There’s a good reason Spanish is by far the most-taught second language in America: it’s by far the most useful. Whether it’s for school, business, travel, or simply for everyday life, Spanish rewards anyone willing to put in the effort to learn it. And with the right teacher, learning it can be a breeze! That’s where Cambridge Coaching comes in. We offer customized private Spanish tutoring at all levels:
- Beginners: introduction to grammar, speaking, and verb conjugation
- Intermediate: taking reading, writing, and speaking to the next level (sample syllabus here)
- Advanced: exploring seminal texts and literary Spanish (Borges, García Márquez, Cervantes, and more!)
We have also worked with even more advanced students looking to prepare for standardized test, or to fine-tune oral skills through tutorials that emphasize usage, vocabulary, and the mastery of common idiom and even slang.
Our Spanish tutors are exceptional teachers - they are PhD candidates and teaching fellows at NYU, Columbia University, and Harvard University, published authors, and language professionals. They can teach anyone Spanish: whether you’re planning a grand tour of the pintxo parlors of Bilbao or the mofongo joints of Spanish Harlem, tell us about your goals, and we’ll help you get there in no time.
Select the focus that is right for you to learn more about how we can help you improve your Spanish.
Academic Test Preparation Business Enrichment Cultural Exploration
Suggested Approaches
Our 5 favorite approaches encompass all linguistic goals from grammar-focused test preparation and translation, to conversational enrichment and business packages. While each of the language teaching methods below can be effective, your specific goals will impact which method we choose for your tutoring. In your initial evaluation, we will assess which approach best suits your linguistic goals and your learning style.
Resources
Because we are not invested in selling proprietary materials, we prefer to draw from the numerous language learning and teaching methods available to us. Here are some of our favorites:
- Practice Makes Perfect Complete Spanish Grammar
- 501 Verbs (Barron’s)
- Easy Spanish Reader
- Short Stories in Spanish: New Penguin Parallel Text
- Mastering Spanish Vocabulary
Daily Immersion: Newspapers & Music
In addition to what you study during your tutoring session, one of the most fun aspects of learning a new language is exploring the culture that it comes from! Check out podcasts, music and local newspapers to get a taste of Spanishculture.
Podcasts are a great way to supplement your language classes. Immerse yourself as you stroll through Harvard Sqaure, or as you walk down Lexington Avenue.
- Notes in Spanish
- Podcasts in Spanish
- Spanish Pod 101
Local & regional newspapers newspapers are a great way to follow current events in your new language, while advancing your reading comprehension:
There are also tons of newspapers published in the United States that cater to bilingual populations. Find these daily publications around NYC or Boston to get local news in your target language.
Tip: Highlight or make a list of the words you do not recognize as you read. Don’t stop to look them up immediately. Finish the article and see how much you can understand without the dictionary. Then, look up the words, and re-read. This process may seem repetitive, but it asks your brain to work a bit more actively, and will yield results!
Don’t miss out on Spanish music! Some musicians are particularly easy to listen to in their native tongue. Listening to music will get you comfortable hearing your target language and help your comprehension. While you’re at it, you’ll expand your knowledge of colloquial vernacular and regional slang.
- Manu Chao
- Shakira
- Mana
- Juanes
- Browse Spanish radio stations here to check out current hits!
Tip: Look up the lyrics in English before starting so you have a sense of the meaning of the song before you start listening. This will make it easier to recognize vocabulary.
