Yo,

How youse doin’? I was thinking that it would be very helpful if tutors would include the variant(s) of a language that they can teach. I realize most will be skilled in teaching the standard of each language, but beyond that, knowing what dialects and variants (and accents) a tutor can teach or model will provide extra value to prospective students, and possibly a niche clientele for tutors.

For example, if I were planning to travel to Cairo I would rather have an Egyptian than a Moroccan or Yemeni Arabic tutor. If I were planning to travel to Provence, I might be looking for someone familiar with the local variant. Letting prospective students know that you grew up in Brooklyn but can teach standard American as well as North Carolina accents, is value-added information. Does the teacher speak Castilian or Mexican or Argentinian Spanish or some mix? What is the filter through which we are hearing the language?

Now people who are wonderful teachers can trump the value of the above, and they do, but students may try a wider range of tutors if they know that they can get native accent exposure as well.

Colloquially,

Alfia

Alfia,

I totally agree with you, my spanish is argentinian and even though the grammar is mostly the same, there’s always the possibility to go through some slang during the lesson, specially if the student is planning to travel to the country. My english…that’s another matter, it’s from everywhere and nowhere, it used to be british once upon a time, but then, I worked for two years talking to Americans and some of the accents rubbed in and to make it worse I teach english to people here who have terrible english “hearing”(if you know what I mean) and I have to speak slowly and opening my mouth a lot for them to notice movements and sounds and that has made my pronunciation turn even weirder. Watch my video on my profile, listen and tell me if my accent isn’t quite strange.

Sue

That’s a great ida Alfia!

Anybody need a Texas twang I’m your cowgirl :)

I agree Alfia that would be quite helpful. Great idea.

Great idea! I know from my own experience in Germany how important this can be.

Great idea!