broadcasts in various languages without exercises (Spanish: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri from 8:55 p.m. to 9:20 p.m.).

RTVE
Offers the ability to listen to and watch radio and television broadcasts live and for free. It also features, among other things, an extensive archive of all episodes of popular Spanish TV series, as well as blogs and podcasts.

Spanish Grammar Exercises (Sektion: Texte und Lieder)
Authentic Spanish-language songs and texts with audio, vocabulary explanations, and vocabulary and grammar exercises (reference language: English).

Ver-taal.com
Listening comprehension exercises using authentic texts (advertisements, movie trailers, TV commercials, and news reports), as well as vocabulary and grammar exercises.

Video ELE
YouTube channel covering various topics at different proficiency levels (A1–B2).

Reading

El País
Read the newspaper in its original Spanish.

Instituto Cervantes
A variety of fun exercises on vocabulary, grammar, and reading comprehension. The exercises are designed for different proficiency levels and divided into two categories: by type of interaction and by educational content. The instructions and explanations are in Spanish.

Lecturas paso a paso
Texts at three proficiency levels with word definitions, provided by the Instituto Cervantes.

Ojal
Bilingual (German/Spanish) online version of the magazine “Ojal – Journal for Interculturality and Counter-Information,” where articles are available for free—reading texts without vocabulary definitions or exercises.

Silueta Bilingual Magazine
Bilingual (English/Spanish) online version of the magazine “Silueta,” where articles are available for free—reading texts without vocabulary explanations or exercises.

Writing

Expresión e interacción escritas.

Speaking

Catálogo de voces hispánicas
Contains approximately 100 audiovisual examples of the most important pronunciation variants from Spanish-speaking countries. The corresponding transcriptions are provided along with the recordings. In addition, the catalog includes general information about the distribution of the Spanish language in the regions where the recordings were made.

Phonetics Animation Project @ the University of Iowa
Here you can practice pronouncing Spanish sounds. Animated graphics show tongue movement and the precise articulation of sounds in the mouth. Examples from native speakers illustrate various words and word positions where the sounds occur.

Grammar and vocabulary

Audiria
Materials and exercises for all proficiency levels. A wide variety of exercises not only for listening comprehension but also for vocabulary and grammar. Transcripts are provided for all audio and audiovisual texts. Explanations are available in English and Spanish.

El subjuntivo en español
A page dedicated solely to “el subjuntivo.” Which verbs take the subjunctive, how to use it, and other questions are explained on this page. You’ll also find exercises here.

Hueber
(A1–B1) Interactive materials for practicing grammar and vocabulary, online exercises with answers, as well as games, puzzles, and worksheets available for download. Reading and listening comprehension included. Additional exercises with workbooks.

Instituto Cervantes-Rayuela
Diverse and engaging exercises on vocabulary, grammar, and reading comprehension. The exercises are designed for different proficiency levels and divided into two categories: by type of interaction and by educational content. The instructions and explanations are in Spanish.

Konjugationstrainer
Simply select the desired tense (e.g., presente, imperfecto, etc.) and verbs (base verbs, regular verbs, thematic verbs, etc.) and start practicing right away! (Or view the complete conjugation again to study it.) Note: The pretérito indefinido tense is simply referred to as “pretérito” on this page.

Konjugationstrainer
Interactive exercises to master verb conjugations

Konjugationstrainer
Conjugation practice for over 12,000 Spanish verbs, with multiple exercise modes.

Languages online
Exercises on various grammar topics. These are based on the “Caminos” books.

Online-Spanisch-Lernen
A collection of links to free online resources for learning Spanish, organized by skill, as well as links to online vocabulary trainers and dictionaries.

Spanish Grammar Exercises
A very comprehensive and well-organized site with many grammar exercises, some of which include audio. The site is mostly in Spanish, with English available in only a few cases.

Spanisch Lernen Online (SPALEON).
“SPAnisch LErnen ONline” offers a database of grammar and vocabulary materials as well as complete online courses.

studyspanish.com
Learn grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary online and take quizzes to test your knowledge.

Todo Claro
Exercises on grammar, vocabulary, and cultural studies are provided at various levels (beginner, intermediate, advanced). With fill-in-the-blank exercises, crossword puzzles, and matching exercises—making it well-suited for beginners as well. Ver-taal.com Exercises on various grammar topics.

Vocabulary

Quizlet
Quizlet is an online platform that allows users to create flashcards or access existing ones. Once flashcards are created or found, there are various ways to study: from simply viewing and practicing, to learning to write, listening and writing, all the way to playing games and taking quizzes.

Pasatiempos de Rayuela
Language learning games to reinforce grammar and vocabulary at four different levels (inicial, intermedio, avanzado, superior), e.g., hangman, crossword puzzles, multiple-choice exercises, riddles, and much more.

Sprichwörter auf Spanisch
Spanish proverbs that can also be viewed with their English meanings. Additionally, you can enter English proverbs to find their Spanish equivalents.

Thematic Vocabulary Exercises
Vocabulary training for beginner and intermediate levels with interactive exercises: Los alimentos (food), La familia (the family), Interacciones (typical communicative situations—some with audio), Los colores (colors), and ¡Que aproveche! (Enjoy your meal!).

Ver-taal.com
Vocabulary lists organized by topic, with images to help you match or guess the words.

Vocabulary Tests (Fill-in-the-Blank Exercises)
100 different tests in which you must insert given words into individual sentences and phrases.

Dictionaries

Asisehace.net

Vocabulary and podcasts.

Diccionario de gestos
The most important everyday Spanish gestures are listed in alphabetical order according to their meaning. The dictionary also offers audiovisual examples demonstrating the respective gestures. Transcriptions of the texts are also provided.

Diccionario de variantes del español

Expresiones españolas para Erasmus en apuros
A blog that introduces useful, everyday Spanish idioms and explains their meanings and origins.

PONS
Contains more than 1.3 million entries, phrases, and translations from German to Spanish and from Spanish to German. It takes into account colloquial language, technical terminology, and regional variations in word usage, and provides examples of pronunciation.

Real Academia Española
A modified and expanded electronic version of the monolingual “Diccionario de la Lengua Española,” 2001 edition. It also offers the option to submit specific inquiries or suggestions.

Vocabulario básico en Internet
Glossary of Spanish Internet and computer terms (browser = navegador, @ = arroba, download = descarga), compiled by staff at the “Universitat Politècnica de València.”

Language tests and examinations

Placement Tests

Don-Quijote Placement test
Here you can test your language proficiency and receive explanations for incorrect answers (reference language: English). The left-hand navigation bar also includes exercises on Spanish pronunciation, a verb conjugator, vocabulary practice with numbers, and vocabulary games.

Placement Test Instituto Cervantes
A placement test that assesses not only vocabulary and grammar but also reading and listening comprehension, and then assigns a proficiency level.

Cornelsen CEFR Placement Test
A more comprehensive placement test with questions on reading, listening, writing, and grammar.

Quick Spanish Test
Test your language skills for free. Also includes: learning tips, information on language certificates, and test preparation.

Test Your Spanish: BBC Placement Test
Easy multiple-choice placement test (reference language: English).

Exams

Diploma de Español como Lengua Extranjera
Brief overview from the Instituto Cervantes; detailed information on the exam process and contact information.

SIELE - Servicio Internacional de Evaluación de la Lengua Española
With SIELE (Servicio Internacional de Evaluación de la Lengua Española), Spanish learners can have their language skills (reading and listening comprehension; speaking and writing) certified online. These new certificates are issued by the following institutions: Instituto Cervantes, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Universidad de Salamanca, and Universidad de Buenos Aires.

Language courses

BBC Education – Spanish
An online Spanish course for beginners and advanced learners featuring essential travel phrases, grammar and listening comprehension exercises, language-learning games, and pronunciation practice. It also includes a business module and a comprehensive online video course covering basic communication situations (with English as the reference language).

Curso de Español
A comprehensive Spanish course for beginners through advanced learners that has everything to offer. From grammar explanations, exercises, listening passages, and songs to vocabulary drills and a forum—everything is available for use.

Mi vida loca
A free online language course from the BBC for beginners. In 22 short episodes, you’ll experience an exciting visit to Spain through video. At various points in the story, learners are prompted to provide the correct response. The story is narrated with subtitles in English and Spanish. Each episode includes a corresponding section with grammar and vocabulary exercises, as well as explanations.

Ser y estar
(A1–C2) A comprehensive resource for practicing reading, listening, writing, and grammar. A site featuring interactive videos, games, and current topics from Latin America and Spain. Suitable for both learning and teaching.

Spanisch gratis
(A1-A2) Course featuring grammar exercises, an illustrated dictionary, texts, podcasts, short videos, and dialogs with translations and audio. A wide range of modules and interactive learning.

super-spanisch.de
A systematic online language course for beginners featuring audio recordings of texts, along with exercises and a grammar and vocabulary guide. It also includes special modules—for example, on pronunciation or job applications—as well as the option to have your own written texts corrected (reference language: German).

Cultural studies

Diccionario de gestos españoles
A dictionary of gestures. Short videos on various words and their corresponding gestures. NOTE: Videos can only be viewed in Internet Explorer.

Useful Resources for Hispanists
Collection of Spanish-related links from the Center for Educational Media: Materials on the culture of Spanish-speaking countries and regions, as well as on literature, the press, and institutions.

Portal del Hispanismo
Here you’ll find important information for all Spanish studies scholars.

SGEL ELE Español para extranjeros
YouTube channel. An interesting channel for learning something new about Spanish culture while improving your listening skills. Available at various levels (A1 to B2).

Todo sobre España
Here you’ll find (almost) everything about Spain (in Spanish, English, or German).

Recetas de cocina española
For foodies, a wealth of Spanish recipes, organized by dish and difficulty level.

Others

Informe Semanal (RTVE)

Deutsche Welle en español
(B2-C1) Daily news in Spanish to listen to and read.

Portals and teaching resources (for teachers)

Artículos sobre didáctica del Español Lengua Extranjera
Reflections on teaching experiences in the ELE classroom, teaching materials, conference proceedings.

Audio-Lingua
A collaborative database of authentic audio files recorded by native speakers, royalty-free for educational or personal use. The MP3 files are categorized by CEFR level and can be listened to directly online, downloaded individually, or via a podcast subscription. Anyone interested can help keep this website active by submitting personal recordings using the form. All recordings feature native speakers with a variety of pronunciations and accents.

Centro Virtual del Instituto Cervantes – Biblioteca
A collection of resources related to the teaching of Spanish as a foreign language, aimed at Spanish teachers, examiners, authors of textbooks and teaching materials, teacher trainers, and educational administrators.

Centro Virtual del Instituto Cervantes – Didactiteca
Archive of the DidactiRed section. Classroom activities, reflection exercises for teachers, and techniques for improving teaching practice.

Didactired
DidactiRed is a weekly section of the CVC that publishes activities designed for Spanish teachers. In the second phase of the project, which began in 2004, in addition to classroom activities, the section offers reflection exercises for teachers and techniques for improving teaching practice. All activities are compiled and categorized in Didactiteca, the archive for this section.

Foroele
Journal of the Annual Forum for E/LE Teachers (University of Valencia). This journal aims to serve as a compendium of practical activities that may be particularly useful for teaching Spanish as a foreign language. To date, the journal has published five issues (2005–2010).

Hispanorama
A resource from the German Association of Spanish Teachers featuring links, interactive exercises, and useful information.

La Biblioteca Virtual
The Virtual Library is a space for hosting a variety of materials (articles, master’s theses, dissertations, audiovisual materials, etc.) relevant to the training of ELE teachers and to the teaching and learning of Spanish as a foreign language, the scope of which extends beyond the limits of the redELE journal.

La página del idioma español
A resource site for teachers and advanced learners (spelling, punctuation, and grammar questions; Word of the Day; literature; radio; articles on various topics).

Manual de español urgente
A database that brings together a comprehensive collection of linguistic commentary and clarifications on the use of the Spanish language. Use it to look up questions online regarding neologisms, personal names, place names, demonyms, transcriptions, translations, barbarisms, abbreviations, common mistakes, etc.

marcoELE
marcoELE is an electronic journal dedicated to the teaching of Spanish as a foreign language, whose goal is to provide ELE teachers with specific materials for their professional development and for the classes they teach.
marcoELE is a nonprofit publication, free of advertising and without any public or private funding. This allows it to maintain a desirable editorial independence; however, on the other hand, it unfortunately prevents it from maintaining regular contact with authors, except in cases where such contact is absolutely essential.

Porta linguarum
PORTA LINGUARUM is an interuniversity and international journal specializing in foreign language teaching. It aims to disseminate empirical studies, critical reviews, theoretical models, and teaching proposals related to language teaching and learning processes.

ProfeDeELE
ProfeDeEle.es is a blog for students and teachers of Spanish as a foreign language, offering a wide variety of ideas, resources, and practical activities, all published freely and at no cost.

RADIOTECA
A portal for sharing radio productions with shared rights, built collectively by hundreds of radio stations, centers, and networks in Latin America and other regions of the world. RADIOTECA is a collaborative initiative where you can: download audio files to broadcast on your station; share productions with other radio stations; find training resources; and participate in the directory of radio stations, centers, networks, news agencies, independent producers, and podcasts—a Latin American project promoted by UNESCO.

Red Electrónica de Didáctica del Español como Lengua Extranjera (redELE)
The redELE portal (Electronic Network for the Teaching of Spanish as a Foreign Language) is a public service of the Spanish Ministry of Education aimed at professionals teaching Spanish as a foreign language worldwide. Its goal is to provide specific information on the pedagogy of this discipline and to contribute to teacher training.

Todoele.net
A website created by and for teachers of Spanish as a foreign language. It brings together everything related to teaching Spanish that may be useful to teachers.

VideoELE
Videos for learning Spanish as a foreign language. For levels A1–B2; includes text transcripts, exercises, and answer keys.

Want to learn more? Check out our cross-language web links, too.

Textbooks with Audio

A1: Aula International 1 neu (+ 1 Audio-CD), Klett/difusión
A2: Aula International 2 neu (+ 1 Audio-CD), Klett/difusión
B1: Aula International 3 nueva edición (+ 1 Audio-CD), Klett/difusión
B1: Aula International 3 nueva edición (neue Auflage + 1 Audio-CD), Klett/difusión
B2.1: Aula International 4 nueva edición (+ 1 Audio-CD), Klett/difusión
B2.2: Aula International 5 nueva edición (+ 1 Audio-CD), Klett/difusión
A1: Aula International Plus (+ 1 Audio-CD), Klett/difusión
A2: Aula International Plus (+ 1 Audio-CD), Klett/difusión
B1: Aula International Plus 3 (+ 1 Audio-CD), Klett/difusión
A1-B1: Entorno Labora, edelsa
A1-B1: Entorno Labora (neue Ausgabe), edelsa
B1: Meta profesional

Grammar

A1-C1: Praxis-Grammatik Spanisch, PONS
A1-B2: Grammatik in Bildern - Spanisch, PONS
A1-B2: Grammatik üben in Bildern - Spanisch, PONS
A1-B1: Gramática básica des estudiante de español, Klett/difusión
A1-B1: Gramática básica del estudiante de español - edición revisada y ampliada, difusión
A1-B1: Cuadernos de gramática española (+ 1 Audio-CD), difusión
A1-C1: Große Lerngrammatik Spanisch, Hueber

Literature

Literaturwerkstatt Spanisch, Klett
A1: Un día en Salamanca, difusión

Dictionaries

PONS Großwörterbuch Spanisch
Diccinario SALAMANCA de la lengua española, Hueber
Langenscheidt Maxi Wörterbuch Spanisch

Newspapers and Magazines

The newspapers and magazines listed here are published monthly and are specifically designed for language learners. You can read them on-site at the Self-Study Center.

Revista de la Prensa

Ecos

Games

Learning is more fun when you play! At the Self-Study Center, you’ll find a wide selection of language and party games—from classic games to those developed specifically by the Self-Study Center team.

You can use the games during our events (e.g., Let’s Play) LINK or meet up with other students to play and learn together.

Not sure which game is right for you? The staff at the Self-Study Center will be happy to advise you and show you our games.

What games do we have for Spanish?

Here, you'll find, for example…

Duplik
El dominó de cada día
Quickbuzz – Vokabelduell
Todos de fiesta
Láminas fotográficas
Poesía visual
Weltreise / Vuelta al Mundo

…and much more!

Self-Study and Make-Up Plans

Would you like to learn Spanish independently and intensively? With our self-study plans, you can work toward specific goals and achieve an entire language level. We offer self-study plans at levels A1, A2, B1 and B2.

Are you taking a course at the Language Center and have missed some classes? With our make-up plans, you can catch up on missed material on your own in the Self-Study Center.

For more information on the self-study and make-up plans, please contact the staff at the Self-Study Center.

Foreign-Language Films

In the Self-Study Center, you’ll find a large selection of foreign-language films, news reports, and documentaries from the Language Center’s DVD archive.

You can find an overview of all available films and recordings in the DVD archive folder on site. If you’re looking for a specific film, our staff will be happy to assist you.