How to Learn Spanish Before You Move to LATAM

How to Learn Spanish Before You Move to LATAM

The Spanish-speaking countries in North, Central, & South America are top-notch destinations for American emigrants. They offer stunning weather, lovely people, lower costs of living, and phenomenal culture and cuisine, all in compatible time zones. If you can speak Spanish, you’ll be able to communicate with more than 500 million people, and you’ll speak the dominant language in 21 countries. (Of course, just like with English, dialects and varieties abound.)

Everyone has their own opinion about the best or fastest way to learn a new language, but I don’t think there’s a one-size-fits-all approach. I think that the best way to learn a new language is to be patient and gracious with yourself, be reasonable with your goals and expectations, and find the learning style that works for you.

There are so many ways to learn online now, from one-on-one tutoring to sites that translate your favorite book and shows. Here’s a compilation of our favorite Spanish language learning tools from across the web along with our recommendations for finding the best Spanish language program for you.

Note: we may earn a commission if you click one of these links and make a purchase, but it has no bearing on our recommendations. 

Spanish Courses & Activities

If you learn best at your own pace, these sites offer engaging Spanish lesson activities that operate like workbooks, labs, or games.

rocket languages spanish

RocketLanguages offers lifetime access to Spanish courses where you can check your pronunciation using their state-of-the-art voice recognition system and practice on-the-spot speaking. Their activities use algorithms to identify where you’re having trouble and help you practice problematic words and phrases. Rocket Spanish also comes with tons of downloadable audio tracks that train your ear to the Spanish language.

pimsleur logo

Pimsleur is named after Dr. Paul Pimsleur, a linguistics professor and researcher at Ohio State University and UCLA, who says that the way to rapidly acquire a new language is by hearing the language used in everyday situations and interacting with it so it easily sticks in your mind. They say you can use their scientifically proven method to go from not knowing a single word to confidently speaking in just 30 days.

Memrise new logo

Memrise uses video examples, online courses, immersive learning, and game-like tests to teach Spanish and 22 other languages. They offer courses specifically in Mexican Spanish. You can practice speaking with their new Language Partner Chatbot, called MemBot.

synergy spanish

Synergy Spanish has a new system for learning Spanish that’s ideal for adult learners. The creator’s method includes becoming fluent in just 138 Spanish words and using those to improve your expat quality of life quickly and dramatically.

rosetta stone

Rosetta Stone is a low-cost option for self-study with a monthly subscription or lifetime purchase option. Live tutoring and group lessons are built into the program, but aren’t the main components.

innovative language

InnovativeLanguage has one of the largest breadths of tools available, from video courses to audiobooks to apps and even a Roku TV channel. Communicate with your fellow learners in their online community.

babbel logo

Babbel has been used by more than 10 million people to learn languages using tools developed at Yale University, City University of New York, and Michigan State University. Lessons are app based, or use Babbel Live for group classes.

mondly logo

Mondly is an app-based program that makes learning Spanish a fun, game-based activity. There are options to learn with AR (augmented reality), VR (virtual reality), and a version just for kids.

cudoo logo

Cudoo offers video classes on thousands of topics, including Spanish. You pay by the course, with each course consisting of a number of video lessons. For each course you buy, one is donated to someone with limited access to education.

drops kahoot darkPurple

Drops is an app-based tool for learning languages, and they have a dedicated app for Mexican Spanish. Drops uses game-like play to track your progress and recommends starting with five minutes each day.

Real World Spanish Content

If you learn best by consuming real-world content, like TV shows and books, in the language you want to learn, these sites may help you learn Spanish fastest. 

LingoPie uses real TV shows and movies to help you learn a new language. The idea is to make language learning as simple as watching your favorite TV show (including kids’ shows!). After you watch an episode you can easily review all your new vocabulary & grammar rules with built-in flashcards and word lists.

fluent u

FluentU provides video, audio, news, and other content to teach you Spanish in real-world scenario on your own time. Explore language in context and test yourself with immersive quizzes.

Online Spanish Classes

If you learn best with the support of a group classroom environment, these sites offer remote Spanish classes from trained Spanish teachers where you learn alongside your peers. 

babbel logo

Babbel has been used by more than 10 million people to learn languages using tools developed at Yale University, City University of New York, and Michigan State University. Lessons are app based, or use Babbel Live for group classes.

spanishvip

Take as many classes as you need each month, around the clock, Monday-Friday from SpanishVIP. Your immersive study alongside your peers is supplemented with self-led resources for out-of-classroom study.

italki logo

Italki lets you choose between one-on-one tutoring sessions and group classes from a variety of specialized instructors at a range of price points. Book classes online and pay as you go. Italki identifies the home country of its teachers so you can learn the dialect that best meets your needs.

One-on-one Spanish Tutors

If you learn best by building a relationship with a dedicated expert who can guide you through your lessons, these sites offer one-on-one private tutoring from full-time Spanish instructors.

languatalk

LanguaTalk offers personalized Spanish classes with the tutor of your choice at times that fit your weekly schedule. You can choose from a variety of instruction rates to find a tutor who fits your budget.

italki logo

Italki lets you choose between one-on-one tutoring sessions and group classes from a variety of specialized instructors at a range of price points. Book classes online and pay as you go. Italki identifies the home country of its teachers so you can learn the dialect that best meets your needs.

preply logo

Preply is a tutoring company that teaches more that languages. They boast 4,185 Spanish tutors and offer structured lesson plans, and you can sign up for lessons 24/7.

rype logo

Rype offers one-on-one tutoring from native speakers by buying credits or a subscription instead of the pay-as-you-go model. You can choose your teacher and take classes 24/7.

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Jen Barnett Expatsi headshot
Co-founder at Expatsi | Website | + posts

Jen Barnett is an expat influencer and co-founder of Expatsi, a company that's helped thousands of Americans on their moving abroad journeys. She created the Expatsi Test, an assessment that recommends countries for aspiring emigrants based on lifestyle data. Jen has an MBA from Emory University with concentrations in marketing and innovation. She's written for BusinessWeek, Health, Cooking Light, and Southern Living. Prior to Expatsi, she created Freshfully and Bottle & Bone—two businesses in the local food space—and spoke at TEDx on being brave. She's moving to Mexico in 2024, along with her husband and co-founder Brett, pitbull mix Squiggy, and three rotten cats. How can she help you move abroad?

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Jen Barnett Expatsi headshot
Co-founder at Expatsi | Website | + posts

Jen Barnett is an expat influencer and co-founder of Expatsi, a company that's helped thousands of Americans on their moving abroad journeys. She created the Expatsi Test, an assessment that recommends countries for aspiring emigrants based on lifestyle data. Jen has an MBA from Emory University with concentrations in marketing and innovation. She's written for BusinessWeek, Health, Cooking Light, and Southern Living. Prior to Expatsi, she created Freshfully and Bottle & Bone—two businesses in the local food space—and spoke at TEDx on being brave. She's moving to Mexico in 2024, along with her husband and co-founder Brett, pitbull mix Squiggy, and three rotten cats. How can she help you move abroad?