Award-Winning Spanish Tutors

Studying a foreign language is a requirement for most students, but many schools offer several foreign languages from which to choose. Whether you are trying to decide which one your child should pursue or you are trying to encourage them to take their studies more seriously, we've put together some insight into why studying a foreign language is so important.

Learning a foreign language can completely change your child's relationship with English. Learning the parts of speech in a foreign language can deepen your child's understanding of how English works. English grammar, idioms, and even spelling become easier to understand with the acquisition of a foreign language.

The dedication required to learn a foreign language is something which can be transferred to other areas of life. When your child realizes how impactful setting aside a designated time to study and practice can be, they become aware of how the same principle could be applied to other areas. Even if this understanding is only subconscious, it will bubble up again when they have another school project or assignment to do.

Why Study Spanish?

Now that you and your child are both convinced studying a foreign language is a great use of valuable academic time, why should they study Spanish specifically? We've outlined some of the best reasons in the table below:

Spanish Language Statistics

• Second most widely spoken language on Earth
• 21 countries consider Spanish their official language
• 572 Million Spanish speakers total worldwide
  • 477 Million native Spanish speakers worldwide
  • 21 Million people currently studying Spanish
• In the US, there are 43 Million native Spanish speakers
  • 15 Million in the US have some knowledge of Spanish
• In the US, Spanish is the most-studied language at all school and university levels

What all of these statistics combine to show is that learning Spanish can give your child access to a larger community within their own country and throughout the world.

The richness of the Spanish culture is intricately tied to that of the United States. As they grow in their language mastery they will begin to see how the languages and cultures have mixed and mingled to create one of the most diverse nations in the world. As an added bonus, it is also one of the most beautiful and expressive languages in the world.

What is Involved in Language Mastery?

Spanish tutoring isn't just about learning vocabulary words and pronunciation. Ultimately, the goal of any foreign language class is the mastery of that language. But what does that mean? According to the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, it goes far beyond grammar, syntax, spelling, and pronunciation.

Below you will find the goals and standards associated with true language mastery.

American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages Standards for Language Learning

Your child's personal Spanish tutor can help your child with all facets of learning Spanish. Depending on the linguistic and academic level of your child, their private Spanish tutor could review conversational Spanish, culture, history, or even societal norms. Spanish tutoring does not suffer from the constraints of a typical classroom. Spanish tutors have the ability to go beyond the textbook and into real world application which can transform an intellectual activity of rote memorization into an embodied learning activity that can help make the language more accessible.

Why Work With a Tutor?

Working directly with a personal tutor has numerous benefits. In a traditional classroom setting, teachers are remarkably limited in what and how they can teach. While a good teacher will have the ability to adequately instruct the majority of their students, it is impossible to accommodate the individual learning styles and needs of every child in a classroom. A Spanish tutor who is working individually with your child can.

Spanish tutors are not limited by the speed and mastery of other students, they are only concerned with your child. If your child needs extra time in one lesson and no review on the next, then that is what they will receive in their study session. Your child's tutor has the ability to customize each lesson and pivot as needed.

Another important consideration is the learning style and preferences of your child. While a classroom teacher has to use the methodology that will work for the greatest number of students, your child's Spanish tutor can tailor their program of learning to your child's needs. While some children respond better to repetition and practice, others need a more hands on or immersive experience. One of the magical things about tutoring is that no two sessions are alike.

Perhaps in no other field is tutoring as valuable as in learning a foreign language. Working with a personal Spanish tutor can help your child immediately begin using their foreign language skills in a real world environment simply by giving them the opportunity to talk with their tutor in Spanish. This takes language learning far beyond the textbook or even the simple recitation and short bursts of classroom conversation. Spanish tutoring gives your child opportunities which are simply impossible in a classroom setting.

Whether your child needs to work on vocabulary and syntax or composition and pronunciation a personal Spanish tutor can help guide the way.

Are Spanish Tutors Near Me the Best Solution?

While working face-to-face with a tutor offers your child many advantages, that doesn't necessarily mean the best solution is "Spanish tutors near me." Working in a digital environment gives you far greater scheduling flexibility. If you and your child already have packed schedules, it can be almost impossible to find the time to drive to and from yet another appointment. Instead, your child could connect with their Spanish tutor from wherever they happen to be as long as they have a stable internet connection. That could mean studying in the school library, a coffee shop, or at home at the dining room table.

Working with a personal tutor online also gives you access to many more tutors. Your child's learning style and personality are unique and it may be difficult to find someone locally who is compatible. Compatibility can be a key factor in a successful tutoring experience and by opening up your options, you increase the possibility you will find a perfect tutoring match. While you may have initially been looking for a "Spanish tutor near me," it's important to remember that proximity isn't as important as quality.

Can a Spanish Tutor Help my Student Prepare for Tests?

Not only can a private Spanish instructor help your student prepare for classroom quizzes and tests, but they can also help them study for any of the many standardized exams they will face throughout their school years. Standardized testing has its own set of challenges, including strict time limits, questions worded in a way that's not always easy to understand, and the potential for anxiety due to the test's relatively high stakes.

In addition to content review, your student's private instructor can go over specific test-taking strategies focused on areas your student finds challenging and the specific exam they're preparing for. What should they do when they don't know an answer to a question? It depends on the exam, and their tutor can let them know how to best influence their score when this comes up on the exam. They can also help with time management and anxiety alleviation, and generally becoming familiar with the test structure and question format.

Some standardized exams that Spanish students may take include:

• AP Spanish Language & Culture – AP exams allow students to earn college credits and potentially skip introductory Spanish language classes in college. The exam includes audio, printed, and spoken assessments.
• AP Spanish Literature & Culture – This AP Spanish exam focuses on written language, and doesn't contain the audio or speaking portions. All questions are either multiple-choice or free response.
• SAT Spanish Subject Test (with or without Listening) – SAT Subject Tests help your student demonstrate their proficiency and interest in specific subjects. Students are expected to know vocabulary and sentence structure and must demonstrate their language abilities in paragraph completion and reading comprehension questions.

What Career Opportunities are Available?

In addition to the previously discussed benefits of learning a second language, future career opportunities should also be considered. There are many different careers that are built entirely around the ability to speak more than one language. Some of the career options available to those who are bilingual can be seen in the list below.

Career Opportunities in Spanish

• Bilingual Educator
• Foreign Correspondent
• Importer/Exporter
• Translator
• Interpreter
• Bilingual customer support
• Travel Agent
• Cultural Events Coordinator
• Immigration Officer
• Court Interpreter
• International Relations Consultant
• International Banking Officer

While the list above is not exhaustive, it's easy to see how opportunities in virtually any career field could increase when one is fluent in a second language. Having the ability to communicate effectively with a more diverse population is always going to be seen as a benefit by employers. Don't forget, your child could also discuss the career opportunities their Spanish tutor has had due to their bilingual capabilities.

Working with a Spanish tutor in a digital learning environment offers the same benefits as working with a "Spanish tutor near me" but provides greater scheduling flexibility and choice of tutors. You already know just how valuable learning a second language is for your child, so if you're ready to take their language lessons to the next level with Spanish tutoring, contact Varsity Tutors today. We would love the opportunity to help you connect with the perfect tutor for your child's academic needs and help them on their way to language mastery. We hope to hear from you soon.