You understand Spanish. Now let's get you speaking it.
You follow every conversation at family dinners, then answer in English. Private, judgment-free classes with Paula, a Colombian teacher, for adults who grew up around Spanish and are ready to finally use it.
Sound familiar?
- You understand your grandmother perfectly. You just cannot answer her.
- You freeze, or switch to English, because you are afraid of sounding wrong in front of family.
- Beginner classes bore you, but advanced classes assume you can read and write well.
- You know something is off with your verbs, but you could not say what.
- You want to speak with your kids, your clients or your roots, not pass an exam.
This is not a lack of talent. You learned Spanish by listening, not by speaking, so your ear is far ahead of your mouth. That gap closes with the right kind of practice.
How the classes work
We start from what you know
No A1 drills. The trial class shows exactly what you already have and what is missing.
Speaking first
Most of every class is you talking about your life, your family and your work. Grammar comes in when you need it.
The gaps, one by one
Past tenses, the subjunctive, longer sentences, accents in writing: we fix them in context, not with lists.
Judgment-free
One-on-one, kind corrections, Spanglish welcome as a bridge. Your family's Spanish is respected, never "corrected".
What you will be able to do
- Hold a full conversation with relatives without switching to English.
- Tell stories about the past and talk about plans and hopes.
- Write messages and emails in Spanish with the right accents and spelling.
- Use Spanish at work with clients, patients or colleagues.
- Understand when a word is regional and when it works everywhere.
Want to read more first? Why you understand Spanish but can't speak it (and how to fix it).
What students say
★★★★★She uses different materials, videos, documents, and her explanations about grammar are fantastic. Learning with her is actually fun! I knew some Spanish already and she immediately picked up on my strength and weaknesses and tailors the lessons accordingly.
Ines
★★★★★I am really enjoying my classes with Paula, she speaks at a native speed which forces me to listen and adapt. She is very patient with my mistakes and corrects me in an empathetic manner. Our classes are very relaxed and the conversation always flows.
Joshua C.
★★★★★I had another great lesson with Paula tonight. I really appreciate her teaching style and I’m learning a lot. I’m getting compliments from Spanish speakers about how much I’ve improved. I’ve learned more from Paula in 6 months than I did in 3 years of group classes.
Eric
Frequently asked questions
I understand almost everything but my grammar is a mess. Where do I start?
Not at A1. In your trial class Paula listens to how you speak and finds the specific gaps, usually past tenses, the subjunctive and connecting longer ideas. Then you work on those while you keep talking, instead of repeating what you already know.
Will you correct the way my family speaks?
No. Mexican, Puerto Rican, Colombian, Salvadoran or Dominican, your family's Spanish is real Spanish. Paula helps you add what you are missing and tells you when a word is regional, so you can choose how to say things in each situation.
I feel embarrassed speaking. Is that normal?
Very. Many heritage speakers feel judged by relatives or by native speakers. Classes are one-on-one and judgment-free, mistakes are expected, and Spanglish is welcome as a bridge while you build up the Spanish.
Can I also learn to read and write properly?
Yes. Accents, spelling and writing messages or emails are part of the plan whenever you want them to be.
How often should I take classes?
Twice a week is the rhythm we recommend: often enough that speaking becomes a habit, with time in between to practice in your Student Hub.
Which program is this?
Most heritage speakers take Conversational & Culture (from €25 per hour). If there are many gaps in the basics, Paula may suggest General & Essentials. You decide after the trial class.
Your family is waiting to hear you.
Book a trial class and tell Paula where Spanish shows up in your life. You leave with a plan.