Learn Spanish “On the Cheap”

As you might expect, Cacho is a cheap man. They would call him “codo” in Mexico.

Maybe you’re cheap too. Or maybe you just don’t see the point in spending a ton of money to learn Spanish when so many free or cheap resources are at your disposal.

“So, Cacho, tell me how I can learn Spanish for cheap,” you say.

Here’s how:

You’re going to need a dictionary. There’s no way around that. The good news is that they cost less than ten bucks. Or you can use one of these free online dictionaries and not spend a dime.

Do you have a television? You probably do. Watching Spanish shows is a great way to develop your listening skills and comprehension. Also try turning on the Spanish subtitles if available when you watch English shows. Watching TV has to be one of the easiest (and cheapest) ways to learn Spanish.

Grammar books are important. Can you borrow one from a friend? No? Don’t worry. There are tons of free grammar lessons on the web. Here’s a few to get you started.

Now you need to practice speaking Spanish with real people in real-life situations. But how? Well, you could hire an expensive tutor (no way!) or you could go to a free Spanish Meetup group (yes!). There are groups like this in cities all over the world where you can meet native Spanish speakers and other people like you who are learning the language. It’s a great way to socialize too.

If you do decide to hire a tutor, here’s a way to save a few bucks. Typical one-to-one Spanish tutors in North America charge anywhere from $15 to $60 per hour. But you can get private tutoring on Skype for much less. I’ve seen some Skype tutors offering unlimited classes for $99 per month. Good deal!

Did you know you can get free Spanish lessons by signing up for trial offers? Here’s a list of courses that offer free trials.

Another way to learn is to set up a language exchange with a Spanish speaker who wants to learn English. Nobody pays, everyone learns. It’s a win-win situation. Craigslist is the place to look for language partners.

Got any other tips for learning Spanish without spending money? Post them below.

Author: Cacho

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