How Content Creators Are Using Entertainment Media to Get More People Speaking Spanish

Carina Christo

When I started skateboarding over quarantine as a way to pass the time, I often yearned to travel back in time and take advantage of my youth. If only I had learned then, when I was more impressionable, with less reflex to ward off the possibility of failure—then by now I would surely be ollieing off flights of stairs and tre flipping like it was nothing. I think as a society we tend to think of language the same way; if we aren’t so fortunate to learn young enough in life then we may as well never try. Why is there such a contrast between me mindlessly acquiring English as a baby by process of osmosis, versus my 20 year old self learning Spanish by studying grammar at a school desk and having SpanishDictionary.com bookmarked on my phone? Does language learning have to be this way?

From YouTube, to TikTok, to podcasts, content creators are capturing the multifaceted beast that is language, one post at a time. We live in an era arguably more well connected than ever, and the power of language enhances our chances for human relationships both online and offline.

To better understand the distinctions of language learning in the classroom and in the real world, I spoke to five content creators who utilize their respective video platforms as a way to teach people about the Spanish language while fostering cross cultural understanding. In turn, I observed how media, at the intersection of education and entertainment, is on the way to make equal opportunity in education more accessible—and also that much advancement and progress still needs to be developed.

Personalized approach to language learning

The metrics of success used in classrooms are not for everyone. Textbooks aren’t always applicable in the real world, and the contents of a quiz about ecotourism aren’t always so ostensibly relevant. Rather than following a strict curriculum that isn’t one size fits all, individuals can take advantage of social media for a more personalized approach to learning.

May Larios Garcia, one half of the YouTube and podcast duo Spanish and Go, notes that delving deeper into one’s hobbies and interests in a target language can be even more rewarding than doing so in one’s native language. May remarks about the beauty of YouTube for this purpose, as well as the potential of podcasts, stating,“I feel like there aren’t as many podcasts available but you can find at least one at every level and niche. Some of them are more travel related, there’s the news in Spanish. There’s a little something for everyone. Same thing with YouTube.” Hence, the internet stands as the key to a wealth of resources in various formats and ranging topics. Specifically, when it comes to language learning, audiences have a lot to gain from viewing the more intimate real world applications of the Spanish language. Nate Tecotzky, for example, conveys a realistic approach to his many YouTube videos while surprising local street food vendors with his Spanish or making friends on Omegle who are left dazed by the contrast of his ‘gringo’ look paired with his Mexican dialect of Spanish. The YouTuber (and now podcast host) reflects on his learning journey saying, “Honestly I started using my Spanish in the real world the second I started learning. It was like, why am I going to learn this in a classroom and never use it in real life? Unfortunately a lot of times that is how it goes because people are nervous or introverted or shy. But that is one of the best ways to learn because it’s inevitable you’re going to make mistakes.” Nate testifies to the many opportunities there are to practice Spanish in daily life whether you’re in the U.S. or not, and furthermore, the togetherness that we can all nurture when we use his mindset of valuing a good attitude and warmth over perfectionism.

Bridging cultures: Access to native speakers and cultural experts

By token of connection, social media’s significance comes from its ability to bridge cultures through the screen by introducing viewers to native speakers and cultural experts. Jim and May’s YouTube channel takes this mission to heart as Jim (the ‘gringo’ half of the duo) states: People often say they really like to travel. But what is it they like so much about travel if you can’t communicate with the locals? To me, part of the culture is certainly the food, the drinks, and the views, but a huge part of the beauty of traveling is communicating with locals and developing friendships and relationships with people who are from the country that you’re visiting.

Through their content, Jim and May exhibit the beauty of Mexico and other Latin American countries thehave lived in or traveled to, while breaking down misconceptions of Latin America, ultimately making language more than just a jumble of words, but rather a joining of rich cultures and history in a way that no dictionary can.

Seeing other people’s progress as motivation and parasocial relationships to promote lifelong learning

In the space of language learning and travel content, creators come from backgrounds as diverse as the people who speak Spanish. With a fusion of native and non-native speakers to watch, seeing non-native speakers’ progress over time is a unique kind of advantage the digital archives provide. YouTuber Maddie Gold, who only started learning Spanish a few years ago, remarks on this parasocial relationship saying, “I don’t really consider myself a teacher of Spanish because I’m still learning. It is incorporated though. A lot of what it is is showing people that over the course of time it is possible to make a lot of improvements in the language and people have seen since 2018.” Beginning as a novice speaker from Arizona, to an independent female traveler navigating life in Jalisco, Mexico, Maddie’s momentous breakthroughs with the language serve as inspiration for her viewers.

As the variety of social media platforms is integral to the language learning space, podcasts may be the medium of scholarship and enjoyment for the future. TikTok personality Emma Roof explains her personal relationship to audio content saying, “Spanish podcasts are honestly my favorite. There’s a lot of them. I listen to one called ‘Coffee Break Spanish’ and they’ll tell a story in Spanish and break it down.” The advantage podcasts have in merging the convenience of learning accessible anywhere anytime and humanizing storytelling can similarly be found in Emma’s content on TikTok. On her page, she provides personal accounts of her time spent in Costa Rica and methods she uses to learn Spanish in South Carolina, such as simply shifting her brain to think in Spanish.

Undoubtedly, content creators like the individuals I spoke to are the storytellers needed to inspire language learners young and old. Social media’s real-world view of culture would not be possible without the innovative labor of creators’ abilities to produce compelling videos and podcasts. However, that is not to discard the value of a strong foundation in grammar and high level instruction. I would be lying if I were to say that my own Spanish classes weren’t beneficial, in fact it’s quite the opposite. Yet I still find it wildly important to examine the options available to those who don’t necessarily have the privilege to take advanced college courses in a foreign language. With this in mind, social media’s hand in language learning is able to enrich a person’s experience by tailoring the form of education, opening them up to new cultures, and shaping a more global citizen. It seems that just as every individual has a personalized learning style, becoming fluent in a language requires an individualistic use of formal education and consumption of media and culture. As immersion can come into fruition no matter your location or professional education, how do we take away the mindset to bridge the gap between passive media consumption and creators’ values of using this knowledge in the real world? Is it ever too late to learn something new when we abolish our ego?