Around the world, native English speakers are quite famous for their inability to learn other languages. There are a number of reasons for this, but the biggest one is that English is spoken so much around the world that there rarely seems to be a need to speak any other foreign languages.
Foreign language education in English-speaking countries around the world often lags a bit behind a lot of other countries with foreign languages being relegated behind other subjects that are considered more important like maths, science, and English, but in an increasingly globalised world, the importance of foreign languages is always growing.
One of the first foreign languages that many people think of is Spanish because it's spoken by over 440 million people natively and is the official language of 20 different countries. Speaking Spanish is a skill that can boost your employability, too!
Spanish originated from Latin and is classified as a Romance language and is related to languages like French, Italian, and Portuguese. While English isn't a Romance language, it does share a number of similarities with Spanish that make it easier for English speakers to learn than a lot of other languages around the world.
Even if Spanish is considered one of the "easier" languages, learning a language can still take a lot of time. Just to get by in a language, you need to study the basics like syntax, spelling, and everyday vocabulary. Even once you've understood some of these, you won't be fluent and will have to practise conversational Spanish and grammar (like the dreaded subjunctive!) before you can really start using your language skills.
Spanish is a really accessible language and you could choose to study it at school, at a language school or centre, online, or you could even learn Spanish with a tutor.
The latter is arguably the most cost-effective option provided you get the right tutor. Here's what you need to know about choosing a Spanish tutor.
Choose a Spanish Private Tutor According to Your Goals
You can work exclusively with a Spanish tutor or use them to complement your Spanish lessons by filling in the gaps, brushing up on tricky parts of the language, and helping you prepare for exams.
When choosing a Spanish private tutor, you have to make sure both you and they know what you expect to learn and why you need to learn it.
To choose the right Spanish tutor, ask yourself the following questions:
- Why are you taking Spanish lessons?
Perhaps you want a Spanish tutor to help you with what you find difficult in school. Are you struggling to remember vocabulary or are some grammatical structures causing you a headache?
Are you interested in studying Spanish more or making a career of it?
Spanish tutors can tailor their lessons to you and your goals and aspirations will help them structure their lessons around you.
- How do you learn best?
Every student is different and what works for one mightn't necessarily work for another. If you can outline how you like to learn to your tutor, they can make sure that each session uses the right resources and is taught in a way that will help you learn Spanish quickly and effectively.
Whether you prefer quizzes, flashcards, speaking activities, or games, a tutor can make sure that the lessons are engaging and effective.
- Where will you learn Spanish most effectively?
Some students love to learn from the comfort of their own home. After all, they're in their own space and can set up everything just as they like it. Others need to get out the home and find a space that's more conducive to learning like a quiet café or a library.
Even if your tutor can't make it to your preferred location for studying, you can always get online tutoring from tutors all over the world.
Search for a 'Spanish Tutor Near Me' and Find the Right Tutor
There are ads for tutors everywhere, both online and in the real world.
Think about the kind of teacher you want for your Spanish lessons. Do you need a qualified Spanish teacher or will a Spanish-speaking student do the job? Do they need to be a native speaker who can help you work on your accent or not?
Depending on the kind of Spanish you want to learn, you may need a tutor that's qualified in a certain domain such as business, literature, cinema, or Spanish culture. Not only do you need to find a good Spanish tutor, but you need to find the right Spanish tutor!
On Superprof, for example, you can browse tutor profiles, see how much they charge, and see what their other students think of them.
You can get tutors who are also full-time teachers and familiar with the Spanish taught in schools. Every tutor has their own background and expertise so make sure it's a good match for you and your language-learning goals.
Find a Spanish Teacher with Superprof
You can find plenty of tutors on Sueprprof. The tutors on the platform have to list one price for lessons and you can see this on their profile. You can also see whether they offer face-to-face tutoring or online tutoring.
A lot of tutors on the platform offer the first lesson for free and this will allow you to try a few different tutors before deciding on which is the right one.
Bilingual Spanish Teachers
More often than not, the Spanish teachers and tutors you find will be bilingual. They'll have either studied Spanish as a foreign language or be native Spanish speakers that also speak English.
You'll want to get the most out of each Spanish lesson by using your new language as much as possible, but it can help if they speak English if you get lost of need something quickly explained to you.
Experienced Spanish tutors will know what works and what doesn't and they'll also understand what it's like to learn a foreign language. After all, they've already done it!
Student Spanish Teachers
Tutoring is a good way for students to earn some extra money during their studies. What can students offer that a qualified teacher couldn't?
For one, students bring a fresh perspective to learning. Generally, students will be younger than qualified and experienced teachers so not only will they likely connect better with younger learners, but they'll likely know how to communicate more effectively with them.
Much like learning with a student Spanish tutor, you could join a Spanish club and practise with your fellow learners. This is a good option for those who are quite shy as it can be daunting practising speaking Spanish with an expert speaker of the language.
Native Spanish Tutors
In your search for Spanish tutors, you'll likely come across a lot of native Spanish speakers.
For any student wanting to master the accent while also learning about Spanish-speaking culture, it can help to learn from somebody who's lived it.
While absolute beginners won't necessarily need to work with a native speaker, it can definitely help intermediate and advanced students to perfect their speaking and understanding of the language, especially once you reach a point where you lessons can take place fully in Spanish.
Making Sure that Your Spanish Tutor Meets your Needs
There are so many different kinds of tutors out there that you might feel lost trying to find the right one. Here's what you need to be looking for when searching for a private Spanish tutor:
Experience
You want to find a private tutor whose experience is appropriate for what you want to learn. What levels can they teach and how long have they been teaching?
Experienced tutors and teachers will likely be better at working out what a student needs and the most effective way to teach them, which is incredibly useful if it's essential that you learn Spanish quickly and effectively.
If you're just learning Spanish for fun, an inexperienced tutor could be a very affordable way to learn.
Level
If you're an absolute beginner or need help with a Spanish exam at school, your tutor's level won't be that important. In the case of the latter, it's more important that they're familiar with the exam format, for example.
As you advance, however, you'll need to find tutors who are not only capable of teaching your level, but who are well above it so they can answer any questions you may have about the more complex aspects of the Spanish language.
If you're studying a Spanish degree or master's degree, then you'll need a tutor with an excellent level in Spanish.
Location
Do you live in a city or out of it? You'll need to look for tutors that you can either meet in person or learn from online. Where your tutor lives or works will be important because you'll end up paying more for tutors who have to travel a long way.
For online Spanish lessons, you won't need to worry too much about location. Of course, time difference might be important so think about that if you're looking for a tutor from the other side of the world.
Price
The cost of private Spanish lessons is often the deciding factor for most students. You'll likely want to know how much Spanish lessons cost because you won't be able to commit to several lessons if you can't afford them.
Think carefully about the cost per lesson, how many lessons you'll need, and how often you'll be having lessons.
You can save money by opting for group classes as the cost of the class is covered by several students. Some tutors will also offer a discount if you book several sessions at once.
There are also Spanish tutors who will offer the first class for free, which is a great way to try a few different tutors before deciding on which one is right for you.
Scheduling
Much like with online tutors, it's important that face-to-face tutors can commit to classes when you need them. Before you start trying to work with a private Spanish tutor, make sure that they can schedule you in.
You'll want to make sure that they can offer as many lessons as you'll need, too. If you want lessons twice a week, make sure you find a private Spanish tutor that can offer that.
What To Look for in a Private Spanish Tutor
When looking at potential Spanish tutors, here's what you should be considering:
- Methodology
How your tutor teaches is incredibly important. While you'll want them to be good at Spanish, how they teach Spanish is arguably more important.
What's the point of their knowledge and expertise if they can't effectively share it with you?
- Patience
Every teacher needs to be patient. Everybody learns at a different pace and a private tutor should make sure to adapt their teaching to how quickly you learn.
- Compassion
Private Spanish tutors need to make sure that their student feels seen and understood. Tutors who can show compassion to their students and their struggles are often more effective.
- Creativity
With every student being different, good tutors need a good dose of creativity. They need to come up with activities and approaches that will work for their students.
This doesn't mean that your Spanish tutor will do everything for you, as you'll be expected to prepare for your Spanish classes and work hard during them, too!
- Friendliness
Private Spanish tutors will need to be friendly. After all, they should create and nurture an environment that students want to work in. It's much easier to learn when you feel comfortable or are having fun and a friendly tutor can make this happen.
To learn Spanish as quickly and effectively as possible, you need to start learning with the right Spanish tutor. Be clear about what you want to learn, how you like to learn, and what you expect from your lessons.
Discuss your goals and preferred learning styles with any potential tutors before you start working with them. It doesn't hurt to have a casual interview or chat with some Spanish tutors before hiring them!
By doing this before you start studying Spanish, you'll save a lot of time further down the line!
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