Learning Spanish the Cheap Way

One of the biggest challenges when learning Spanish in New York City is the cost of the classes. Serious learners of the language usually opt for a private class, which is a very good way to learn but very expensive. Not all who lives in NYC are rich of course, which is why I will give you tips on how to learn Spanish – the cheap way.

If you google CHEAP LESSONS NYC, you would see a lot of free lessons. You get excited so you open it, and that’s when you see the catch. Most offers free TRIAL lesson, translating to “We’ll-give-you-one-free-lesson-then-you-pay-for-the-next-lessons” – which is not really free if you ask me. The reason why we are looking for a free lesson is because we want to learn but we don’t have the money for it. A free trial lesson is not enough to learn.

You would also notice that some of the websites do offer free lessons, but without a teacher. Learning this way is okay, but you have to be really dedicated enough to do self-study.  Sites like http://www.spanicity.com/ dedicated a whole page for Spanish lessons complete with audio, and http://www.spanishprograms.com/index.html offers free software which is better than your usual boring page. Another option is http://www.donquijote.org/, which offers free Spanish lesson through email.

Yeah, I agree with you. Those “free” lessons are not good enough. If you’re like me, who prefers having a teacher to accelerate learning, then you’d definitely not go for those options. Luckily, there are CHEAP options and REALLY FREE options.

For the cheap category, you may want to check the Queen Sophia Spanish Institute who offers semi-private lessons (composed of 2-5 people) for as low as $40 for 10 lessons. The school promises beautiful and elegant classrooms, professional instructors and a student-centered approach of learning (check http://www.spanishinstitute.org/spanish_courses.php for details). This is the best option for you if you want a classroom setting for learning. For a yet cheaper option, you can enroll at http://www.spanish-lessons-online.com/spanish-lessons-in-new-york-city.htm , which offers tutorial through Skype. This is the next best thing to a private class, as you will have the advantage of having the teacher’s attention all to yourself, without having to pay too much. Lessons starts at $14 an hour for a 1-9 hours or $9 per hour for 50+ hours. They also offer a free trial, so you may want to check it out.

Sounds good? Yeah, I think so. But there are even better options. How do you usually get free education? Yeah, that’s right – scholarship. Share your story at the ABC Language Express, impress them, and earn your scholarship. If you want to do a good deed and “earn” from it, you can donate your time to ESL or computer classes at A Spanish Journey (aspanishjourney.com), and have your Spanish instruction (starting at $30 per week) free. Now, if you are more of the yeah-let’s-party type. You can meet and make friends (note: Spanish-speaking friends) at http://www.meetup.com/spanishconversation/ . Joining is free, but the events are not. Don’t worry though, events ranges from $2-20, which is very cheap considering what you’ll get. Members usually go to museums, have conversations at the park, and they sometimes have dancing lessons. Events are strictly held speaking Spanish only, so I’m sure you’ll benefit a lot.

I, for one, believe that learning shouldn’t be expensive. Learning to speak a whole new language is such a beautiful experience that I encourage everybody to do it. I wish you all luck in learning, and I’m open for comments anytime. Thanks!