Learning Spanish has been one of my biggest goals for years.
It’s the reason I decided to spend several months traveling Latin America. I took Spanish courses in high school, but let’s be real – that didn’t amount to anything.
So, last year I planned to fully immerse myself in Spanish speaking parts of the world. I used my 6th-grade level Spanish to navigate Mexico, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Panama, Colombia, and Peru. My Spanish slowly but surely improved with every cab ride, market exchange, restaurant interaction, and reggaeton song. I even took Spanish classes in Guatemala, which helped tremendously.
At times, the struggle was REAL. I butchered so many sentences and embarrassed myself way too many times. There were moments when people would speak to me and I would just stare at them in pure confusion. Google translate became my lifeline, but I loved the progress I was making. By the end of it all, a few locals assumed I was fluent *flips hair*.
I left Latin America after 4 months, but I still have so much to learn. My conversational skills are pretty good, but my grammar and vocabulary need serious improvement. I’m determined to continue learning Spanish, no matter where I am in the world.
I discovered Fluent City through my favorite travel vloggers Damon and Jo. Fluent City offers private, group, and online language courses. For someone who’s always on the go, their online courses seemed ideal. I could learn with a consistent structure and lesson plan no matter where I was in the world.
I enrolled in Fluent City’s online classes once a week. I was provided an instructor based on my schedule and skill level. All pre-course communications took place over email, which worked out perfectly while I was on the road. On the first day of class, my teacher evaluated my skill level by conversing with me in Spanish. We only spoke in Spanish and she asked me about my travels through Latin America. This initial course got me really excited to share and learn in a non-conventional way. Her enthusiasm and conversational approach made me feel comfortable from the very beginning. My courses were based on my specific needs and goals, so I felt like I was in complete control of my growth. The remaining courses were flexible, yet challenging. This was my first experience with online language courses, and I’m happy to say that they were effective.
Disclaimer: Fluent City allowed me to sample their courses, but all opinions are of my own.
Hey, I'm Ciara. I’m a global citizen and lover of travel. Want to know more?
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