F.A.Qs

We follow the advice on https://www.education.govt.nz/covid-19/advice-for-tertiary-providerswhare-wananga/covid-19-protection-framework-advice-for-tertiary-education-providers/
This means that we require only staff (including volunteers and contractors), students and visitors who are vaccinated can be onsite at tertiary education premises at Red.

Please send us your Vaccine Passport by email [email protected] or scan it when you arrive.

On tertiary education premises at Red, capacity limits must be based on 1m distancing.

Face coverings must be used indoors at tertiary education premises that are open to the public, and during formal teaching and learning activities.

There are some exceptions to the face coverings requirement. Staff who are presenting, and who maintain 2-metre physical distancing from others when doing so, are exempt (though tertiary education providers may impose their own requirements). Those who have a physical or mental illness or condition or disability that makes wearing a face covering unsuitable are also exempt.

Please read our Terms & Conditions page.

By cash or bank deposit to our school bank account. Fees must be paid in full before the course starts.

Please talk to us if you are not able to pay in full before you start, we may offer you a payment plan.

Bank: Kiwibank
Account #: 38-9009-0306277-07
Account name: Speak Spanish

No, sorry. We don’t offer refunds. Please plan your commitment carefully before enrolling. We are not responsible for any changes after the course starts.

No, we are not able to offer them, please consider your timetable when enrolling.

Yes, you can. Your teacher and the Head Teacher must know about your willingness and agree with you. They will guide you to make the right choice. Sometimes it could be a mistake to change levels before it’s time to do so. You may feel your level is better than the rest of the class but in fact it is only one area which is better: you may require to learn more grammar before jumping into the next level for example.

No registration fee $50.

10% discount on Private one-to-one and group lessons when enrolling and paying for 5hs or 10hs at a time.

Classes have a maximum of 10 students on-site, 4 students on online courses. Generally courses are between 4-10 students.

We require a minimum of 4 students in a course but in special situations, we may decide to run a course with only 3 students.

Spanish is a language spoken in 22 counties. Like English, someone from Argentina is perfectly able to communicate with someone from Spain and the other way round. Spanish has some regional differences, the same as English in different areas but it is basically the same. You will pick up a specific accent or idioms later rather than at the start; the differences are not noticeable or relevant when you have a beginner/ pre-intermediate level. We teach “standard Spanish” which will be useful wherever you may go.

Learning any language takes time and practice, we can’t give you a time frame as it will depend on the courses you take, the time you practice between classes, your exposure to the language and your own personal development. It is not true students learn quickly because they are younger or know other languages. In our experience, students who succeed are those who persevere, keep going and try to speak the language (even if it means you’ll make mistakes).

In private or online one-to-one classes: the class goes at your own pace. This is particularly advantageous if you are a dedicated student who would improve faster being in a class suited to your own needs – you may need to improve your Spanish to work abroad; your teacher will prepare a class to address your particular needs. You may not be available every week for group classes, we have students who travel for work and find private classes more suitable to their busy lifestyle. Online classes could be arranged during your lunch break and run for at least 45 minutes.

Groups are always our favourite option, they are in general more engaging, fun and you may meet friends for life!

The decision is up to you and also depends on your lifestyle and commitments.

Our approach to learning the target language is based on the immersion philosophy, which involves learning to converse and communicate in a natural setting. You will practice and use the target language as it would occur in real life. When you travel, you will find immersed in Spanish; one word in English may be two or more words in Spanish…. this is why we encourage students not to depend on what a literal translation could be as it may not have any sense in the other language, phrases you will usually use could have a different equivalent in Spanish.

We know it’s hard at the beginning to get around the book, its exercises titles, etc but you will be pleased you did it from the start, it will pay off. Immersing yourself from the beginning, at the end of the day, that is what is going to happen when you speak to native speakers.

If you want to improve fast, there is no way around it… you have to have more exposure to the language. This means to do your homework, watch our recommended videos (on our FB page or on our website), listen to music, podcast, come to workshops, take private/ online classes or speak Spanish with friends.

Everybody has different availability and all learn in different ways. If you are coming to an adult course, it will be your responsibility to do the work between classes. We estimate you will need 30 minutes per week on top of your class. If you do more, you will improve faster, no doubt!

You will practice and use the target language as it would occur in real life. Get ready for your trip and practise in a natural, relaxed environment. You are also welcome to come and listen, there is no need to speak if you feel intimidated or not that confident… we understand! In any case, this is a valuable experience, and we like you to come and enjoy it. We always have positive feedback.

We can issue a letter from our Institute specifying the hours you have done in the school and your current level with a full description of what you are able to do. If you require a certificate to study in a Spanish speaking country, you will have to sit the official DELE exam for your level. We can help you prepare for it and guide you to enrol in Auckland, Christchurch or Sydney, please enquire.

Yes, you do. You must have the book to work in our courses.
You can buy the book from us or online somewhere else, it’s your choice! (we can help you if you would like to buy it somewhere else).

In the News section on this website, in our Facebook page, Instagram, Twitter, You Tube and Pinterest accounts.

Children are able to learn several languages at the same time with more ease than an adult. As a parent you will know what your child likes and dislikes: this is the key point. They have to enjoy what they learn to be able to acquire contents naturally and develop an interest. With your guidance and ours your child will understand the importance and the value of learning a second language. Children find difficult to understand concepts like “Spanish is spoken in 22 countries”, “it’ll be good to know another language”, etc. try talking about other more tangible benefits for them “it’s fun to play ‘XXX’ in Spanish, “we can now write a letter to Santa in Spanish! He understands all languages”.

Yes, he/she will. He/she will find his/her way naturally using the language in fun, engaging environments so he/she will see other uses and eventually will start to speak for themselves. When this happens, we need to find a way to attract his/her attention and give it a meaning. It’ll be great to follow up the activities they do in class asking questions like… What did you like doing in the class today? Did you learn something you didn’t know?

Children + parents are suitable courses for families. It will depend on your children’s age, whether they would be able to attend together. We try to help families to come together but we need to find a suitable class for both your children developments; if we don’t take this important point into account, we will risk one child being bored in class and the other having fun. It is a must children develop a love and interest for the language more than the language itself; we can only achieve that when we provide a suitable enviroment for every age.

Some families, decide to take 30 min private group sessions, please enquire what the options are for you.

Yes, we can. To start in any school, we need at least a group of 6 students. We are happy to offer a presentation in your children’s school; we are also able to provide feedback from other groups and schools: parents and principal’s feedback.

We focus on courses for families & children. In our experience, chidren are more likely to speak Spanish when they are guided and prompted.

It depends. You will find great teachers who are not native speakers but have a native speaker level. In our opinion, a great teacher is someone who will guide you, help you and challenge you. In most cases this comes from an academic background in teaching. A great teacher is much more than only a native speaker.

Depending on demand, we will offer them during the year especially during term holidays.

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