The StudySpanish.com website includes free tutorials to help you learn the language. The website contains a lot of helpful information to get a good initial handle on the language such as the alphabet, vowel sounds, commonly used words and various other lessons. For conversational Spanish, the site offers a set of 15 audio CD for a $165 or $145 for the downloadable version. Those concerned about the type of Spanish they are learning need not worry. According to Study Spanish, the way that the language is spoken from region to region is similar and so it makes no difference if you learn European or Latin American Spanish because they are essentially the same, with a few minor differences.
Spanish Programs, from the U.S. Institute of Languages, has free lessons online as well as a Spanish Level 1 course which is offered for a fee. The free lessons include tutorials on creating sentences in a step-by-step process. For instance, you are introduced to the initial "yo quiero" (I want) phrase and then the infinitive verb form "ir" (to go) and then the ending of the sentences "la cine" (the movies). Repetition and pictures are used to help you speak the words properly and understand their meaning. The lessons must be signed up for by using your name and email address. After this, you are given a username and password. Other lessons on the site teach students grammar, greetings and other important information.
The site also has lessons which can be purchased. The lessons include two CD-ROMs with 220 interactive lessons, audio CDs and a conversation manual. International and domestic shipping is available.
The website 123teachme.com also offers free Spanish tutorials. It teaches language basics like the alphabet and includes a video on the site of an instructor saying the letters so you can practice your pronunciation. This alphabet tutorial also uses basic Spanish words to illustrate how the letters are used in the language. Other important learning points like asking questions and mini dialogues to help you converse are included. The site also offers a link to private tutors and a link for children to learn Spanish.