Your tutor will assess your current speaking and listening level, discuss your goals (travel, work, personal enrichment), and identify which conversational situations matter most to you. They'll then create a personalized plan that focuses on real-world conversations you actually want to have, rather than textbook grammar drills. This foundation ensures every session builds directly toward what you want to accomplish.

Adults often struggle most with speaking anxiety—worrying about making mistakes—and the gap between understanding written Spanish and following native speakers in real conversations. Accent and pronunciation can feel intimidating, and many learners get stuck translating word-by-word instead of thinking in Spanish. A tutor helps you build confidence through low-pressure conversation practice, teaches you strategies for understanding fast speech, and gradually shifts your brain toward thinking in Spanish rather than translating.

Yes—one major advantage of personalized instruction is immediate feedback on your pronunciation. Your tutor can identify which sounds are challenging for you (like the Spanish 'r' or 'll'), explain the mouth position differences from English, and give you targeted practice. Consistent feedback combined with repetition helps retrain your ear and mouth, and many learners notice significant improvement within weeks of focused work.

Native speakers talk fast, use contractions, and skip words—skills textbooks don't always teach. Your tutor will expose you to natural conversation at increasing speeds, teach you strategies for catching key words when you miss something, and help you get comfortable with not understanding every single word. They'll also explain common slang and cultural expressions that make conversations feel more authentic and less formal.

Most adult learners see meaningful progress with one or two sessions per week combined with 30-45 minutes of practice between sessions. Consistency matters more than intensity—regular contact with your tutor keeps you accountable and helps you build speaking habits. Your tutor can suggest specific practice activities (like speaking to yourself while cooking or listening to Spanish podcasts) to maximize progress between sessions.

Look for tutors with native or near-native Spanish fluency, teaching experience with adult learners, and a focus on conversation over grammar drills. It's helpful if they understand adult learning—adults learn differently than children and need to know the 'why' behind what they're studying. Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors in Provo who specialize in conversational Spanish and can tailor lessons to your specific interests and pace.

You don't need much—most tutors bring conversation topics and materials to sessions. Having a notebook to jot down new phrases is helpful, and your tutor might suggest free resources like Spanish podcasts, YouTube channels, or language apps for between-session practice. Some tutors use real-world materials like menus, news articles, or videos to make conversations feel practical and engaging rather than textbook-based.