.Why Choose Private Classes?
Flexible Scheduling: Provide your and your child's availability, and I'll create a custom session for you, subject to availability. Classes are scheduled on demand!

Sibling Discount: Take advantage of our 2-for-1 offer on all private classes. Share your kids' schedules, and I'll arrange a special session for them to learn together.
Individualized Attention: Private tutoring ensures your child receives tailored lessons to meet their specific learning needs.

Course Highlights:
Customized Lessons: Focus on pronunciation, communication skills, reading, grammar, vocabulary and sentence structure.
Preparation: Parents should inform me in advance about the learner's areas of difficulty or specific topics they need assistance with. This allows me to prepare personalized materials for each session.

Interactive Sessions:
Opening Discussion: We will start by discussing the daily calendar, weather, feelings, and weekly plans in Spanish.

Session Outline: Create a structured plan for the session to cover all focus areas.
Practice Activities: Engage in interactive exercises to reinforce learning.

Class Wrap-Up: Summarize and review the day's lesson to ensure comprehension.  If time, we will read a story together!
Additional Options:
Group Classes: Available if preferred.
Flex Classes: Offered for more flexible learning arrangements.

I teach using the The Comprehensible Input (CI) method.  This method is based on the theory that language learners acquire language most effectively when they are exposed to input that is slightly above their current level of understanding but still comprehensible. This method emphasizes the importance of understanding the message rather than focusing on grammar rules and vocabulary lists.

Key Principles:
Understanding First:
Learners should understand the input they receive. This is achieved by using language that is slightly beyond their current proficiency level but made understandable through context, visual aids, gestures, and prior knowledge.

Natural Language Use:
Language acquisition should mimic the natural way people learn their first language. This involves exposure to meaningful and relevant language use rather than isolated drills and rote memorization.

Focus on Meaning:
Emphasis is on understanding the meaning of the message rather than the form of the language. Grammar and vocabulary are acquired naturally as learners are exposed to comprehensible input.

Contextual Learning:
Language is learned in context. Visual aids, realia (real-life objects), body language, and situational context help learners make sense of the input.
Techniques and Strategies:

Use of Visuals and Gestures:
Teachers use pictures, videos, gestures, and facial expressions to help convey meaning.
Repetition and Rephrasing:
Key phrases and structures are repeated in various contexts to reinforce understanding. Rephrasing helps ensure learners grasp the meaning.

Simplified Language:
Input is modified to be simpler and more accessible while still being just above the learners’ current level.
Storytelling:
Stories are a powerful tool in CI. They provide a context-rich environment where language is used naturally and meaningfully.

Interactive Activities:
Activities like role-playing, games, and discussions encourage active participation and help solidify comprehension.

Scaffolding:
Support is gradually removed as learners become more proficient, allowing them to become more independent in their language use.

Benefits:
Reduces Anxiety:
Learners are less stressed as they focus on understanding rather than perfecting grammar.
Engages Learners:
Interactive and contextual learning keeps learners engaged and motivated.
Promotes Natural Language Use:
Mimicking natural language acquisition leads to better retention and practical use of the language.

Application in my Classroom:
Daily Activities:
Start with discussions about the daily calendar, weather, feelings, and plans in Spanish.
Interactive Lessons:
Use stories, visual aids, and contextual activities to make input comprehensible and engaging.
Tailored Material:
Prepare materials based on the learners’ interests and current proficiency level, ensuring the input is slightly challenging yet understandable.

These tutoring sessions are limited to one student in order to provide the learner with all the attention needed. These private tutoring sessions are aimed at students at any Spanish level that would like a bit of extra tutoring or would just like to practice speaking Spanish one-on-one. Depending on the Spanish level of the learner, the tutoring sessions can be entirely in Spanish or a mixture of Spanish and English.  I can help tutor with already assigned homework and I can also integrate my own lessons into the sessions.  I differentiate my lessons based upon student interest and ability level.  My personal lessons are designed by using comprehensible input.  Students acquire the language through storytelling and games/activities. I am also able to help with grammar and verb structures and conjugations. 

Conclusion: The Comprehensible Input method is a highly effective approach for language acquisition, emphasizing understanding and meaningful use of language. By providing input that is just beyond the learners' current level in a comprehensible way, learners can naturally acquire new language skills and build confidence in their language abilities.