Spanish lessons with a native Argentinean teacher for beginners, intermediate and advanced level ( :

Find out more about Guadalupe

• 1) Do you speak this language fluently because of your origins or because a teacher inspired you to learn?

  I was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where Spanish is the primary language.
  
  I have a Degree in Spanish Language, Accounting, and Administration. I have been teaching Spanish for 18 years. I give private lessons online to children and adults globally.
  
  I love to travel and meet people from all over the world, sharing my culture and learning about others as well.

• 2) Can you name a living, historical or fictional character that you think is the emblematic representative of the language's culture?

  The Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges is an acclaimed author throughout the world as one of the best writers of the 20th century. I admire him for the perfection of his language, his knowledge of the culture, the fantastic realism of his fictions, the universality of his ideas, and the beauty of his poetry. I want to share a few quotes from Luis Borges:
  
  “You will learn that it is only up to you to cultivate your own garden and decorate your soul, instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.”
  
  “I am not sure that I exist, really. I am all the authors I have read, all the people I have met, all the women I have loved. All the cities I have visited, all my ancestors.”

• 3) Is there a typical word, phrase, tradition or behavior in the language that you particularly like?

  I love the tradition of drinking mate. Mate is a drink characteristic of Argentina, made by infusing ground yerba mate in hot water, in a gourd, with a straw. It is derived from the indigenous tradition of sharing the beverage in communal rituals. However, it is common for some aficionados like me, to drink it throughout the day, even when alone.
  
  We love to share it with friends and family. I always drink it and enjoy sharing this tradition with new people.

• 4) Why does speaking this language matter to you?

  Learning a new language is important in all spheres and allows a person to expand their universe of possibilities. Especially when this language is Spanish, one of the most widely used languages in the world.
  
  In the academic sphere, it will provide students with a different perspective of the world. They will understand that there are many other languages and other countries to discover beyond their own.
  
  Before starting their careers, many students choose to travel to study abroad at universities in countries where Spanish is the native language, because this opens up more possibilities.
  
  In the Professional field, it is essential, as there are many jobs where knowing Spanish is an indispensable requirement, especially if you have to work in a foreign or international company. Knowing Spanish means having more job and business opportunities.
  
  Furthermore, in the personal sphere, it will improve your social relationships, as you will be able to interact with foreigners, which will allow you to expand your social circle and also have closer contact with different cultures. Perhaps one day you might choose to live in a country where people speak Spanish as their native language—why not?

• 5) What is the main difficulty in learning this language and what can help the process of learning?

  The greatest difficulty for native English speakers learning Spanish stems from fundamental structural and phonetic differences, particularly the lack of a direct English equivalent for the Subjunctive Mood, which requires extensive memorization to express states like emotion or desire. In adittion, the Spanish verb conjugation system demands memorizing a lot, this contrasts sharply with the minimal conjugation required in English. Further, mastering the "rolling R" sound and distinguishing between the two verbs for "to be" (ser and estar) present significant hurdles that require persistent practice and a major cognitive shift.
  
  Here are the most effective strategies for English Speakers :
  
  -Listen to Spanish Speakers: Use the language constantly. Listen to podcasts and music, watch TV shows with and without Spanish subtitles.
  
  -Find a Conversation Partner: Speaking practice with a native speaker is invaluable for immediate correction of the most difficult points and for building conversational fluency.

• 6) Provide a valuable anecdote related to your language learning or your days at school.

  One of the valuable anecdotes is when I started learning and then teaching the false cognates between Spanish and English. These are words that appear to have a similar meaning, but in reality have different meanings and often lead people into funny situations. I always talk about them with my students.
  
  For example, when an English speaker says they are "embarrassed" by something, a Spanish speaker might think that person is pregnant, because the Spanish word that looks like "embarrassed" is "embarazada," Very funny!

• 7) How has travel or a specific trip helped you to increase your skill and knowledge of the language?

  I really enjoy traveling, and I have been to Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Paraguay, Ecuador, Colombia, Spain, and Uruguay. I would love to continue traveling forever. I speak Portuguese and English, and I currently have students from both Brazil and the United States.
  
  Travel has been the most powerful tool for expanding my skills and knowledge of Spanish. Although I was formally educated in Argentine Spanish, traveling through different Spanish-speaking countries allowed me to broaden my understanding of the language in a much deeper way.
  
  Each country uses different vocabulary, expressions, accents, and even different forms of personal pronouns, such as tú, vos and vosotros which significantly enriched my Spanish. I had to adapt to real-life situations, communicate with different people, and understand regional ways of speaking.
  
  In addition, my knowledge of regional variations grew a lot. This diversity is extremely valuable in my work as a teacher, as it allows me to prepare my students for the richness and variety of the Spanish-speaking world.
  
  My passion for travel is also reflected in my teaching career. I have built strong international connections, and some of my former students are now living in Spain and Argentina. We continue to communicate and have even become friends, which shows how language connects people across cultures.

• 8) What makes you a Superprof in language?

  Besides being able to communicate in several languages, I love teaching and, above all, helping people. So, I always want the lessons to go beyond just learning & teaching Spanish. For this reason, I talk a lot with my students and ask them what their goals are and what things they like. I like to use their areas of interest as material for our lessons. I also give them the opportunity to suggest the topics we will practice in class.
  
  In addition to learning Spanish, I want them to feel truly good about my lessons, because I consider it magical to learn about other cultures, read new books, listen to new songs, and gain new knowledge. But I also understand that we are all different and don't like the same things. Learning Spanish can be really pleasant when you learn it through the things you love most.
  
  So, I want my student, besides learning Spanish, to achieve personal growth in other areas of their life as well. I find it fascinating and wish I had had that experience in my past when I learned new languages.
  
  That´s why I am a Superprof!