My Teaching Experience
I help my students improve their Spanish for better communication in the workplace, with loved ones, and for travel to Spanish-speaking countries. My method is structured and combines teaching you grammar and vocabulary, along with conversation practice.
If you need Spanish for your career, I can help you improve your speaking and listening skills, as well as master industry-specific vocabulary.
If you need Spanish to communicate with loved ones, I can help you improve your fluency to strengthen relationships and bridge generations.
If you need Spanish for travel or relocation, I can help you learn vocabulary, phrases and commands to effectively communicate with locals.
We won’t focus on topics that traditional language classes spend too much time on (i.e. unnecessary conjugations, or antiquated language). My goal is always to teach you Spanish for the real world!
Whether you're starting from zero (like I did!), or you already have some experience with Spanish from school, work or family, I meet you where you are. Click here for more information on tutoring pricing.
Why Tutoring Works
My tutoring method is effective because I explain complicated Spanish grammar *in native English* to help you fully understand concepts -- and then we put them immediately into practice.
Anyone can learn a language! My students excel with tutoring because unlike group classes, we go at the pace that works for YOU. We find the formula that helps you learn best, and we never move on to new material until you’re ready. I provide structure, accountability, encouragement, resources and support for your learning journey.
Spanish is a very popular language to study, and the amount of learning resources can be overwhelming, so I've researched the best resources to focus on to increase proficiency quickly. You will always know the trajectory of your learning, and we will always keep your learning goals in mind.
I would be honored to be your learning partner. I only work with motivated adult students. Read reviews from my Spanish tutoring students below.
If you have additional questions, please shoot me a message at any time! Otherwise, click here to book a lesson with me. Let’s get started :)
Reviews from my Spanish Tutoring Students
“I am very happy to have found Shelby. I had previously tried a few other tutors who were native speakers and found myself frequently feeling like I could not grasp concepts quickly enough to keep up, which can be quite discouraging at times. That isnt a reflection on them though, I realized I needed a native English speaker to help me make sense of some of the concepts instead of just trying to memorize the rules. Shelby understands where the problem areas and tripping points are that English speakers might encounter while learning Spanish. That was an absolutely necessary bridge for me. She meets you at your ability level and works with you from there. The atmosphere of the lessons is convivial and very encouraging all while making real and meaningful progress. I love my lessons and the time flies because I'm now constantly engaged and actually conversing in Spanish for a good chunk of my lessons.”
“Shelby is amazing!!! Soo immersive in her teaching style, very friendly and truly helping me to understand the concepts better :)”
“Shelby is great to work with, she goes with my pace and is always so helpful in correcting my mistakes, providing resources to use to assist with sessions in and out, and is reachable if questions arise and responses quickly. Highly recommend.”
“Amazing and awesome. So helpful, excellent teaching style, patient, and consistent. Look no further!”
“I am incredibly grateful to have Shelby as my Spanish teacher. What truly sets her apart is her remarkable ability to meet me where I was in the learning journey. Having learned Spanish from scratch herself, she deeply empathizes with the challenges that come with the process. Because she learned from scratch, she has developed numerous tips and tricks to help grasp complex concepts, making the learning experience much smoother. There are no shortcuts to mastering a new language, and Shelby embodies this truth by showing up consistently and wholeheartedly. She is always present and encouraging in every lesson, creating an environment that is both supportive and motivating. With Shelby, you feel accompanied every step of the way, making the learning process not only effective but also enjoyable.”
“Shelby is everything I'd ever have wanted in a tutor. She is conversational and it's a joy to converse with her but she is also structured and I have learned SO much! I look forward to my lessons. Definitely. My Spanish has improved after years of lingering at a certain level. She's the push I needed.”
“Shelby has made diving back in to Spanish approachable and fun. She is always prepared and does a great job tailoring lessons to my learning style and pace. I can't recommend her highly enough.”
“Super motivational, organized, punctual and kind.”
“So far, she has been an amazing Spanish teacher. As a native English speaker but fluent in Spanish, she is able to help other native English speakers easily understand concepts of the Spanish language in a way that might be difficult for native Spanish speakers. Also, her speech is very easy to understand. She doesn't insult your intelligence but neither does she take for granted that you know a particular word or concept. I highly recommend!”
“Shelby is an amazing tutor - so patient, kind and funny. It's hard to start learning a language as an adult, and she makes it feel like something that is actually possible!”
“She is so amazing!!!”
“Shelby is a great listener. She always helps where I need it. I love having such a wonderful one-on-one teacher, even if she is multiple time zones away.”
“I have taken weekly lessons from Shelby now for 6 months and I am extremely happy with my progress at learning Spanish. I started from scratch with no Spanish instruction whatsoever and Shelby has been able to teach me many of the basics in a fun yet professional way. I am very pleased with her instructional skills and the manner at which she conducts our lessons. I would highly recommend her to anyone wanting to learn Spanish in an enjoyable atmosphere. She makes learning fun!”
“I have been working with Shelby for over 3 months and have noticed that my retention, comprehension, and vocabulary has drastically improved. She makes things very digestible for me and really wants to focus on the things that I value when learning Spanish. She makes class fun and low stress!”
“I have studied Spanish with Rosetta Stone for a year, I had difficulties with conversational part, Shelby facilitated my conversational skills and I will be forever grateful! She made me feel comfortable and at ease !”
“Shelby is an incredible Spanish teacher. She is a master of Spanish grammar and she is always able to answer all of my questions in a clear and understandable manner. She comes to every class with such a positive attitude, which makes the entire session fun and something to look forward to. She uses really great material for instruction, homework, and practice. I feel very fortunate to be studying with her and I look forward to progressing on my journey with her guidance. I highly recommend her for anyone who wants to learn Spanish, esp. the grammar!”
“Shelby is such a great Spanish teacher! She is always prepared and on time for our lessons and meets you where you are in your Spanish journey. She is very encouraging when teaching and gives you plenty of opportunities to practice without feeling self conscious about whether you make a mistake or not. I have enjoyed my learning journey with her and have seen a great deal of progress over the last 3 months. I can only imagine how much I will learn over the next several months! You cannot go wrong with Shelby as your tutor!”
“Shelby has been tutoring me for the past 8 months. Since working with Shelby, I have become so much more confident in my Spanish and feel comfortable using it regularly. Shelby is focused on my goals as a student, and has created a class structure to help me improve in the areas most important to me. She switches up our lessons from classic grammar practice, to listening and reading comprehension, and simply practicing conversation. I feel that I'm receiving well rounded education on Spanish from Shelby's tutoring. She's patient, caring and is always a joy to connect with. She genuinely makes learning a new language fun and feel feasible.”
“I'm a 30-something year old who decided to take on Spanish learning last year! Duo Lingo was not working for me - I knew I needed 1:1 attention. I'm so happy to have found Shelby and I always look forward to our classes. She's patient, supportive, and complimentary. She's happy to program our meets when I am indecisive, tired, or ill prepared. But if I give her items, even last minute or on our session, she's happy to accommodate. You won't regret working with her!”
“Shelby is an amazing Spanish teacher. Her lessons are engaging, fun and real world applicable. She also knows how to give you a gentle nudge so you keep making progress - even when you don't know it! Ella es la mejor!”
“Shelby is by far one of the best teachers I've had the experience of learning from. She is great at explaining the information in an easy to understand way -- a huge positive when learning a language. I am lucky to have met such a well-qualified and relatable tutor.”
“Shelby is an absolutely wonderful tutor! The lesson plan is perfectly tailored to your needs and pace. Scheduling is easy and flexible and Shelby is always happy to offer additional learning resources, as needed. She has been an absolute joy to work with, and I have seen such tremendous improvements in my Spanish in the relatively short time we have been working together! Cannot recommend her enough!”
“If you are looking for a structured lesson and an encouraging instructor, Shelby is the best!”
“Shelby is an amazing teacher and she has made learning Spanish fun and approachable. I have been taking lessons to better communicate with my coworkers and after only 3 months they have all noticed a dramatic difference. Her lessons reflect real-world applications and she tailors each session to my needs at the moment, while also building a foundation for long-term growth. Shelby is kind, patient, encouraging, and an absolute joy to learn from. Muchas gracias Shelby!”
“Shelby is great to work with! She is very knowledgeable, patient, and makes learning Spanish less intimidating. I always look forward to our lessons and I am seeing my Spanish improve!”
“Shelby is great! I was a bit nervous before my first lesson, but she immediately made me feel comfortable! She adapts her lessons to your level of Spanish really well and focuses on what you want out of the lessons and how you learn best!”