Spanish, the official language of 21 countries and a significant minority language in at least 24 others, is the world’s second most spoken language. Spanish is the fastest growing language in the United States and the most popular foreign language studied by Americans. Teachers of Spanish are experiencing exciting growth in their field: more middle, and high schools offer Spanish than any other foreign language; more elementary schools are beginning to offer Spanish language programs; university Spanish departments continue to attract large numbers of majors and minors; and new sub-fields, such as Spanish for native or heritage speakers, are opening up for Spanish teachers.
Teaching Spanish as a second language is also challenging: teachers must help students practice speaking, writing, listening, and reading in class and provide materials to help them memorize the thousands of verb conjugations and vocabulary words necessary to communicate. The following resources provide Spanish teachers with exercises and grammar explanations for their students to use in class, at home, or over the Internet. Information on theories of teaching Spanish as a foreign language and tips for effective classroom teaching will also inspire teachers to review and improve their own teaching.
Exercises
- Grammar and Culture Exercises: Grammar exercises for beginner and intermediate students; also includes cultural activities to practice grammar points.
- Language Exercises: Includes grammatical exercises and vocabulary practice for beginners.
- Grammar Rules: Explanations of grammar rules and interactive and printable exercises for verbs, pronouns, prepositions, and vocabulary. Also includes translation exercises. Site completely in Spanish.
- Grammar Exercises: Includes exercises to turn into the instructor and self-checking exercises.
- Grammar Practice: Interactive exercises on adjectives, conjunctions, prepositions, pronouns, and verbs.
- Interactive Exercises: Grammar, vocabulary, writing, and reading comprehension exercises.
- Reading Comprehension Exercises: Divided into beginner, intermediate, and advanced readings, this site offers pre- and post-reading activities in addition to texts. Site completely in Spanish.
- Proficiency Exercises: Exercises for beginner, intermediate, and advanced students; includes video exercises.
- Flash Exercises: Internet-based flash exercises on verb tenses.
- Flashcards: Electronic flash cards for verb conjugations, verbs used with prepositions, and prepositional phrases.
- Charts and Activities: Grammar self-quizzes and activities, verb charts, and games to practice Spanish grammar.
Grammar
- Grammar Explanations: Explanations of and practice activities for grammatical points and commonly confused verbs and prepositions.
- Spanish Grammar: Explanations and examples of beginning and intermediate grammar points.
- Grammar Topics: Explanations of individual grammar topics, such as the preterite, imperfect, and subjunctive. Site also includes practice exams and answers.
- Explanations of Important Grammar Points: Includes explanations of adjectival clauses, possessives, the subjunctive, commands, demonstratives, and “por” and “para”.
- Beginning Grammar Explanations: Explanations of beginning grammar points and practice exercises.
- Grammar Reference: Database of grammar concepts; includes explanations and examples.
- Grammar Explanations: Explanations and exercises of commonly confused grammar points.
- Drills and Explanations: Brief explanations of grammar topics with self-correcting drills.
Teaching Methodology
- Methodological Approaches: Digests of content-centered language learning, integrated skills, a lexical approach to second language teaching, and links to other materials regarding methodological approaches to teaching Spanish as a second language.
- Pedagogical Issues: Pedagogical considerations for Spanish as a foreign language.
- Language Teaching Essentials: Explains language teaching methods and goals, how to plan a lesson, motivate learners, and assess learning.
- Teaching Spanish: An overview of teaching theories and how to integrate them in effective classroom teaching of Spanish.
- Teaching Methods: Definitions and rationale for content-based language instruction, immersion education, and culture and language teaching. Includes lesson plans and units.
- Technology and Second Language Instruction: Approaches to teaching second languages using technology; discusses advantages and disadvantages and different approaches to technological integration.
- Internet and Second Language Teaching: An online module to introduce foreign language teachers to using Internet resources in their teaching.
General Spanish Resources
- BBC Spanish Language: Spanish self-tests, beginner course, crosswords, resources for tutors and teachers.
- Resources: Links to resources for grammar, quizzes, exercises by textbook and cultural resources such as television and radio.
- Picture Dictionary: An online Spanish picture dictionary, including flash cards and spelling exercises.
- Phonetics: Flash animation of the way various sounds in Spanish should be pronounced.
- Real Academia Dictionary: Spanish-Spanish dictionary; includes verb conjugation tables.
- English-Spanish Stories: Parallel English-Spanish texts of short stories and poems. Also includes a grammar FAQ and guide.
- Activities: Teacher guides and student activities for elementary, middle school, and high school Spanish lessons.
- Spanish Language Resources: Speaking, listening, and teaching resources.
- Teacher and Student Resources: Includes resources such as search engines, translators, Spanish-language media, and Spanish literature, and history.
