Hablas español? If you are living in the United States, there is a good chance that you hear Spanish on a regular basis. Maybe you studied it in high school or college, maybe you moved here from a Spanish speaking country (or maybe your parents or grandparents did), or maybe you have never had direct experience with it, but hear it spoken on the street. Spanish has an extremely important role in the U.S., and is also a beautiful and expressive language. There is no better way to learn Spanish, or to keep contact with it if you already speak it, than by using your satellite TV.

DirectTV offers dozens of channels in Spanish, meaning that no matter what type of programming you prefer, you will be able to find it in Spanish. There are educational and entertaining programs for kids, and it is well known that the younger a person is, the more equipped the mind to learn a new language naturally, almost effortlessly. If your child is enrolled in a Spanish class, then TV can be especially helpful. It’s like fun and effortless homework! With plenty of shows made for children, you don’t have to worry about the content being appropriate.

Spanish programming also includes high-definition entertainment, airing the best movies and show available. Listen with surround sound and watch on your best HD screen, and you won’t be disappointed. If you haven’t studied Spanish in a while, it might take some time to sort things out, but it is definitely worth it. One recommended way to start is by finding a movie or show on one of your Spanish satellite channels that you already know very well. If you already know what the characters are talking about, it makes it a lot easier to start picking up the Spanish language. Sometimes dubbing can be obnoxious, but if you already know all the dialogue in English for E.T. or The Matrix, then you will easily be able to follow along when it has been dubbed into Spanish. It is much more difficult if you stumble on a show that you know nothing about, since you have no context for the dialogue.

Satellite TV packages offer the best sports channels, and there is something undeniably intoxicating about watching soccer with Spanish commentary. The commentators always sound so enthusiastic and well-informed, and there is no need for translation when you hear the famous sound of «Gol!» With any luck, sometime soon networks will create something equivalent to football’s NFL Sunday Ticket for the soccer loving crowd. It is the world’s favorite sport, after all! But if it’s not your favorite sport, not to worry. There are plenty of others available in Spanish, from baseball to basketball.

Whether you want to keep up with the news in Spanish or watch your favorite telenovela, satellite TV has the channels you want. Listening to Spanish is one of the best ways to develop and maintain your language skills, and it can also be fun and entertaining experience.