Free online Spanish courses

Learn Spanish to understand and speak in everyday life

To learn Spanish, start with expressions you need: listen, repeat them aloud, then recall them without looking at the translation. Review them over the following days and use them in short exchanges. A concrete first goal, such as introducing yourself or ordering a meal, gives you somewhere to start.

Loecsen offers online Spanish courses for English speakers, from your first exchange to everyday conversations. Two courses meet different needs: First contact helps you get started and prepare for a trip, while Independent in 6 months helps you express more of what you want to say.

You practise useful phrases with English translations, audio recordings and progressive exercises. The method identifies what you still find difficult and helps you revisit it. You can start for free, at your own pace, even if you have never studied Spanish.

Which Spanish course should you choose?

First contact: the basics to start speaking with confidence

Heading to Spain, planning a trip to Latin America or simply curious about the language? First contact is the starting point for a complete beginner. The lessons focus on situations where a few phrases can make a real difference: understanding a price, finding transport, booking a room or explaining a problem.

This course practises early exchanges associated with level A1. Start with the essential expressions, then explore the everyday and travel topics.

Independent in 6 months: move beyond your first phrases

You know some words but still struggle to put them together? This course gradually expands what you can understand and express. You practise questions, essential verbs, relationships, travel, past events and future plans.

The course uses standard Spanish and includes variants from Spain and Latin America, helping you prepare for conversations on both sides of the Atlantic.

The learning goal is to progress towards A2 and develop some B1 skills. The course revisits the basics, so it can also help you refresh earlier learning. Its name gives you a goal to work towards: your progress depends on your starting point, your practice and your opportunities to use Spanish.

How Loecsen helps you remember Spanish

Recognising a phrase on the page is a first step. Finding it when you want to speak takes practice. Loecsen lets you work with the same content in several ways to gradually build that confidence.

1. Listen and understand. Connect a Spanish expression with its English meaning, paying attention to the sounds and rhythm.
2. Repeat aloud. Practise saying the phrase and replay the recording whenever you need to.
3. Recall the answer. Exercises help you recognise the meaning, then recall the Spanish from the English and practise writing.
4. Work on difficulties. Super Memory helps you practise the words and expressions you still find challenging.
5. Review over time. Spaced repetition brings back material for review to help you retain what you have learned.

Practise in a way that suits your interests and pace

You can focus on listening and repetition when you want to work on speaking, and use speech recognition to practise saying the expressions. When you would rather take time to read and observe, use the visual supports and explanatory notes, then write or rephrase a few sentences.

You can combine these ways of practising and change your focus between sessions. Images give you a reference to associate with meaning, audio lets you hear the expression, and exercises help you recall it. You choose what to explore further while keeping one goal in mind: being able to reuse what you learn.

Loecsen’s approach gradually focuses your effort on what you find difficult. A mistake helps identify what you need to revisit. Small successes make it easier to recall the words you need.

Loecsen has been developing this approach for more than twenty years, with a consistent aim: to help you keep going by making your progress tangible.

A few phrases to start speaking Spanish

These examples show what a few words can help you do. In the lessons, combine listening with practice: repeat the expressions, then try to recall them without looking at the translation.

These phrases also give you patterns to reuse. In “¿Dónde está la estación?”, replace “la estación” with “el hotel”: now you can ask where the hotel is.

Start the First contact Spanish course

Vocabulary, pronunciation and grammar: learn them together

As an English speaker, you will recognise words such as “importante”, “familia” and “posible”. Familiar spelling does not always mean familiar pronunciation, though. Listening helps you recognise words in a sentence and learn how to say them.

Work on pronunciation from your first lessons. The h in “hola” is silent, and Spanish vowel sounds are generally steadier than English ones. Listen to “no” and try to keep its vowel short and steady, without the glide often heard in English “no”. Repeating whole phrases also helps you notice stress and rhythm.

Grammar becomes clearer in the same everyday situations. “Soy estudiante” means “I am a student”, while “Estoy en Madrid” means “I am in Madrid”. You meet ser and estar, two verbs that can translate as “to be”, through their uses. The lesson explanations help you understand and reuse these patterns.

Understand what you say and when to use it

You can start simply and explore further from your first lessons. Explanatory notes cover grammar, word origins, differences between similar terms and the situations in which to use them, with cultural context where helpful. Consult them when an expression raises a question, then return to the phrase and practise it. You can learn an expression to use today or take time to understand how it differs from another.

Spanish from Spain and Latin America: what does Loecsen teach?

Independent in 6 months includes Spanish from Spain and Latin America, based on standard Spanish. You learn words and patterns useful for everyday communication on both sides of the Atlantic. First contact takes Spanish from Spain as its reference.

The varieties share much of their vocabulary and grammar. Differences include pronunciation, some words and forms of address. For example, a car is commonly “coche” in Spain and “carro” or “auto” in several Latin American countries. You build a shared foundation that you can expand according to where you want to travel or live.

How can you start with a few minutes a day?

For your first session, choose a small group of phrases. Listen, repeat, then try to recall their meaning and wording. Finish with the exercises and revisit any difficulties. In your next session, do your reviews before adding new content.

Five to fifteen minutes can be enough for a short session. It is a manageable starting routine, which you can adapt to your goal. Preparing a few exchanges for a trip and completing a full course require different amounts of practice. To become more comfortable, gradually add opportunities to listen to and speak Spanish outside the lessons.

To check your progress, revisit an expression the next day without looking at the text: can you understand it when you hear it and recall it for a specific situation? Then try changing one part to talk about yourself. If you hesitate, review that part before adding lots of new expressions.

Frequently asked questions about Loecsen Spanish courses

Can I learn Spanish for free with Loecsen?

Yes. First contact gives you free access to lessons, online audio, quizzes and Super Memory. Free access has usage limits. Paid options include benefits such as MP3 and PDF downloads and removing advertisements. Check the offer details for the applicable benefits and limits.

Which course should I choose if I have never learned Spanish?

Start with First contact for your first expressions and accessible everyday situations. When you want to broaden your vocabulary and build longer sentences, continue with Independent in 6 months.

What level of Spanish can I work towards?

First contact covers the basics and communication situations associated with A1. Independent in 6 months aims for progress towards A2 and some B1 skills. These are learning goals: your actual level also depends on comprehension, speaking practice and your ability to use Spanish in new situations.

Can I learn Spanish independently online?

Yes. You can follow the lessons and exercises on your own, with English translations, audio and reviews. To build more spontaneous conversation skills, also look for opportunities to speak Spanish: while travelling, with someone you know or with a conversation partner.

Your first step: learn a few phrases you will enjoy using. Start for free with First contact, or choose the course that fits your plans.