Why I tutor Spanish

Hello everyone, My name is Gustavo Caravantes. I was born and raised in Tijuana, Mexico, where I graduated from high school before coming to the U.S. During my high school years in Tijuana, I perfected my Spanish through the use of textbooks that, in those days, were approved by the Royal Academy of the Spanish Language from Spain. I used to enjoy writing poems, and my business letters were as eloquent as they could be. I shared this passion for our language with my best friend who went on to become an attorney, and my son’s godfather. We were learning Castellano (Castilian Spanish) which is beautiful, eloquent and romantic. I have never forgotten that for me, Spain is the mother country, and my native language came from there.

I now live in Glendale, CA, and for the past 2 1/2 years I have been tutoring high school students who are taking Spanish, and one thing I quickly noticed is how difficult it is for students and people in general, to learn Spanish. It is the only language that has been modified by at least ten countries around the world, and the language I spoke in high school, no longer exists.. My efforts are geared toward re-establishing with my students the understanding of a beautiful language that has deteriorated over the years, and needs to be brought back to its full beauty and romantic eloquence. I presently have students including two African American sisters, one Armenian, one American, and one Japanese, and I tutor then in person.

I joined eduFire in December, 2007, in an effort to continue my quest for tutoring Spanish to as many people as I can, and introduce them to a beautiful language. This is why I tutor Spanish…

I look forward to hearing from you, and share your thoughts with me. Thank you.

Gustavo

Gustavo, I’m very glad that you introduced yourself. What other dialects are spoken in Spain, I wonder? I learned Spanish from Spain, more formal than the Spanish spoken in Mexico and here. When I would speak to my parents in Spanish, many times they would use different words and expressions than what I was used to from my classes. I just translated eight poems into Spanish so I could use them in teaching, and I was realizing how difficult that was at times. Do you know of any good resources for “poesía”?

Wow, I never considered how many different times the Spanish language has been modified. But you’re right, they speak it everywhere!

I truly think Spanish is one of those beautiful languages that doesn’t really get it’s due – in comparison to the notoriously beautiful “French” language.

Awesome Gustavo! It’s so great to have you on board. I love the diversity of your students…

two African American sisters, one Armenian, one American, and one Japanese

That’s what fun is that only can a student learn from a variety of tutors around the country and around the world but a tutor can have a wide variety of students. As a former tutor I know that one of the most enjoyable parts of tutoring is that you typically get to learn from your students at the same time they are learning from you! :)

Such a lovely explanation, Gustavo. Spanish is such a beautiful language and I can’t wait until the day when I can easily distinguish the different dialects of the language. :)

I just recently started to understand how vast the differences can be in how Spanish is spoken according to region. Growing up in New York, I heard mostly Puertorican Spanish. Once I moved to the south, it was mostly Mexican. I’ve been watching movies in Spanish lately and I’ve gotten to hear Argentine, Equadorian, Chilean and Spaniard Spanish. Which are all different(to my ears anyway). There are even differences within the same country. I heard a guy speaking Spanish the other day and it sounded so crystal clear. I asked him where he was from and he said Mexico city. I marveled because I am surrounded by thousands of people from Mexico. Then it occurred to me that just as with English, a person who is from the city sounds different from a person who is from the country.
Hay mucho que aprender! I don’t think I will ever know enough, so stop learning.

In what part of New York did you grow up? I grew up in Queens and mostly the Bronx. I, too am learning that there are so many dialects of Spanish. I am very curious now, about the Spanish spoken in Parts of S.A. that Lindsay W. spoke of in another forum. I wonder how many there are in the world. I think there is another version spoken in the Phillipines, too. Does anyone know the answer?

Gustavo is a great guy — I have taken a couple of Spanish Sessions from him and he truly has a passion for teaching the Spanish language. Welcome to the community Gustavo!

Candy, I was raised in Harlem and then moved to Poughkeepsie when I was 12. I loved growing up in New York with so many different cultures. It seems I never had any American friends in school :). They were Chinese, Brazilian, Equadorian and Haitian, to name a few. If I could speak every language, I would. But I don’t believe I’ve even mastered Spanish yet.

Thank you, Spring. Did you ever go to the Cloisters, right between the Hudson River and Harlem? That is a cool place. I’m sorry you didn’t have American friends, but you probably became interested in cultures due to the fact that you had multicultural friends. I had the whole collection of friends from Chinese to Italian, Jewish to Christian. I, too, have always been drawn to the study of cultures. I know what you mean about Spanish. I have forgotten quite a bit since college. I used to read short stories in Spanish, but now it is more difficult, especially with all of the variations in the language. I still have to brush up in my advanced Spanish. I am amazed at how much I have retained, though. I love the language, and can’t wait to learn Portuguese. Actually, learning Spanish helps people to learn English better. I read somewhere, while studying Spanish, that the word “you” was derived from the word “thou”, and that in England, the informal word for “you” was not allowed to be spoken. But, I don’t know how accurate this information might be. I’d have to research it. I think the derivations of words are fascinating. I must get some sleep, as I am babbling. It’s nice learning about you, Spring. I sure do hope other tutors have the chance to introduce themselves. There are so many at this site! There must be hundreds of life stories! I’ll be quiet and end this now.

Candy,I don’t believe I’ve ever been to The Cloisters, but it does sound like a cool place. I did spend a lot of time going to the Guggenheim, The Whitney Museum and countless trips to the Museum of Natural History.
I did have American friends outside of school, but I think you’re right. Having multi-culural friends has helped me develop an appetite for learning about other cultures. I also just love people and learning about how they live, dream and overcome obstacles. I started tutoring Spanish because I really wanted to help others connect. It’s amazing how broad your vista is when you can speak more than one language.
I agree too, that learning another language helps you learn your own language better. For me it was grammar. I learned more about English grammar when I started learning Spanish.
And Gustavo, I love the passion you have for the Spanish language. What do you think is the most common mistake people make with learning Spanish. Something that holds them back from becoming fluent or at least conversational. I write poetry too and I like Pablo Neruda.

I didn’t realize how many people write poetry in the world until conversing on this site. Why do you like Pablo Neruda? I’ll have to look for him at the library or online.

Speaking of the library, I have discovered that many or most libraries offer free access to Rosetta Stone in various languages. If you are a PC user, it’s easy. A Mac user like myself, has a more difficult time of it, because, it’s a PC world. That will slowly change though, as many PC users are buying Macs for their office and personal use, in addition to PC’s.

As far as the Museum of N.H. in N.Y., I remember being left in the room with all the dinosaur fossils when I was in third grade, and getting frightened, as I was totally ALONE! I, too, practically lived there.

My opinion about fluency in any language, is that you have to immerse yourself as quickly as possible. Think it, speak it, read it, hear it, practice it. When I’m doing anything I think… how would I say it in Spanish? I’m starting to write emails, spelling half the words in Spanish, which is incorrect in English of course. (Is it lesson or lección?) That is the question/la pregunta.

I love Pablo Neruda’s odes to ordinary things. There is a childlike curiosity and intrigue about ordinary everyday objects that often go unnoticed. It’s like he was trying get a better understanding of life by examining these objects. I really like his libro de las preguntas where he asks questions about things in nature too.
Yes, I remember the dinosaur exhibit all too well. Scary to get left in there alone.
I agree too about the immersion. It really works. Lately I’ve been watching a lot of movies in Spanish and reading websites and listening to podcasts. I noticed that Spanish words come to me more readily when I do those things everyday. But since I’m not a native speaker, when I skip a few days, I start going back to my old habits.
I also find when you teach, you remember more and you’re motivated to learn so that you have more to offer.

I would tutor so that I stay out of trouble (I like to shop at book stores and shoe stores), and so I can actually have a reason to speak if anyone needed to learn Spanish or English! I enjoy talking to people. I also want to go to Puerto Rico and to Venezuela someday. Right now, I go to Hawaii every year, so I am learning some Hawaiian. We need an Hawaiian tutor at this site! Also, when my husband retires, I can be here at home with him, mostly to make sure he’s having fun! I like the flexible hours, too. So far, I haven’t seen much business, so I am creating lessons like crazy! But, I thoroughly enjoy languages most of all. Through language and cultural understanding, we learn that the world is vast, but more familiar, and less intimidating to travel, right?

Hawaiian would be a fun language to learn! I love how it sounds – it’s very expressive!