The 8 Best YouTube Channels for Intermediate Spanish Learners

In this post: Discover the very best YouTube channels for learning Spanish for intermediate learners.

What are the best YouTube channels for learning Spanish? 

That’s the question I’ll answer in today’s post--but I should warn you. My answer is only for a very specific group of Spanish learners who know one thing:

Watching Spanish YouTube channels can be one of the many tools in your toolbelt to help mix things up when studying gets dull (podcasts are great for that, too!). But YouTube shouldn’t be at the core of your learning strategy. 

In 5 years of working with adults learning Spanish, I’ve had way too many conversations with frustrated students who have wasted years piecemealing their Spanish learning by randomly watching YouTube videos or playing around with Apps--only to discover they can’t have a fluent conversation with a native speaker.

But that’s not going to happen to you.

In this post, I’ll share some of the best YouTube channels for intermediate Spanish learners and the most exciting playlists inside them, so you never have to waste time searching the platform for the best ones. 

Then, we’ll talk about how to use those channels as part of your structured practice--so you can actually see results in your ability to use Spanish in real life. 

Let’s jump in!

My All-time Favorite 8 YouTube Channels for Intermediate Spanish Learners.

1.Spanish Playground

Tune into Spanish Playground, and you’ll quickly see why it’s one of the most popular YouTube channels for Spanish learners. 

You’ll love all those authentic Mexican accents, playful dialogues, and stories in simple language presented at an intermediate level. 

Juan and Pamela's conversations are repetitive enough to immerse you in structures like the past tenses while remaining engaging and entertaining enough to keep you watching.  

Check out the Intermediate Conversations playlist, laugh at the pet peeves, or get ready to order food in a Mexican restaurant. 

Or, for a serious review of the past tense, browse the Spanish Past Tense Stories. Some of these had me chuckling as I watched, which is why Spanish Playground is such a gem when it comes to Spanish learning channels on YouTube. You know you’ll learn and laugh at the same time. 

2.Hola Spanish

Created by Brenda Romaniello, a native Argentinian living in Australia and veteran Spanish teacher, Hola Spanish offers everything from cultural stories on the legend of el chupacabras to grammar lessons complete with listen-and-repeat exercises on intermediate structures.

Brenda weaves grammatical and cultural explanations in English into her lessons in her intermediate and advanced playlists, so you’ll never miss any nuances while immersing yourself in Spanish. 

This means that if you’re an intermediate learner pushing yourself toward a more advanced level, her advanced list will also be accessible to you.

 Learn how to go from an intermediate to advanced Spanish level with this FREE guide.

3.Why Not Spanish?

If you’re ready for a listening challenge that will familiarize you with Spanish dialects from all over Latin America, tune into Why Not Spanish. 

While the creator of the show, María, speaks with a Columbian accent, she interviews people from all over Latin America in her Interviews for Intermediate Spanish Students. You’ll find these authentic conversations faster, more natural, and more challenging than those at Spanish Playground or Hola Spanish.

If you’re looking for ways to push yourself toward these more challenging listening activities, use closed captioning in Spanish to help you visualize the words. You can also adjust the playback speed to a slower cadence, listen several times, or try a combination of these approaches. 

You’ll find that María does an excellent job of helping you understand and get the most out of these fast-paced and authentic discussions. You’ll notice key expressions at the beginning of some videos that prime you to understand, short introductions in English to give you context, or helpful quizzes to check your comprehension at the end. 

You’ll also get insights into interesting Columbian idioms and colloquialisms--that’s something you just can’t learn in a textbook.

4.StoryLearning® Spanish

Brought to you by Olly Richards, creator of the StoryLearning® language method, this renowned YouTube channel for Spanish learners has fiction and nonfiction stories by Spanish speakers from Spain and Latin American countries

If you’re working at the intermediate level, I recommend you check out the Intermediate Spanish Stories playlist or the Advanced Spanish Stories playlist for those who want an extra challenge. 

And if you’re not sure what your Spanish level is, the Advanced playlist begins with a video to help you determine that—it tells one story at three different difficulty levels.

If your goal is to train your ear specifically for Mexican Spanish, don’t miss the Mexican Spanish playlist that talks about everything from Mexican slang to folk legends to why there are piñatas at every party.

5. Speak Spanish with Paula

Paula speaks Venezuelan Spanish, but you’ll find a variety of guests with different dialects, so you’ll get exposure to various accents. 

Her videos tend to be grammar-focused, breaking down more difficult grammar structures and tenses with English explanations, visual organizers, and charts for visual learners. 

When I was working to get past the intermediate plateau in Spanish, I spent hours reviewing intermediate-level grammar topics on my own. 

So I know better than anyone that sometimes it feels like you’re not getting anywhere on your own, and you just need an explanation from a real person--someone who can show you a great visual or a new way of thinking about what you’re learning. When that happens, tune into Paula for a change of strategy.

Paula organizes her playlists around grammar themes and structures, which is particularly handy for you if you’re following a structured intermediate Spanish program.

And if you happen to be working on the past tenses in Spanish don’t miss this playlist in the Spanish Past Tense.  It will answer all your questions about tricky past tense verbs like hubo vs. había, era vs. fue, and estaba vs. estuvo!

6.Easy Spanish

By the same team as the Easy Spanish podcast I featured in this blog post, this YouTube channel features fresh, authentic, and somewhat faster-paced conversations on short topics that will give you insight into Spanish-speaking culture while training your ear for real-life Spanish dialogues. 

What’s unique about this channel is the way the interviewers ask the same question to many different passers-by in interesting locations--and the way locals answer naturally and candidly.

Watching these kinds of spontaneous mini-conversations always reminds me of living in Mexico City or my time in Spain. Even if you’ve never been to these places, a great YouTube channel for Spanish learners can help you tap into an authentic side of the culture.

Once you’re sucked into these tiny street conversations, the magic of repetition helps you understand and remember what you learned.

Check out the Learning Spanish from the Streets playlist for bite-sized visits to Spanish-speaking countries. You can watch native speakers in natural conversations on topics like how people handle uncomfortable silences in Mexico, to whether passers-by in Barcelona prefer coffee or tea. 

The channel includes speakers with accents from all Spanish-speaking countries, but you’ll find a playlist featuring Mexican accents here.

The LIVE community experience for intermediate Spanish learners to develop reading and writing skills through the deep dive of a contemporary Spanish book.

7.Spring Spanish

Here’s another YouTube channel from a team with an intermediate-level Spanish podcast. At Spring Spanish, you’ll hear plenty of Latin American Spanish--especially Spanish from Mexico.

You’ll notice that their videos feature Spanish and English subtitles, allowing you to dig into more complex topics and conversations without feeling lost. 

I specifically recommend the Learn Spanish by listening to Native Speakers videos--listening comprehension videos that quiz you to test your listening skills. 

Most of the videos on this channel cater specifically to low-intermediate students, using the Spring Spanish signature method of teaching you ‘chunks’ or short phrases in Spanish to help you feel more conversational on a specific theme. 

That said, a few videos—especially interviews—can be more complex. Even if they’re a bit above your level, there may be a topic that sparks your interest, whether it’s “popular views on dating” or Latin dance moves.

8.Spanishland School

If you’re at the high end of intermediate and looking to master more complex grammar structures that will help you push yourself toward more advanced conversations, this is for you. 

Teacher and YouTuber, Andrea is an experienced Spanish teacher from Colombia with a background in linguistics. Like her popular podcast by the same name, the YouTube episodes feature concise episodes with actionable grammar explanations aimed to boost your fluency and confidence.

What I love about the lessons on YouTube is the visual element. So often, as a teacher, I hear from my students that they’ve struggled in classes where everything hinges on speaking, conversations, and explanations.

So, if you’re someone who needs to “see” why you need to use the extra le in sentences like Voy a darle el dinero, the videos will teach you through examples, quick explanations, and a quick quiz at the end of each lesson to see if you’re getting it.

Two of my favorite playlists on this channel for intermediate speakers are Objeto Directo vs Indirecto: LO, LA, LE y SE and Spanish Grammar Playlist, which breaks down tricky intermediate topics like saber vs conocer, 7 uses of the verb llevar and how to say “supposed to” in Spanish.  

3 Inside Tips for Improving Your Spanish with YouTube Channels.

If you’ve read this far, I know you’re serious. So, here comes a little strategy session that will help you make the most of the best YouTube channels out there for learning Spanish. After all, your goal is not to entertain yourself but to be able to have actual Spanish conversations, right?

If you’re working on my VUELA Intermediate Spanish Course Series--this is for you. And if you’re learning on your own with a strategic and systematic learning program, then these suggestions can help you as well.

1. Think of YouTube as a motivating supplement to your learning--not the main strategy. 

It’s tough to piecemeal YouTube videos together to gain much traction at the intermediate level.

Now, they can definitely make your language learning more enjoyable because they’re entertaining. And maybe answer some questions about niche topics. 

But you won’t get the kind of repetition it takes to go deep into a grammar concept or structure in a way that gives you confidence in speaking later. 

Make sure you have a solid, structured study system in place, and then weave in the YouTube playlists from this post for variety, fun, cultural immersion, and exploration of various dialects. 

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2. Pick ONE YouTube channel you love watching--for any reason.

You’ll cut back on your decision fatigue about what to learn. And you’re much more likely to stay consistent with your Spanish habit.

And since YouTube is more of a motivating extra to bring authenticity and fun to your learning and not your main strategy, you can follow your interests 100%.

Pick a YouTube channel for Spanish learners because you love it--for whatever reason. 

This is your chance to explore a specific accent because you understand most of it. Or because it’s a challenge. Or simply enjoy the visual elements in a certain playlist.  

Or maybe you love watching interviews with native speakers or just fall in love with the personality of the host or the show.  

Whatever inspires you, follow that direction. It will help you connect with the language and see the material you’re learning in a different way.

3. Use YouTube Videos in Spanish to clarify, engage, and change up your learning.

Once you’ve got a solid language learning system, here are some great times to add engaging YouTube videos in Spanish into the mix.

• Use YouTube Videos to review and reinforce a concept.

Maybe you watch a video on a grammar topic you’ve studied and haven’t quite grasped yet. It’s sometimes better to use a new way of looking at the topic than to repeat the same material. It keeps you more alert.

• Switch to video to keep up your practice when your energy is low.

If you find your focus slipping after long work sessions, switching to a more passive and entertaining learning mode can be a great technique to help you keep practicing when your attention and energy are waning.  You’ll probably find you can easily add ten more minutes to your Spanish routine in a day--in a way that you won’t resist. 

• Use unstructured conversation videos to add a natural element to your language practice. Personally, this is one of my favorite uses of YouTube videos. Don’t miss the chance to immerse yourself in authentic, street Spanish and unscripted conversations you’ll find in some of the best YouTube videos for Spanish learners. 

Takeaways

You now have everything you need to tune into the YouTube Spanish channel that will inspire you. It’s time to add some videos to your learning routine in a way that will help you see real progress from awkward intermediate Spanish to more confident and authentic Spanish conversations. 

Whether you’re hoping to feel more at ease with your student’s parents, your colleagues at work, or Spanish-speaking neighbors, watching videos is a great way to maintain motivation and put those fundamental skills you're building into practice.  

Keep up the focused work, and tune into a great video after each session. Soon, you’ll start to realize how much you actually understand.