Do I Really Need a Spanish Tutor to Learn Spanish?
Many people learning to speak Spanish ask themselves, and others, this question. In the United States, Spanish language speakers are increasingly needed to fill bi-lingual positions in education, business, and government. This is true certainly in most major cities in the United States, and particularly true in the Southwestern States that border Mexico. All across the border between the two countries, people are learning to live in a global community of bi-lingual speakers working together to solve education issues, business dealings, and government issues. And, as a result of this increasingly global viewpoint, many people are realizing that they need to learn Spanish fluently, and sometimes very quickly.
Many people in the United States will have spent some time learning Spanish in public school. In many parts of the country, it is considered the primary secondary language to learn. And, for many years in the early 1960′s and 1970′s it was part of the standard elementary school curriculum for upper grades in many areas. But, many people never really learned it well in school, and find that they need to learn Spanish later in life.
So, the question of hiring a Spanish tutor becomes a very important one. There are three things to think about when considering using a tutor:
1. Can I afford one?
2. Who will be the best tutor for me?
3. How long will I need a tutor?
Spanish language tutors are truly in abundance. There are many Spanish-speaking populations in the United States, speaking a variety of dialects ranging from countries as far apart as Spain and Mexico. So, one of the best things to do is to research tutoring fees in your local area. Many local school districts will have community education services that may point you towards tutoring services, or have Spanish language classes taught by experienced tutors. Use the phone book, check out newspaper ads, and search online for other tutors. Once you have done your homework, you will have a good idea of what the going rates are for tutors in your area. Expect some to charge by the hour, and expect others to provide half-hour rates as well. This will give you the answer to whether or not you can afford to hire one. A key thing is to remember that tutors often welcome negotiations for fees if you show that you are truly interested in their services. If your budget simply does not agree with a tutor, then you may wish to consider other options. But, remember that a tutor is tailored to your individual needs, and a course of study is not.
Although it takes time to get to know a person, there are some key things to remember when interviewing a Spanish tutor. You want to find the one that is truly right for you. First impressions will tell you if your personalities seem to mesh. Spend time speaking with the tutor. Be certain that you can understand the tutor, whether speaking in English (or your native language) or Spanish. You will want someone who can understand you, too. And, you will want someone who can give clear guidance during your lessons. Some people are more fluent in speaking than in writing or listening. If your goal is conversation, then fluent speaking will be important. But, if your goal is business understanding, then learning how to read and write will be an important additional goal for your tutoring sessions. And, if you happen to be looking for your child, make certain to bring your child to the interview and see how your child interacts with the tutor. Children are great observers of adults, and they often know on the spot whether they get along with someone or not! You will quickly see if your Spanish tutor gets along well with your child, and the same kind of comfortable interactions must take place between the two of you! If you cannot find a good fit for a tutor, then you may want to consider an online course as an alternative. Or, you may wish to find a good Spanish class in your area.
Finally, you will need a tutor until your specific goal for the tutor is reached. You will want to think about setting goals so that your goal can be reached within your budget. Of course, if budget is not a problem, then an on-going relationship with a tutor over 6 months to a year will bring you a very good level of fluency, as long as you do your homework, study, and practice your Spanish language skills often.
If your budget is limited, or if you are going on a trip soon and need your language skills soon, then think about asking your tutor to focus on a vocabulary group that you will need the most. Food and basic conversation is good for a vacation, while numbers and business terms will be important for a business trip. You can then ask the tutor to tailor basic sentences around your vocabulary group.
Do you really need a tutor? The answer to the question all depends on your budget, your personal needs, and your learning timeline. Try the useful guidelines suggested above as one way to find the answer to your question. Whatever you decide, then follow it up with lots of practice!
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Karen_Celine_Carlson
Author: Karen Celine Carlson
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