Spanish class in Houston

Learning Spanish In Houston

Is learning Spanish something you've always wanted to do? With the growing Hispanic population in the South, learning Spanish is a smart investment of your time.

It is a language of beauty, culture, and rich history. And if you're an avid traveler, it's going to be very useful on some of your trips.

But before you begin studying Spanish – or any other language – it's quite natural to have doubts and concerns.

Rest assured, you will not regret learning Spanish. As for the learning journey, we'll tell you how you can make it easier.

How Long Does It Take To Learn Spanish?

Learning any new skill takes a lot of commitment, and a language is no different. Using a new language and developing fluency requires constant dedication and a willingness to learn, even when it gets tough.

Experts say that beginners should devote at least 15 minutes to their language studies each day to grasp the basics.

Moreover, Spanish is categorized as one of the easier languages to master by the United States Foreign Service Institute, requiring English speakers around 24 weeks of learning and practice to reach proficiency.

However, the process becomes much faster with some help.

To master any skill, you need a tutor to guide you through the process. And the good part is that in a city like Houston, you're never too far away from a Spanish speaking individual.

Also, there is a lot of Spanish influence in Houston, and the city hosts a vibrant Hispanic population. Finding a Spanish teacher should be a reasonably straightforward task!

Superprof has a comprehensive directory of qualified Spanish tutors near you, from which you can sift through, evaluate, and choose one!

What's The Quickest Way To Start Learning Spanish?

Unfortunately, there is no right answer to this question. Of the millions of people who learn Spanish, everyone will suggest a learning technique that worked best for them.

Some are relatively cheap, some expensive, some would require a lot of effort on your part, while some are comparatively easy. There's no right combination, and only you can decide what works best for you.

In our experience, the best way for beginners to learn Spanish is one-on-one tutelage, either online or in-person.

While classroom learning is one of the most popular options for students worldwide, it doesn't allow them to focus on their weaknesses and strengths.

Even though it helps to have peers who are learning Spanish, teachers cannot devote individual attention to students in a classroom setting.

Private tutoring allows students to get a more customized learning experience. Having a qualified Spanish teacher who can devote their undivided attention to helping you perfect grammar and pronunciation is an excellent way to gain fluency over the language. 

Many prospective students shy away from private tutoring because of the high costs. Superprof puts such concerns to rest by helping you connect with tutors at reasonable hourly rates.

Learning Spanish For Beginners

Reaching fluency in Spanish is a long process. Most beginners start at an elementary level: they know enough Spanish to carry out a basic conversation.

At this stage, students learn beginner Spanish vocabulary, basic conversational phrases, the rules of grammar, and how to pronounce words in Spanish.

Moreover, Spanish pronunciation happens to be phonetic – you say them as you spell them!

The best part is that these sounds stay consistent, which means that beginners rarely face problems guessing the pronunciation of a word the same way French and German learners do.

If you can't get the accent right in the beginning, that is no cause for worry. Just remember to keep practicing, and you'll get better with time.

As you progress in your Spanish lessons, you'll also gradually grow your vocabulary. Engaging in conversation with your teacher can help you broaden your lexicon, and as you learn more words, you can start to express yourself better.

How To Supplement Your Spanish Lessons

You don't have to keep your Spanish learning restricted to your lessons. Thanks to the growing popularity of Hispanic pop culture in American mainstream media, you can avail many types of resources to help with your learning.

As you move on from beginner to intermediate level, start listening to Spanish podcasts to get a real understanding of the language, as it is spoken by native speakers.

Additionally, you can also tune into a Spanish radio show on the way to work as a convenient way to grow your vocabulary.

If you listen to Spanish songs, it works in pretty much the same way as podcasts and radio shows. You can let them play in the background as you do household chores, workout, or commute to work. Music can be a great way of grasping a language for many people.

Additionally, Spanish TV shows and movies are also convenient tools to learn the language in a way that doesn't get boring.

These days, you can find lots of great Spanish content on Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon; you can even catch a telenovela on TV! If you have Spanish friends or neighbors, you can also ask them to suggest a Spanish show.

While watching, you can choose to display subtitles in English or Spanish if you find trouble keeping up with what is happening.

But we would advise you to eventually wean yourself off of subtitles once you start gaining some fluency. Remember, there are no subtitles in real life!

Furthermore, a useful tip to remember is that you must continuously work your brain to think in the language you're trying to learn.

Listening to music and watching TV shows in Spanish can be an add-on, but you must practice regularly to gain fluency. Moreover, while listening to podcasts, videos, or songs, try to look up their transcripts and jot down any new words you find.

Media resources may not be a useful primary source to learn the language, but they're great for testing the knowledge gained in class!

Sign Up With Superprof To Learn Spanish

Superprof gives you the luxury of choosing from the best private Spanish tutors in the Houston metropolitan area.

Whether you prefer online classes or feel more comfortable with in-person tutoring, Superprof has the perfect tutor for you.