Spanish Learning Curve Freesource #2
Level: Beginner to Advanced
Cost: FREE (some videos are behind a paywall)
Dreaming Spanish is an excellent free resource for Comprehensible Input.
The video-based learning site is the brainchild of Pablo, a Spanish native who has learned English, Japanese, and Thai using what he calls the OG Immersion Method.
What is the OG Immersion Method?
The OG Immersion Method is partially based on the work of language acquisition researchers like Dr. Stephen Krashen, who advocate absorbing hundreds of hours of Comprehensible Input (CI) in a second language (similar to the way we learn our mother tongue) as an effective way to become fluent.
Like Krashen’s teaching, the Dreaming Spanish OG Immersion Method prioritizes listening over speaking or vocab flashcards as the most natural way to acquire a new language. In fact, Pablo recommends watching or listening to over 600 hours of CI before you attempt to start speaking, which may sound like a long apprenticeship.
However, there are thousands of engaging videos (most of them free) on the Dreaming Spanish site, so you can easily clock up the recommended 1,000 hours of CI to become fluent within their selection alone.
What’s great about Dreaming Spanish:
Language Learning Approach: Dreaming Spanish uses a unique and innovative approach to language learning by incorporating CI through storytelling, short documentaries, and cultural and historical lessons.
Authentic Content: The videos on Dreaming Spanish are created and narrated by a native Spanish speaker. They feature real-life conversations, exposing learners to authentic Spanish language and culture.
Varied Content: Dreaming Spanish offers a wide range of content, including videos for different proficiency levels, grammar explanations, vocabulary lessons, and cultural insights. This variety allows learners to find content that matches their level and interests.
Slow-paced Speech: Pablo and the other video hosts (many of whom are from Latin America) speak at a slow pace, making it easier for learners to follow along and understand the content.
Free Access: While there are paywalled videos, Dreaming Spanish offers a truly incredible number of free videos, making it accessible to learners on a budget.
Progress Tracking: There’s also a useful feature where users can track how many hours of CI they have consumed (both within Dreaming Spanish and outside of the site from other sources).
What’s more limited about the resource:
Limited Structure: Some learners may prefer a more structured approach with formal lessons and exercises.
No Real Interactivity: Dreaming Spanish’s videos are pre-recorded, which means learners do not have the opportunity to interact with a live teacher or other learners in real-time.
Lack of Supplementary Resources: Dreaming Spanish offers video content but no supplementary resources such as exercises, quizzes, or interactive activities to reinforce learning. Some learners might prefer a more structured learning experience.
Will Dreaming Spanish make you fluent?
It will certainly help with your comprehension, but as I always say, fluency requires developing a range of skills, and I’d guess that many people will require more interactivity to get to that level.
Overall, I think that Dreaming Spanish is a brilliant free resource. It provides a practical approach to language learning through Comprehensible Input, with engaging video content. There’s a huge number of free videos available on the site, and they are well-made and interesting, and the teachers are likable.
However, while I am a big fan of CI as an overall learning method, I don’t subscribe to the notion that it’s harmful to your progress to start speaking from an early stage alongside listening/watching/reading, etc.
If the OG Immersion Method is based on the same principles we use when learning our first langue, then it’s worth noting that babies start to mimic the sounds their parents make from a very early age.
Whether you are a purist of the Krashen school or more open to different learning methods, this resource is well worth checking out.
Have you tried Dreaming Spanish? Let me know your impressions in the comments below.
¡Hasta la próxima, chicos!