Spanish With A Gringo™

Spanish With A Gringo™

5.0Exceptional(13 reviews)
Offers online services
Offers online services

About

Over the past 4 years, I have mentored and tutored more than 50 middle school, high school, and university students learning Spanish, not to mention an additional 16 adult students seeking to learn Spanish fluently as part of their job or as a new life skill.

My service stands out due to the reverse method I use; in other words, many professors will hurl hundreds of vocab words at you and then begin to teach grammar. I teach the opposite way, starting with PRONUNCIATION and THEN going to grammar and THEN going to vocab. All of my students who are long term learners have greatly benefitted from this technique.

I used to work in a Physical Therapy clinic and I remember one summer when a man came in on crutches with a full leg cast around his right leg. He was two weeks post-op from knee replacement surgery. We put him on the recumbent bike (the one with the back rest) and he could not get his knee to go around the entire circle...once. But with steady progress and consistent determination, by the end of the summer, he was able to bike 3 miles in 10 minutes.

In other words, when my students go from pronouncing "hola" (oh-lah) like ho-lah to being able to have a conversation with me in Spanish, that is what motivates me. I had professors in high school that only felt successful if I succeeded. I bring that same feeling to my students, each and every time.


Highlights

Hired 33 times
1 employee
4 years in business
Serves Northlake , TX
Offers online services

Details

Current reading level

No experience, Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Current speaking level

No experience, Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Writing level

No experience, Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Reading and writing goals

Basic reading and writing skills, Full professional literacy, Native / bilingual literacy

Speaking goals

Conversational proficiency, Full professional fluency, Native / bilingual fluency

Student's age

19 – 25 years old, 26 – 45 years old, 46 – 65 years old, Over 65 years old

Photos and videos


  • Reviews

    0.0
    0 reviews
    5
    0%
    4
    0%
    3
    0%
    2
    0%
    1
    0%

    TS

    Tim S.

    I tried learning Spanish on my own using various apps, Duolingo, Babble, etc. Ive learned more with my lessons at Spanish With A Gringo on a few months than I did with two years using aps. My confidence has grown tremendously. Zachs style of teaching makes the process very fun, I really look forward to my lessons. His platform is easy to schedule the lessons and as a busy professional his availability is extremely helpful. Ive found learning a new language to be a long journey, if you have to take a long trip, go with someone who can get you there fast and is fun to be on the trip with.
    ... Show more
    November 01, 2022

    PG

    Patricia G.

    Material very understandable. The instructor is knowledgeable and easy to follow.
    ... Show more
    July 22, 2022
    Hired on Lessons

    KR

    Karen R.

    Great lessons! Very organized and makes learning Spanish fun.
    ... Show more
    March 04, 2022
    Hired on Lessons

    LG

    Linda G.

    The way Professor Zac is able to break things down that makes it easier to comprehend.
    ... Show more
    January 25, 2022
    Hired on Lessons

    EM

    Erin M.

    Zach is extremely patient and always provides visuals and explanations. I chose him to learn Spanish for business/ personal use, I enjoy going to his class every week! Ive learned more in the past 5 months than I did in two years of HS courses. He has quizlets, practice worksheets, and many other resources he provides for you, 10/10 would recommend him to a friend.
    ... Show more
    August 09, 2021

    AM

    Abigail M.

    The lessons were very professional and engaging! I loved how outgoing and fun Zach has made learning Spanish! He also is comfortable with the content and frequently shows expertise in all areas of understanding and application of the Spanish language.
    ... Show more
    August 05, 2021

    Frequently asked questions

    With new Spanish students, I want to answer 3 questions:

    1) WHY do you want to learn? To impress your girlfriend's parents? To communicate with your employees? To move to Costa Rica? WHY matters!

    2) What is your time commitment? Learning a new language is a LONG process that requires a lot of hours and a lot of effort. Before you embark on this journey, a fulfilling and wicked fun journey, make sure you are ready to commit.

    3) What are your goals? I will help you set short-term and long-term goals, but understanding what you want to know helps me design lessons that are better tailored to your goals.

    I have been learning Spanish formally and informally since the 8th grade. I wish I had started earlier! I took Spanish I all the way through AP Spanish IV, receiving a 5 on the AP exam, in high school.

    I have my Bachelor's degree from Arizona State University in Spanish and am currently pursuing my Master's degree in Translation and Interpretation with plans to graduate in 2022.

    For in person lessons, I charge $35/hour. For online lessons (Skype or Zoom), I charge $30/hour. But I am a college student so I understand that budgets can be tight. If you have questions about pricing, let's talk :)

    I started teaching my junior year of high school when I realized I had a knack for helping others learn difficult concepts in Spanish. Now that I'm nearly 5 years in, I think I made the right decision!

    From middle school to university, grade-driven to fluency-driven, I have worked with all different types of students. I always ask my students at the beginning about their purpose in learning Spanish, because that way I can tailor my teaching style to help them achieve that goal.

    This is completely unrelated to Spanish, but a few weeks ago, I ran a 15k (9.3 miles) in 58:57, a goal that I had been chasing (quite literally) for over a year. That's 6:20/mile for just under an hour. I'm proud of myself because I set a goal and worked by tail off to achieve it.

    1) Look for someone who is organized and punctual. You want someone who will always be on time no matter what time zone you're in and someone who will be prepared for the lesson.

    2) Take advantage of free consultations! You want to get to know your tutor a little bit, so ask questions and see if you vibe with them. If not, maybe time to look elsewhere. Remember, this is YOUR money that you're spending.

    1) Definitely think about your schedule. A tutor like myself likes to know that my student knows how many times a week and for how long a student wants to engage in tutoring services.

    2) What is your goal? Don't be ashamed if it's just passing a class! But I need to know, otherwise I don't know how to tailor my services directly to your needs. Be precise and be demanding...I repeat...it's YOUR money!


    Services offered

    Spanish