How to use natural input to learn Spanish?

  • Post author:
  • Reading time:13 mins read

What do you think of when you hear the term ‘NATURAL INPUT’?

Natural input is a vital aspect of language learning, yet it’s often overlooked. It’s the missing link.

You can surround yourself with all sources of information, all types of facts and rules, but you won’t really master a language until you incorporate natural input to your language learning.

And even when you do set off to practice with ‘real life Spanish’, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that you need to stick to resources specifically aimed at language learners.

You don’t! Getting exposure to Spanish in a way that aligns with your interests can be much more enjoyable and organic.

Whether it’s through watching YouTube videos, films or series, listening to podcasts, participating in online communities, reading newsletters, or following people on social media, there are countless opportunities to take advantage of natural input and immerse yourself in the language while also learning about topics which are relevant for you.

By choosing resources that match your interests, you’ll be able to learn the language in a more engaging and authentic way, and have more fun along the way.

I’ve already highlighted the importance of input in THIS ARTICLE where I also discuss the importance of grammar and the role of a tutor. In this post I want to dive deeper and explore the various ways you can use real life content to boost your Spanish learning.

But before we move any further, let’s agree on what natural input is.

What is Natural Language Input?

Natural language input refers to exposure to language that is used in a natural and authentic way. It involves experiencing language in context, rather than through isolated grammar rules or vocabulary lists, and is characterized by its fluidity, unpredictability, and variability.

Authentic language materials will help you develop and improve your Spanish skills. They will allow you to develop your abilities to understand and produce language in a way that reflects how it is used by native speakers in real-world settings, rather than just in textbooks and/or in formal classroom settings, where everything seems so civil.

That sounds so uncomfortable!

I know it does not sound inviting, but although embracing the challenge of engaging with natural language input may feel daunting at first, by pushing yourself to engage with a variety of authentic resources, you’ll be able to build your skills more quickly and develop the confidence to tackle even the most challenging language tasks.

What sources of Natural Input are there?

Just think about it. Internet has made it easier than ever to access organic sources of authentic content.

There are numerous options and all complement each other. Let’s have a look at the different sources and how you can approach them.

  • YouTube Channels: Look for channels that cover topics you’re interested in, such as cooking, music, or travel. This way, you’ll be able to immerse yourself in the language while also learning about subjects you’re passionate about.
  • Podcasts: Choose podcasts that focus on topics you enjoy or that are in line with your personal or professional interests. This way you’ll be more likely to stick with it.
  • Streaming platforms: Watching TV shows or movies in your target language can be an entertaining way to improve your listening skills and get exposure to native speakers.
    By the way, earlier this month I published an article dedicated to learning Spanish with movies.
  • Newspapers: Reading a newspaper in your target language can be an excellent way to practice reading and build your vocabulary. Look for the sections you’re most interested in. To make it easier, start with short articles or opinion pieces, and work your way up to longer pieces as your skills improve.
  • Subreddits: Join subreddits that revolve around your interests, such as art, sports, or technology, rather than just language learning communities. This will provide you with a more authentic and dynamic exposure to the target language.
  • Newsletters: Subscribe to newsletters that cover topics you’re interested in, such as fashion, politics, or food, or even language learning.
  • Social Media: Follow accounts that are related to your interests, such as food bloggers, musicians, or comedians. This will give you a more engaging and authentic exposure to the target language and allow you to participate in real-life conversations and discussions.

Believe me: these sources of natural language content are priceless. I deal with content in English as a non-native speaker on a daily basis, and the feeling of accomplishment I get from using it to learn about my topics of interest or stay updated is fabulous. Not only that, but I keep learning new words and phrases all the time.

Also, don’t forget that when you engage with natural language input from a variety of sources, you have the chance to hone different language skills

In the RESOURCES SECTION you can find dozens of cool suggestions for you.

Essential Toolkit

Don’t be afraid to challenge yourself with content that seems difficult – with the right tools at your disposal, you might be surprised at how much you can learn!

There are a couple of allies you shouldn’t forget to include in your toolbox: a good dictionary extension, as well as human-made subtitles and transcripts whenever they are available.

IMTRANSLATOR – a Chrome extension that enables you to create interlinear texts in more than 20 languages. I’ve already explained how to use IT in THIS ARTICLE.

LANGUAGE REACTOR – a fantastic tool to get dual subs (subtitles both in Spanish and in your native language). Read THIS ARTICLE to know more about it.

By using tools like ImTranslator and Language Reactor, you can expand your language skills by exposing yourself to challenging content that might otherwise be beyond your current level of understanding.

These translation and language learning tools can help you overcome language barriers and access a wider range of language learning opportunities, allowing you to push your language learning boundaries and reach new levels of proficiency.

Alternatively, READLANG is another cool Chrome extension you can try. It highlights and translates the words you hover over on a website and then you can create flashcards out of them.

However, don’t just rely on them, as the guiding principle is to get yourself comfortable enough to be able to deal with the content but not so comfortable that you don’t put any effort.

RECOMMENDED: Spanish Input’s Guide to learning Spanish with YouTube.

Why Natural Input is So Helpful?

So, what are the benefits of incorporating natural input into your language learning? Well, there are many. Here are the main ones:

  1. Improve language comprehension: Natural language input helps you to understand how words and phrases are used in context and how they are combined to form sentences. This can lead to improved comprehension of the language and the ability to extract meaning from spoken or written language.
  2. Expand vocabulary: Natural language input exposes you to a wide range of vocabulary used in context, which can expand your knowledge of words and phrases and improve your overall ability to use them in the appropriate contexts.
  3. Refine grammar: Natural language input allows you to see grammar rules and patterns used in context, making it easier to understand and apply them.
  4. Enhance communication skills: Exposure to natural language input can help you develop more natural and fluent communication skills.
  5. Boost motivation: Natural language input is usually more engaging and interesting than artificial or textbook language.
  6. Improve pronunciation: Listening to and imitating natural language input can help you improve your pronunciation and intonation.
  7. Greater confidence: Exposure to natural language input can help you feel more comfortable and confident in you language use, particularly in situations where you need to interact with native speakers.
  8. Better understanding of regional variations: Natural language input can expose you to different regional variations of the language, which can help you understand and appreciate the diversity of the language.

Natural Input and Comprehensible Input

It’s important to note that there is a difference between natural input and comprehensible input. Natural input refers to exposure to the language in its authentic form, as we’ve covered above. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that every word or phrase needs to be understood for the exposure to be beneficial.

While natural language input can certainly be considered a type of comprehensible input, it is not the only type, and not all comprehensible input is natural language input.

How not to use Natural Input?

As always, there are ways to get the wrong end of the stick in terms of natural input.

First, while natural input can be an excellent way to improve your language skills, it’s important to remember that simply consuming it passively isn’t enough. To get the most out of your exposure to the target language, it’s essential to actively engage with the material.

This means taking the time to focus on the content and actively try to understand what is being said or written. It may also involve taking notes, pausing or rewinding videos, or looking up new vocabulary words that you come across. By actively engaging with the material, you’ll be able to internalize the language in a more meaningful way.

Go out there and apply what you learn!

Remember that language proficiency is not just about comprehension, but also about communication. Even if you understand most of an article, you may still struggle to express yourself effectively in the language. Therefore, you should strive to develop your speaking, writing, and listening skills.

It’s important to find opportunities to use the language actively yourself, such as through speaking or writing practice. This can involve finding a language exchange partner, practicing with a tutor, or writing in a journal short summaries of the information you’ve been in contact with.

In fact, one of the conversation lesson types I offer is based on Natural Input and taking the resource chosen by the student as the focus of our lesson. And it works great!

By actively using the language yourself, you’ll be able to solidify what you’ve learned and build your confidence as a speaker or writer.

Don’t miss out on the RESOURCES SECTION, you’ll probably find something of your interest there!

Hope this article gave you food for thought!

Until next time,

Happy Spanish learning,

You might also want to read these articles:

Leave a Reply