Due to the rise of globalization, fluency in multiple languages is becoming a highly desirable trait in the workforce. In the United States, fluency in Spanish opens many avenues in professional development and career paths. For many of us, however, learning Spanish is not an easy task. Successful Spanish learners usually utilize the services of a Spanish tutor.
But, Why Choose a Spanish Tutor?
While Spanish is a foreign language taught in most high schools throughout the nation, most students graduating from high school have extremely limited proficiency in the language. The reason for this is simple. High school Spanish classes force students to try to score well not speak well. Unfortunately, the test-taking atmosphere leads to focus on getting good grades, not fluency. If you truly want your child to be fluent in the language, an effective Spanish tutor is essential.
Now, the important question becomes, how do you find an effective Spanish tutor? To help you on your way, we’ve compiled an easy guide to follow when choosing your child’s Spanish tutor.
1. Qualifications and Experience
This seems like a no-brainer but the type of qualifications the tutor needs to have depends upon your needs. What are your child’s goals? Do they:
- Genuinely want to learn how to read, write, and speak Spanish?
- Need some extra help with their Spanish class?
- Only want to have speaking proficiency?
If your child falls under the first category, you may want to find an experienced tutor with credentials in Spanish. These tutors will generally have a lesson plan and curriculum they can adapt to fit your child’s needs and proficiency. On the other hand, if your child only needs some help with their Spanish class, you may consider looking at less experienced or qualified tutors. A peer tutor (high school student or college student with high proficiency in Spanish) may be a better fit as they will have first-hand knowledge of what teachers expect from the class. Finally, if your child only wants to learn how to speak, finding a tutor with native or bilingual proficiency in the language is imperative.
To find the best Spanish tutor carefully consider your child’s goals to determine what sort of qualifications are necessary.
2. Methodology
Now that you have reduced your potential tutor pool down by qualification, you must look at their chosen methodology. It is important to consider your child’s learning habits and capabilities during this stage. Some students need interactive games and activities to grasp the language. Others may prefer complete immersion in the language. Others still might prefer the textbook approach we see in traditional settings. Discuss the methodologies of your potential Spanish tutors to further narrow down your candidate pool.
Moreover, the methodology your child requires may differ depending upon their goal with the language. For example, a child needs some extra help may prefer tutoring that focuses on study tips and tricks over in-depth, textbook-like explanations of grammar. After discussing with your child how they would like to learn, you should proceed to vet out candidates from your tutoring pool.
3. Curriculum
Finally, consider the curriculum of your child’s Spanish learning. Again, this will go hark back to your child’s goals. if your child wants true proficiency in the language, we have some notes. Firstly, there are many different components to an effective curriculum that leads to fluency in the language. It requires a mix of traditional, textbook learning and immersive, hands-on learning. There needs to be equal focus placed upon speaking, reading, writing, and listening to obtain true fluency. Moreover, we suggest that students consume media in the language they are trying to learn as it helps them immerse themselves in the culture of the language as well.
In contrast, if your child would only like to improve their spoken language proficiency, their curriculum should only focus on speaking and listening activities. An effective tutor may have a multitude of speaking activities at their disposal and may take to consuming Spanish media, such as movies and music, alongside your student to guide their proficiency in a real time context. Ensure that your tutor places emphasis on listening! Many students have the ability to speak Spanish well but have difficulty with comprehending what native speakers are saying in real time. If your tutor does not have this in their curriculum, they will not be effective for your child at all.
Through these simple but essential factors, you will be able to find the best Spanish tutor for your child. However, one question remains, where do you find great Spanish tutors in the first place? The answer is simple.
Talentnook’s Spanish Talentmasters hold a variety of qualifications and use a multitude of methodologies to customize their tutoring to fit your child’s needs. To start searching for Spanish tutors in your neighborhood, click here.
You’re only a click away to finding the best tutor! Happy Learning!