The phrase “learning Spanish lessons” always brings to mind memories of boring textbooks, unsympathetic teachers, and being forced to converse with other kids about topics none of us cared about in a language we barely understood. The good news is that language classes are no longer like that! The only thing that changed all of this forever was the advent of the Internet. It’s simply not necessary these days to sit in a classroom learning formal lessons with an instructor.

The Internet has given us constant access to a large number of Spanish tutorials, lesson plans, software, learning games, vocabulary lists, songs, books, videos, etc. There is no end to the opportunities that anyone looking for can find.

With all this information available, the question now becomes how to choose the best lessons for you. The three questions you will need to answer to find the best fit for you are 1) recognize your learning style 2) determine the amount of time you have available and 3) what medium will work best logistically.

Everyone has their own unique learning style. You may be a mix of two, but most people have a style that best describes them.

There are visual learners (those who learn best by watching or reading a lesson), auditory learners (those who learn best by listening to others talk), and tactile learners (those who learn best by actively participating in a hands-on way).

Discovering your learning style will help you find the Spanish lessons that best suit you. If you’re not sure which looks more like you, there are several free quizzes online that will help you figure out which style you are.

If you are a visual learner, books or software that can be read on a computer will be best for you. Even reading simple books in Spanish (such as children’s books) will improve your knowledge. Looking at a picture with a caption in Spanish and trying to figure out what it says is a fun game for visual learners. Again, use the many resources available online.

Auditory learners will learn well by listening to CDs, tapes, or software that includes audio files. It can be helpful to listen to a conversation in English followed by the same conversation in Spanish. You may find it beneficial to watch Spanish videos with dialogue, such as Spanish soap operas or movies. There are many lyrics online for simple songs in Spanish. Singing these songs can help you remember words and phrases.

Of course, for a tactile learner, visiting a Spanish-speaking country and learning by immersion in the culture and language is the best way to learn. Many people, however, do not have the option to travel when or where they want to go.

Instead, try playing Spanish-language games, such as those often found in Spanish-learning software packages. You might try running a search ad for a person whose primary language is Spanish and who is trying to learn English. You will undoubtedly be brought to a higher level of understanding and knowledge simply by trying to converse and communicate with each other.

Learning styles aside, you will need to find Spanish lessons that meet your time availability and logistical needs. Not all Spanish programs are the same in these areas. Some packages or courses require more of your time and effort; and some travel well and are easy to fit into the small slots of time you have between other activities.

If you’re drawn to sitting down every day and spending a set amount of time learning, you might want to watch a series of videos with a workbook. If your ideal format involves learning on the go, you may want to find some CDs or a software package with audio files that you can put on your ipod and take anywhere.

Software, in my opinion, is the most flexible format because it often has audio files, visual tools, quizzes, games, and cultural information that can be split up and each part can be used individually to suit your schedule and needs.

I hope this guide has helped you determine how to find the Spanish lessons to learn that will work best for you. Even if your final choice doesn’t seem to work at first, don’t be discouraged. You can always try different lessons or programs to learn Spanish. If you keep your eyes on the finish line, I know you’ll be fluent in Spanish before you can say “Bob is your uncle!”