How 9 lessons of Spanish transformed my travel experience
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Hi! My name is Sergii, and I’m a 25-year-old software engineer from Kyiv, Ukraine.
My Spanish learning journey began when I started planning a three-week trip to Colombia and Peru with my friends. We heard that English isn’t widely spoken in these countries, even on the basic level.
Eventually, we found out that it’s absolutely true. For instance, our host in Bogota didn’t speak a word in English. He tried to describe their social situation in Spanish and then asked if I could lend him some money for food.
To communicate with locals and ask for help in case of emergency, I decided to improve my language skills before the trip. Luckily, I was learning Spanish some years ago, but all I could say in my first lesson with the tutor was “Vivo en Ucrania” (I live in Ukraine).
How to study on a busy schedule
Because of my busy schedule, I didn’t have more than one hour per week for language learning. So, I started learning Spanish with Preply. With online lessons, I was able to study whenever I wanted. The best time to take lessons for me was during my working hours right from the office.
Honestly, I didn’t have a learning schedule. Generally, I planned one lesson per week, but sometimes I canceled it when I was sick, had a business meeting, or when I simply wanted to sleep more. I know that’s not right, but it happens.
Although I had only 9 online lessons with my tutor before the trip, I made fast progress. Besides, I didn’t use any study tools apart from Preply.
The moment when I felt progress
I’ve never measured my progress by achieving a new level of language proficiency. But there were a few “wow” moments when I felt my skills really improved. First of all, I started to understand YouTube videos in Spanish provided by my tutor. The videos weren’t adapted for language learners, so I watched them at a 2x slower speed. Also, I moved ahead with reading articles for native Spanish speakers on the web.
But my biggest achievement was speaking with locals in Colombia during my trip. I used simple phrases such as “Can you help us?”, “Can I have some dietetic food?”, “I forgot my phone on that table. Have you found it?” and so on. Anyway, I achieved my language learning goal!
My perfect tutor was…
A young graphic designer and language teacher from Spain, living in Germany. I’ve chosen her from several tutors recommended by my colleagues, who were also studying with Preply.
In my opinion, a perfect tutor has to be a:
- Native speaker. Non-natives would never sound natural enough for me to enjoy speaking with them.
- Professional language teacher. I want to be sure that a chosen expert will create an effective study plan to meet my needs.
- Easy-going person. I didn’t want to turn my language learning into a stressful experience.
Sometimes I didn’t have much time to do my homework, but my tutor always showed understanding and helped me go through it during the lesson. Usually, she asked me “What did you do last week?” and we talked about art, traveling, politics, cooking, etc.
What I like the most about Preply
I really like that all lessons at Preply are 100% customized. As for me, learning grammar was easy, but what I really needed was speaking practice. And my tutor made a lesson plan based specifically on my needs.
The schedule was flexible so that I was able to study when it was the most convenient for me. Besides, there was no need to spend time traveling to classes. All lessons with my tutor were provided online via the user-friendly video chat – Preply Space. I was studying from my office and drinking my favorite coffee during lessons. What can be better?
So, what’s next?
Today, I’m planning my trip to Spain and mastering my language skills to feel even more confident speaking with locals. Overall, I strive to speak at least two foreign languages. In the 21st century, knowing only one is not enough.
If you want to achieve your language goals just like me, opt for online Spanish classes with a native speaker. A chosen expert will show you how to pronounce words correctly and teach you how to sound like a local. As a bonus, they can give you some helpful tips on your future trip to the preferred county. Just try learning online, and you won’t be disappointed!
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