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Adventures in Spanish isn’t your regular language school. Here’s why…

What 12 months in Venezuela taught me about language acquisition

• It’s easier to learn a new language when you’re interested in the subject matter. I learnt Spanish specific to Adventure Tourism while I worked in an Adventure Travel Company in Merida.
• Teaching adults is different to teaching kids – it takes a different skill set. I learnt this by teaching English as a foreign language in a local English school.
• Even if you’re practicing speaking Spanish every day, it’s still really important to get feedback from a tutor. I learnt sentence structure and grammar basics at an intensive Spanish course with a private tutor.
• Learning “Street Spanish” and “slang” is a great way to make friends. I learnt this while I backpacked from Isla Margarita to Ciudad Guayana & the Orinoco River to Merida and then South to Roraima and Salto Angel.

What 12 months in Colombia taught me about language acquisition

• My opinion on how much easier it is to learn Spanish when you’re learning about something you’re actually interested in was confirmed here. I took a PADI Dive course completely in Spanish and went from PADI Open Water Diver to Dive Master in the fishing village of Taganga on the Colombian Caribbean. I learnt Spanish specific to Scuba Diving.
• It’s important to learn the local words for things like “great/brilliant” in each country. There are different words for this in particular depending on which South American country you are in.
• Music is a great way to improve your listening skills, gain a better understanding of the culture and build your vocabulary. Manu Chau was my go-to music in Colombia and I still use some of the songs in my teaching today.
• The culture of a country can only really be understood by living it.

What 12 months in Ecuador taught me about language acquisition

• Daily 1:1 private Spanish lessons will boost your learning and provide you with a seriously solid platform of understanding from which you can then move confidently through the Spanish-speaking World. I know this as I received 60 minute private lessons every day by an incredibly kind and patient teacher who I’m still in touch with today.
• Textbooks are a great resource to use to support teaching Spanish – but it’s the enthusiasm and value the teacher brings to each lesson that makes the difference. I learnt this while I delivered daily English lessons to groups of adults and children. We used a textbook, but students were more interested to learn about English culture and what life is really like in the UK.
• Learning a second or third language should be just as important as anything else we do – it bridges the cultural gap and brings people together.
• Teaching Spanish in-house to business owners and professionals on their lunch break taught me the importance of punctuality and laser focused content specific to learners language-learning needs are really important and much more worthwhile.

What six months in Peru taught me about language acquisition

• Reading menus carefully is important. I learned this the hard way, accidentally ordering a massive lobster meal for one.
• When a sign says “Cuidado Perro Peligroso” it means “Beware, dangerous dog” and not that they are asking for someone to look after their dog!
• Sometimes it’s good to take a break and just “be” without the pressures of “having to learn”.
• Reading Latin American literature (even if it’s in English) provides a deeper understand of the culture. It’s also a great conversation starter when you’re ready to practice speaking again. I read 100 Years of Solitude, The Open veins of Latin America and many others.

What 10 years of running my own Luxury Travel Company in Mendoza, Argentina taught me about language acquisition

• Learning a new language is ongoing, the learning never stops. After three years living and working around South America when I arrived in Argentina I had to unlearn some of the basic grammar I had been taught. In Argentina we say “vos” not “tú” for example.
• People from Buenos Aires have a language all of their own (called Lunfardo) and if you want to make friends quickly it’s worth learning a few words (and getting a Lunfardo dictionary).
• It’s much better value for tourists to book Spanish-speaking guides as opposed to English-speaking guides. Not only are they usually less expensive, but they will also help you improve your Spanish.
• Again – it’s easier to learn a new language when you’re interested in the topic – learning how to talk about wine in Spanish is something everyone can do, especially if you’re planning a trip to Mendoza Wine Country.
• Complete immersion in your target language is THE best way to become fluent.
• Daily Spanish lessons with locals, combined with activities in the target language are a great way to improve your Spanish. I know this as I used to host groups of 30 adult students from the USA.
• It’s important to increase your vocabulary for both professionals and friends, but it’s even more important to understand when to use them.
• And many, many more lessons that I talk more about in my blog.

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Meet Kelly, your Amazing Spanish Tutor & owner of Adventures in Spanish

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