You’ve decided to learn Spanish; whether to improve employment opportunities, advance in a currently held position, communicate effectively with our neighbors to the South, or simply for the fun of it, you’ve decided to take the plunge. Regardless of the reason, your first logical step is to find a good Spanish teacher or tutor, decide on the best course of learning for your particular circumstances, and then get on with the business of adding Spanish to your linguistic repertoire.
If you’re the highly-motivated sort capable of focused study beyond the classroom situation, you may want to consider a self-learning program. Several good ones exist on tape, CD and digital media, as well as online. Many offer video lessons to help put your Spanish to the test in “real world” situations-shopping at the grocery, ordering in restaurants, asking for directions, and so on. These learn at your own pace Spanish classes work well for some; others find they learn better within the confines of a traditional classroom situation.
For these, again, several options exist. Choosing Spanish classes that best suit your personality, schedule and current skill level needn’t be difficult. Quite the opposite, in fact.
Spanish classes come in several different formats and intensity levels. If you’re hoping to become proficient in the shortest possible amount of time, you may wish to consider a total immersion package. These are frequently offered by large, international language teaching companies such as Berlitz. Many times immersion packages also are available through local community education programs or even private tutors. These packages typically teach you to communicate effectively in Spanish in everyday situations in which you might find yourself while visiting a Spanish speaking country.
Lesson plans in full immersion classes typically last eight-to-ten hours per day and offer both classroom and individualized instruction, as well as group activities focused on putting your new language skills to the test.
Another option is personalized, one-on-one instruction with a tutor. This method allows flexible scheduling since there are no other classmates to consider. Those with busy work or school schedules might find private tutoring to be their best bet for successfully learning a new language.
Simi-private instruction also is generally available in most metropolitan areas, either through professional language tutors or local community education classes. These Spanish classes offer the benefit of a group learning situation, where students are able to practice their language skills on each other. Being somewhat smaller than group classes, however, scheduling for semi-private instruction can be somewhat more student-centered and less rigid.
When choosing a personalized classroom style, consider all these factors, as well as cost. Private classes typically cost more than lessons set in a larger group. The differences in price, in fact, vary greatly between providers and instructors; in this case, it definitely pays to shop around, check references and seek out online testimonials from former students.
Doing a little “homework” prior to signing up for Spanish classes can make all the difference in your eventual success.
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