Learning a language has never been easier for those who are unable to go and live in a foreign country to study their target language. There are numerous online resources available to help with listening and comprehension skills as well as to practice verb conjugations and build vocabulary. The challenge can be filtering through these resources to find the best ones. Below are my recommendations of podcasts, websites and apps that can serve as excellent supplemental materials. All sources are free unless otherwise indicated.
In Spanish:
Podcasts: (all available for free on iTunes)
Notes in Spanish: Inspired Beginners/Intermediate/Advanced/Gold
Spanish Obsessed
Coffee Break Spanish
Real Deal Spanish
News in Slow Spanish
Lightspeed Spanish
Learn Spanish on Spanishdict.com (video series)
Spanish GED (from Spain)
VOA: Buenos Dias America
Radio Ambulante (for advanced speakers)
Websites:
www.quizlet.com (great flash card practice)
www.tunein.com (international radio)
app.fluencia.com (all around learning *fee based)
www.spaleon.com (verb conjugation practice)
www.conjuguemos.com (verb conjugation practice)
www.duolingo.com/course/es/en/Learn-Spanish-Online (all around learning)
www.babbel.com/learn-spanish-online (all around learning)
www.spanishpod101.com (*various fees great for audio!)
www.spanish.yabla.com (*pay site with audio, videos)
www.bbc.co.uk/mundo/ (newspaper from Spain)
www.elcomercio.pe (business newspaper)
www.elpais.com/global (general interest newspaper)
www.hola.com (society/gossip newspaper)
Youtube Videos
Apps:
Duolingo (very popular!)
Word Ref (great dictionary)
Spanish Dict! (great dictionary+ online practice)
Language Lab by McGrall Hill (free flashcards)
Gengo Word Power Spanish (*small fee)
Babbel Spanish
24/7 Tutor Spanish
Busuu Spanish
In German:
Podcasts: (all available for free on iTunes)
Yabla German (videos)
DW: Deutsche im Alltag
DW: Typisch Deutsche
Coffee Break German
Learn German: Pod 101 (audio/video)
Audio Tutor Learning German
Slow German with Annik Rubbens
Websites:
www.quizlet.com (great flashcards!)
www.nthuleen.com/teach/grammar.html (grammar helper)
www.germanpod101.com (*various fees great for audio!)
www.german.about.com/library/blregverb_qz01.htm (verb conjugation practice)
www.duolingo.com/course/de/en/Learn-German-Online (all around practice)
http://www.babbel.com/learn-german-online (all around practice)
www.tunein.com (international radio)
http://german.net/verbs/conjugation/present/ (verb conjugation practice)
www.deutsch-perfekt.com (Multimedia website for learners)
www.spiegel.de (general interest newspaper)
www.stern.de (society/gossip newspaper)
Apps:
Duolingo (very popular!)
Leo (great dictionary)
Language Lab by McGrall Hill (free flashcards)
Gengo Word Power German (*small fee)
Babbel German
24/7 Tutor German
Busuu German
I am always looking for new ideas to recommend to my students. If you have had success with an online resource you would like to share please post your suggestions!