The University of Texas at Austin – Spanish Proficiency Exercises
(www.laits.utexas.edu/spe/index.html)
Grades 8-12, with parental supervision
This site features a dozen or more free lessons for each of six levels of proficiency in Spanish – everything from Beginning to Superior!
When you get to the site, you will see an introduction that explains this unique program. The lessons are listed by level in a horizontal menu bar near the top of the page. Place your cursor over the level on the menu bar and a drop-down menu displays each lesson in that proficiency level. Click on the lesson and a new page opens.
In each lesson, there is one simplified video interview, plus video interviews of FIVE native speakers using the grammar and vocabulary for that lesson. The five native speakers could be from Spain, Mexico, Central America, or South America. While the video is playing, the captions can be set to Spanish, English, or None. The videos are also available as podcasts for anywhere viewing by iPod.
Unlike most traditional textbooks, this website does not include worksheets or quizzes. However, relevant vocabulary, phrases, and grammar are available in the menu located in the right-hand column of each lesson page. There are plenty of videos to watch without the captions if you wish to practice your comprehension skills!
The entire site can be navigated by means of the “site index” in the upper right corner if you prefer.
