Weekly Tip 9/1/17 – Private vs. Semi-private vs. Group Language Classes
Weekly Tip 9/1/17 – Private vs. Semi-private vs. Group Language Classes
¡Buenas tardes estudiantes de español! Espero que todos hayan tenido una linda semana :)
The topic for today is private vs group Spanish classes, as I am often asked which is better.
The truth is that both are great, and as with everything else in life, they have their pros and cons.
Private Spanish classes
Pros:
- The entire time is devoted to you, therefore your speaking abilities advance at a faster pace.
- The schedule is very flexible.
- You can have the classes adapted to your preferences, ability and learning needs.
Cons:
- They’re more expensive.
- If you’re having back & forth conversations (with your teacher doing 30-50% of the talking), that is fantastic, but if YOU are doing 95% of the talking, you will not develop your listening skills at the same rate as your speaking skills.
Group Spanish classes
Pros:
- They are more affordable.
- You have the opportunity to learn new vocabulary from other students.
- You have the opportunity to meet other people with a common interest.
- You can play some fun games when other students are involved.
Cons:
- The speaking time is divided among all the students, therefore you won’t have as much time to speak as you would in a private class.
I wish I could tell you that one is better than the other, but that is simply not the case (at least not at Pura Buena Onda, since our group classes are so small). The best of both worlds is when you’re able to do both :) But if that is not possible, one fantastic option is to go back and forth – private classes for a few months, then group, then private, etc.
What is your preference and why?
Besos,
Caro