With almost 442 million Spanish speakers across the globe, it’s no secret that learning Spanish can increase your job prospects and make communicating while traveling a whole lot simpler. And while signing up for Spanish classes in Argentina is a great way to connect with some 3 million of those native Spanish speakers in Buenos Aires alone, you now need to consider group classes versus private classes. Which are better for learning Spanish?
Group Classes vs. Private Spanish Classes
It’s important to choose structure based on your learning style: Do you like personalized attention or do you benefit from learning with classmates? Do you need exercises to be repeated or do you enjoy listening to others speak while listening in? There is no standard answer as to which course is better, so here is a breakdown of pros and cons for these two common types of Spanish classes in Argentina.
Group Classes
A glimpse: You are in a classroom with, on average, 7 other students from other countries all united under the common goal of learning Spanish. The teacher explains some concepts, has interactive content, and engages the students in group activities. Some are shyer than others, but everyone has a chance to practice speaking. You even hear students making the same errors as you—so you relax, knowing making mistakes is okay.
Pros:
- Frequent group interaction which rapidly improves spoken skills
- Meeting and making international friends in the classroom
- Being in a fun, interactive and supportive atmosphere
Cons:
- Lessons can be too slow for students who learn very quickly. Alternatively, the class may be too fast for students who may struggle in the classroom or who have missed class time.
- Group lessons have a fixed schedule which may not work for everyone
Best for: Travelers who want to make friends, those who want to learn general Spanish, those encouraged by group activities, those who want the best economic deal.
Private Classes
A glimpse: The teacher begins class with materials tailor-made to your Spanish level as well as your interests (e.g., medical, travel, general) and as the lessons continue, the teacher is able to adapt to your learning style. You have the full attention of the teacher and you are able to ask all the questions you’d like, have your grammar corrected when needed, and quickly achieve your language learning goals.
Pros:
- Students generally learn faster in private classes because adaptive teaching is easy to achieve
- Students can focus on materials that interest them specifically and enjoy a class schedule that fits their needs
- Teacher and student can focus on the student’s language goals and areas that need strengthening
Cons:
- Fewer chances to meet other students in the school (unless combined with group classes such as a Combination Course)
- Staying focused throughout the entire lesson can be difficult at times
Best for: Business people, those who need a flexible class schedule, those who need to learn at a rapid pace, those who want individualized attention, students level B2 and higher.
When choosing Spanish classes in Argentina to suit your needs, there is a lot that goes into the decision making process. Either way, in the battle between group classes versus private classes, lessons will always be dynamic, effective and fun no matter which wins. Some people begin with group classes and tailor their learning with private lessons toward the end of their course while some stick to solely group or only private classes.
However, you should choose the method in which you feel will help you progress to joining the over 90 million Spanish as a foreign language speakers here in the cosmopolitan city of Buenos Aires, Argentina, back in your home country and worldwide!