I'm a business student at Brigham Young University, and I became fluent in Spanish through nearly two years of full immersion, using the language every single day in a volunteer service setting where I lived and worked alongside native speakers. That experience shapes how I tutor, because I didn't learn Spanish from a textbook. I learned it by speaking it badly at first, getting corrected patiently, and slowly building until it clicked. I teach the same way I learned.
Over that time I...
I'm a business student at Brigham Young University, and I became fluent in Spanish through nearly two years of full immersion, using the language every single day in a volunteer service setting where I lived and worked alongside native speakers. That experience shapes how I tutor, because I didn't learn Spanish from a textbook. I learned it by speaking it badly at first, getting corrected patiently, and slowly building until it clicked. I teach the same way I learned.
Over that time I personally taught three adult beginners who started with almost no Spanish. I worked with them one on one, breaking the basics into small, plain steps: core vocabulary, simple present tense sentences, and the handful of phrases that let you actually hold a conversation early on. We practiced out loud constantly, because speaking is where most beginners freeze. All three went on to become fluent, and watching that happen is what made me want to keep teaching.
My approach with new students is patient and conversation first. I figure out why you want to learn, whether that's travel, work, family, or a class, and I build the lessons around that so they feel useful instead of abstract. I explain grammar in everyday language, I never make anyone feel behind, and I give small amounts of focused practice between sessions so the progress sticks. I'm at my best with beginners and early intermediate learners who want a clear, encouraging start and someone who will get them speaking real sentences quickly.
