This is a really interesting question, and I can see both sides to the debate. So, why on earth should anyone learn Spanish, and pay for lessons, with me?
I learnt Spanish from native speakers and felt the benefit. But I was also fortunate to be living in Spain and being surrounded by the language and culture 24/7. Most people, particularly those who need to learn Spanish for business purposes, don’t have the luxury of taking a month or two off work to do an intensive course. And this is where I feel that having a non-native teacher can be an advantage.
When I look back on my learning journey, I recall certain points that were more challenging than others. I recognise the difficulties that English speakers have with Spanish, particularly with the elements of Spanish that simply don’t exist in English. I have, over the years, come to recognise the stumbling blocks, the areas that can be confusing, and I have developed tricks and tools to overcome the barriers. Being an English teacher as well, I am able to explain how Spanish relates to English and also explain things in a comprehensive but not mind-boggling way. I provide solutions using activities that really work.
I aim to provide clarity where many people feel there is none. Many self-learners will quit once they reach a pre-intermediate level, because at this point you are introduced to more challenging grammatical structures, more complex vocabulary, further differences between “por” and “para” AND you are expected to be able to converse with some degree of fluency. In reality, I know what language is used on a daily basis, what vocabulary you need to move forwards and how it can be applied.
Some people have asked me about pronunciation and how I can teach this properly as a non-native speaker. During my time in Spain I was regularly mistaken for a Spanish native. My physical appearance helped me to blend in, but importantly I was able to speak the language with a believable accent. This was not, however, down to the accents of my teachers, who came from all over Spain (and the accents vary significantly, much like they do anywhere). Although I listened intently in class, I understood the rules of Spanish pronunciation (which are fairly straightforward), so I simply practised; I made sure I said “adiós” instead of “adiohs”, for instance. Some of the vowel sounds do take some getting used to, but overriding your desire to pronounce ohhhhh and ahhhh and ayyyyyyy is a really key thing. Also, I am one of the lucky people who can roll my “rrrrr”s – some can and some can’t but hey, in isolation this really isn’t an issue. Finally, I learned to open my mouth. As English speakers, we can create perfectly understandable conversation while barely moving our lips; get used to a facial workout because, although it is possible to do the same in Spanish, native speakers use their mouths to articulate a lot more. Watch some videos, and you’ll see what I mean. Not only that, it really helps with pronunciation. Again, it might feel strange, but it doesn’t look it. Promise!
So, why should anyone learn Spanish with me? Because I know what it's like to be you. And that counts for a lot.