How to choose the ideal Spanish teacher

If you’re looking for the most effective way to learn Spanish, an online native teacher could be your key to success. Although there are a growing number of language learning apps and self-study programmes out there, one-to-one lessons remain a great way to make quick progress and speak Spanish fluently. Plus there are some clear linguistic and practical benefits to finding a native teacher online:

Progress at your own pace

While group language lessons may seem more like a more social and budget-friendly way to learn, depending on your learning style and goals, they may not be the most effective. Always consider the value-for-money of a group class by dividing the cost by the number of students; the more students there are, the less attention you will get to help you improve and practice.

Even in small class sizes, there is always a range of abilities and backgrounds, and it’s easy for students to end up feeling frustrated by the pace of the classes; you may find yourself being held back by slower students, or required to tackle material you’re not quite ready for.

Now imagine learning a language based around your interests and your schedule, with all the lessons pitched at just the right level? That should be your experience of learning with an online teacher. They are there to listen to you, answer your questions, and identify your areas for improvement. No wasting time on explanations you don’t need or want.

It gets you speaking

The format of online video lessons (through platforms such as Skype, Zoom or Google Meet) naturally lends itself to a greater focus on speaking. Although this might seem daunting at first, it can help you build confidence and fluency in Spanish very quickly. Academic research has shown that overwhelmingly language students find this conversational approach an enjoyable and helpful method to start speaking their target language.

Now compare this with a group class, where students have limited opportunities to participate. Students might be able to develop their listening and comprehension skills, but generally there are fewer natural opportunities for conversation. If your goal is to speak confidently and fluidly with native speakers, online lessons are the perfect training ground.

For best results, go native

Of course there are plenty of great Spanish language teachers out there of all nationalities, but if you want to speak Spanish fluently, Academic research has identified some key benefits to learning with a native speaker.

Firstly, let’s define what a native speaker is. This itself has been the topic of much discussion amongst linguists, but generally it is agreed that a native speaker is someone who has been raised in an environment where the named language is spoken. And so a native Spanish speaker must have been brought up in a Spanish speaking environment. A natural consequence of this is that native Spanish teachers should be able to explain nuances in their language and introduce you to a richer range of vocabulary. They will also be able to tell you about their culture and traditions, which has been identified as a key factor in students’ enjoyment of their language learning experience.

Another reason to choose a native teacher is that you will learn to pronounce words more accurately. It’s not just that you will be exposed to an authentic accent, but in fact native teachers are more likely to identify and correct mistakes in pronunciation. Meanwhile, learning from a teacher with a poor accent could have a detrimental and lasting impact on your pronunciation, particularly when starting out.

However, of course simply being a native speaker doesn’t automatically make someone a skilled teacher! It’s important that your native teacher still has a knowledge of grammar in their language and an understanding of language-teaching techniques. Look for a native teacher with a Spanish teaching qualification such as the ELE (Enseñanza de Español como Lengua Extranjera).

Adapted to your schedule

We all know life is busy, and it’s not easy to make time to work on a language, but the great news about learning online is that you can learn based around your schedule - while ensuring that you stay focused and motivated. You can use your phone, tablet or laptop to connect with your teacher, and without travel to and from lessons to think about, you can maximise learning in the time you have available.

What’s more, remote learning means you can continue with lessons wherever you are. If you’re planning to travel, or perhaps you work regularly from different locations, with an online teacher there’s no reason to put your learning on hold.

Whether you want to squeeze a lesson into your lunch-break or make it part of your evening plans, with teachers all over the world to choose from, you are sure to find one who can work with your timetable.

You’ll pay less

Many people believe that one-to-one lessons are an expensive way to learn, but that doesn’t have to be the case. Without room hire and travel time to think about, many teachers are able to offer online classes at a lower rate than face-to-face lessons. Plus learning online opens you up to teachers everywhere in the world, and so a teacher based in a country with lower living costs is likely to offer a more competitive price than someone local to you. Considering the fact that you’ll get more tailored content and focused attention (see above), even if you’re paying slightly more than you would for a group class, it is likely to be worth the extra investment!

If you’re looking to learn Spanish with an experienced, qualified and approachable native teacher,Sally at Spanish Step-by-Step is looking forward to hearing from you.