I am from Madrid, I am fifty-two years old, and I have lived most of my life in my hometown. But my paternal family is from Soria, in the old Castilla, which is where I currently reside. Although my accent is more Madrid than Castilian, they don't really differ much.

My training, both undergraduate and graduate, is in the Humanities; more specifically in the Performing Arts. This is an area to which I have dedicated most of my life, first as an interpreter and then as a teacher. I have taught in both public and private schools, and at all levels of education for more than 27 years.

Due to life circumstances, I started giving Spanish language classes about 10 years ago, first privately to people close to me, and then almost by chance, at a school in the area I lived in, where lots of people had come to live from abroad.
Not only did I discover that I love doing it and felt motivated to study and improve, but it seemed I was pretty good at it too, as my students learned, passed their exams, and requested that I continue with their following lessons.

Perhaps part of my success is because I aim to give students what I look for as a language student.
I have studied and continue to study English, Italian and Russian.
As a language student, I have searched for and tried out all kinds of methodologies, schools and courses... Some offered new and revolutionary methods that allow you to learn very quickly and effortlessly; but for some reason, they didn't quite produce that "magic" for me. Perhaps they worked for other people, I don't know.

I needed to practice what I have learned, repeating it several times until I have fully absorbed it. So I've always tried to give my students what I need as a student.

This in no way means that there are no other valid methods or that these formulas are not effective. What I am saying is that they didn't work for me and that I don't know how to do it that way. So I offer what I DO know how to do and what works for me.

What I offer you, then, is: my wholehearted involvement in your learning; I am committed to working hard to find out what you need and what your difficulties are; I will work with you to make sure that you make gradual but steady improvements in your knowledge of the Spanish language and, above all, I WILL HELP YOU TO INTEGRATE ALL THAT CONTENT. It is no use just knowing a lot of vocabulary, a lot of grammar or verb tenses, etc., if you do not understand when people speak or if you cannot speak fluently or write properly.

Some people absorb information very quickly, others need more time.
Some people have a knack for vocabulary but not for grammar or vice versa, etc.
 Some people have a lot of time to revise, read and study; others have little time available to them.
I like to focus on the REALITY of your day-to-day life, rather than flights of fancy or idealism.
The most important thing is to establish a constant rhythm. This pace may be slow if you don't have much time or faster if you find it easy, but it must always be REALISTIC. Whether it is a slow, fast or moderate pace, the important thing is to keep it CONSTANT. And the rest is MY JOB: I will make sure that you make progress and absorb all the information that we are studying.

The steps would be:
1. see the content
2. get a good understanding of it
3. practice it with exercises that become more complicated
 4. integrate it into the rest of the content you have already studied
5. practice mixing all the content together, old and new
6. repeat, repeat and repeat until you have really grasped it

 All this will be done in a dynamic way, so that we see something new in each class, practice the previous content, clarify doubts and repeat the practice so much so that, little by little, you start to absorb the information.

Since the group classes are small (maximum 4 students), individual attention is guaranteed. However, if someone progresses faster or slower, a suggestion will be made for them to change to a group that is more suited to their pace.

In short:
- My methodology is simply BE REALISTIC.
- I am not a magician.
- I don't have any miracle methods.
- Some learners absorb information very quickly, others more slowly; but I won't waste your time.

- What I do guarantee is my FULL involvement in your learning process: I offer you all my experience, knowledge and effort, and focus on finding your weaknesses so I can help you to overcome them.

- I don't use sophisticated motivational strategies - learning is fun. My job is to make sure you learn.

If we notice that you are progressing faster than the rest of the group, I will suggest moving to a more advanced group; or to a slower one if you need more time to take in the information. The important thing is that you learn within the framework of your situation: availability, time, capacity, etc.

If I inspire you with confidence, book a FREE 30-minute trial lesson so we can get to know each other before you decide. You have nothing to lose! If I am not the right person to help you, I will recommend some others that might be better suited.
You have my word.

Belén Calvo