Spanish Tutoring

Q. Describe the most common types of jobs you do for your clients.

A. People who want to brush up their Spanish, improve reading or writing skills, or keep using Spanish in order to not lose it!

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. Always hire for a native Spanish speaker that has formal training if you want to learn Spanish properly.
People can learn a foreign language almost as good as their mother tongue and some bilingual tutors with no training can teach their own language. But getting a native speaker of any language with training guarantees that you will learn the "real accent", you will not repeat their mistakes, and you will have someone who can answer any grammar question that may arise. Also, a native speaker will give you the cultural cues that will make you "blend" in the culture and avoid any embarrassing moments.
Hasta pronto

Q. If you were a customer, what do you wish you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to share?

A. When learning a new language ALWAYS go for an educated native speaker.
Why? Because a native speaker will have the accent you want to achieve, will use the "right words" and will give you an insight into their culture. Also, having knowledge of grammar and word usage means you will get an answer to your question. For example, someone who can tell you why some words are masculine and other feminine (there are a few rules that make life easier) is much more useful that getting "that's the way it is" as an answer.

Q. What questions should a consumer ask to hire the right service professional?

A. 1. Where did you learn Spanish?
Right answer: I am a NATIVE Spanish speaker.
Having taken a couple of Spanish courses or learning it while traveling are not good signs.
2. Do you have any training?
Right answer: Yes, I have a Certificate of Translation and Interpretation from UCSD Extension.
3. How many years of experience do you have?
Right answer: More than 6 years.

Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?

A. I am a native Spanish speaker who is fully bilingual and has a college education. Also, I have extensive experience tutoring as well as teaching in a classroom.
Learning any language from a native speaker means this person will speak with the accent you want to achieve and is also able to explain cultural nuances. Being fully bilingual means I will understand your queries in English and I will be able to answer any question about grammar, culture, regionalisms, etc in your own terms.
Having completed college in Peru means that I have gone through college in the language you want to learn. It means that my scope of Spanish is not just "high school", "I took Spanish 101 in college" or "I learned it on my own" :)

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. I love the smile on the face of a student that learned a new word, concept, grammatical rule or that was able to express himself/herself fully in Spanish. This really makes my day!

Q. What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A. Where did you learn English?
I have been studying English since I was in kindergarten (in Lima, Peru). They seem to be amazed by the grasp of English grammar and American culture I have. Being "fluent in American" helps me transfer Spanish knowledge to my students in their own terms and in a language they are familiar with.

Q. What do you wish customers knew about you or your profession?

A. I love doing what I do. I teach the same way I learned English: focusing on what works for me. Everyone has different learning techniques and different goals for learning. My job is finding how you learn best and what your goals are to make you excel at learning Spanish!