From early learners to those who are advanced in the Spanish language, there are plenty of films, shows, and books available to complement your Spanish lessons. Below we have narrowed down our favourite films, shows, and books that can supplement your language skills.
If you are a beginner Spanish speaker, reading a novel is a great option as you can take it at your own pace. If you are a student at our Spanish School in Melbourne, you will be familiar with a textbook understanding of Spanish vocabulary and grammar rules. Reading in this context fulfils specific learning aims but your next objective should be to understand natural expressions. To put this into practice, it’s a great idea to read stories where natural language is in use. Find a novel in a genre that interests you, to encourage yourself to practice often and in a way that you enjoy.
It’s not expected that you will be able to read each page with ease, but remember that learning requires patience. When presented with an unfamiliar word or phrase, the context of the sentence and story can help you guess.
Challenge yourself and add to your Spanish Lessons with the following reading list:
Short Stories in Spanish by Olly Richards is available in two versions; for a beginner or intermediate level. This option is suggested for intermediate learners but includes enough helpful hints for beginners looking to challenge their skills. Illustrations throughout the novel give the reader clues as to what the story is about. Chapter summaries and simple quizzes also make this book a useful learning resource.
Vivos se Los llevaron (Taken Alive) is a graphic novel that recounts a factual event in Mexican history. In essence, it recounts personal tragedies experienced as a result of the war on drugs. This is an impactful read about the dangerous issues of corruption that affect many countries, and the everyday people who suffer. We recommend this book for beginners as the language and storyline are concise, easy to follow and supported with illustrations.
The story is both captivating and insightful. You will practice your reading skills while learning about Mexico’s recent history, making this an excellent option to supplement your Spanish lessons.
Cuentos de la Selva (Tales from the Jungle) is a collection of short stories written in 1918 inspired by the author Horacio Quiroga’s experience living in the Jungle of Misiones, Argentina. It is considered by scholars to be culturally important and is read to many Spanish children. These creative stories are fun and easy to follow, making for great short reads.
If you’re an intermediate Spanish student, try watching one of these without subtitles:
Extra is a free to watch series available on YouTube. This sitcom follows the adventures of Sam and his friends, giving you plenty of conversational dialogue to learn.
Resources: Spanish for Travellers and Spanish For Kids
Practice the basics with Sésamo, a classic from your childhood that you would remember as Sesame Street. This is a great free resource to learn Spanish for Travellers because it is basic and easy to digest. Due to the lighthearted and easy-to-understand nature of this show, kids can improve their Spanish by watching this program.
The titles below are all available on Netflix. Make sure to watch them with subtitles in Spanish for intensive practice!
La Casa de Papel (Money Heist) is a Spanish heist crime drama series. The suspense from this series will be sure to be a big motivator to keep up your Spanish language practice.
Las chicas del Cable (Cable Girls) is set in 1920s Madrid, Spain. It follows the progress of women’s equality in the setting of Spain’s first national telephone company. A binge-worthy drama that also gives you insight into the lives of Spanish women in a pivotal time of Spanish history.
Narcos is a popular biographical crime drama with three seasons available on Netflix. It is a dramatised chronicle of real-life stories of notorious drug kingpins in 1980s Colombia. A great show to watch if you’re looking to pick up some Spanish slang words.
Books, TV, and movies are excellent ways to combine learning and entertainment. Once you become more advanced in the language, you open yourself up to a rich range of literature and film that you previously might not have been able to appreciate.
Inspired to Learn Spanish? Then contact us at Farolito, Melbourne’s top rated language school. We offer all kinds of courses – Group Spanish Lessons, Intensive Spanish Lessons, Lunch Special Spanish Lessons, or Private Spanish Lessons– to suit your learning needs! Our Spanish Lessons in Melbourne or online are more than just lessons, it is a great cultural and learning experience to give you the boost of confidence!
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