With the advent of online communication, there are now more options than ever to learn and practice new languages. Although having more options can be great, choosing the wrong one only wastes your time and money.
Let’s explore some of the most effective options available to study Spanish so you can decide which one is right for you.
Private In-Person Tutoring
How to Find One
- Google: “Private [Language] Tutors in [Your City]”
- Craigslist & Other Classified Ads
Pros
Private tutoring is great if you’re looking for a more interactive experience, especially if you’re used to in-person learning. It can also be easier to pay attention to the smaller details such as hand gestures and pronunciations.
Cons
The biggest hesitation for most people when it comes to in-person tutoring is the cost. Because of the time and attention it requires for private tutors to meet and engage in-person, they normally charge anywhere from $15 to $20 per hour on average. Scheduling the time and place can also cause some issues because of the need to meet in-person.
Recommended for:
Private in-person tutoring is ideal for when you’re first starting out as a beginner and have a busy lifestyle. Having someone who is available to work around your schedule and meet you in-person will keep you accountable and motivated when you’re initially starting out.
Language Schools
How to Find One
- GoAbroad
- IALC
- Google: “Language Schools in [City]” or “[Language] Language Schools”
- Craigslist & Other Classified Ads
Pros
The main benefit of language schools is that it allows you to meet and learn with a group of fellow language learners. This is a great option if you’ve just arrived in a new country and you’re looking for a social experience with other travelers. Because of the intensity of many language schools (i.e. daily classes), it’s also great if you want to learn as much as you can in a short span of time.
Cons
Learning in a group means you’ll receive less attention, and your progress in class will heavily depend on the skill level of others in the class. Given the business structure of most language schools, you’ll often have to pay just as much, if not more than private tutors.
Recommended for:
Going with language schools is recommended if you’re seeking intense learning in a short span of time. This is particularly common when you’re traveling in a new country or planning to travel to one in the near future.
Conversation Exchange
How to Find One
- Language For Exchange
- Conversation Exchange
- My Language Exchange
- Craigslist & Other Classified Ads
Pros
This is a viable option or anyone who does not have the budget to invest in language learning because it’s free. It does involve patience and time, but it’s possible to make it work if you’re not interested in paying for a solution.
Cons
Given that it is called a conversation “exchange,” giving back your time to help your partner is also required. A common scenario is to spend the first half the time on one language and the last half on the other. This is not an ideal solution if you don’t have the luxury of time, since it also takes longer to seek out and connect with the right conversation partner(s).
Recommended for:
Conversation exchanges are mainly used for people looking to maintain their skills and have the patience to give back their time as well. It’s popular amongst hobbyist language learners, who are looking more to chat with people from other countries.
Online Video Tutoring
How to Find One
Finding an online tutor is as easy as searching online by typing in the keywords you’re looking for.
For example if you’re looking to learn Spanish, you can type “Spanish tutor online” and you’ll receive a listing of private tutors offering their services. Because online tutoring is not location dependent, you don’t need to type in a specific location.
You can also go to Rype to practice your Spanish with one of our trained coaches.
Pros
The benefits of online tutoring are endless. You can take lessons whenever its convenient, learn in the comfort of your home, and speak with tutors from anywhere across the world. There’s also many more options to work with since online learning is not location dependent.
Cons
Although this isn’t a problem for most, the main downside of online tutoring can be the lack of connection students feel with the tutors, particularly if they’re used to in-person learning. However, as long as you have an optimal internet connection, you’ll should be able to get the same quality of tutoring online.
Recommended for:
Online tutoring is great for language learners who are looking to maintain or improve their skills on their own time. The convenience of learning in the comfort of your home allows you to be flexible and practice on your own time.
There’s no right or wrong option here to study Spanish. Your choice depends solely on your own situation, skill level, and learning preferences.
If you’re just starting to learn, and you’re looking to improve in a short span of time, we recommend private in-person tutoring or language schools.
If you’re intermediate or advanced, and you’re looking to improve or practice on your own time, we recommend online tutoring or conversation exchanges.
Luckily, if you’re the latter (conversation exchange or online tutoring), we’ve taken the benefits of both options and created Rype.
