Learn Argentinian Spanish with a native speaker through engaging cultural activities and discover a whole new linguistic world. Learn about food, football, music, movies, books and best phrases to eng

Find out more about Paula

• 1) Do you speak this language fluently because of your origins or because a teacher inspired you to learn?

  I speak Spanish fluently because it is my native language and I speak English fluently because it is the language that I live, love and work in ♡ I am originally from Argentina and I first started learning English at 9 years old. I majored in Comparative Linguistics and Translation, which allowed me to understand the intricacies of both Spanish and English grammar. I worked as a university tutor for over 10 years helping students polish their language skills and prepare for their exams. I also trained them to pass ESL exams such as the First Certificate and IELTs which opened up doors for them to take advantage of amazing career opportunities.
  
  I also specialize in accent reduction for Spanish speakers who are learning English ♡ My favorite subject to teach is English/Spanish for travelers, where I tailor the content to the students' interests and needs in a conversational focused style of classes that allows them to learn the language through topics that they love and learn about culture, food and places to visit ♡

• 2) Can you name a living, historical or fictional character that you think is the emblematic representative of the language's culture?

  For Spanish, I think and emblematic representative of the culture would be Mafalda. She uses a lot of irony, and hidden meanings in her conversations about the world that make her both funny and very accurate. Mafalda is a comic about a middle class girl that grows up in the 60ies in Argentina and her family and friends are not only hilarious but also a very interesting representation of the different pieces of the Argentinian culture. The comic book was published by Quino (author) in the 70ies and it is an excellent way to get a glimpse of the Argentinian culture and their history. A fantastic way to experience their duality, their financial struggles and their unique style of humor.
  
  For English, I think the Simpsons actually have a very accurate representation of what a lot of the American culture embodies and they do it with a great touch of humor.

• 3) Is there a typical word, phrase, tradition or behaviour in the language that you particularly like?

  For Spanish, I really love how vivid and visual argentinian insults are. I will not spell them out here, but I love going over the meaning behind them with the students that ask about them because of the level of metaphors and extra layers of meaning contained in them. I believe them to be a very interesting from a linguistic intricacy.
  
  For English, I would say that I love how alive a lot of their traditions around celebrations and sports are, they hold a lot of cultural meaning and they are very interesting to experience. My favorites are tailgating and barbecues/ pot lucks ♡

• 4) Why does speaking this language matter to you?

  Spanish is the language that I grew up in and English is the language that I love and work in ♡ they are both huge pieces of who I am ♡ I also believe that English is key for travelling internationally and it can open many doors in the work world.

• 5) What is the main difficulty in learning this language and what can help the process of learning?

  For English, I believe the main difficulty is the fact that pronunciation and spelling are very different. A lot of students struggle with detaching the spelling from the pronunciation of the words. In this regard, watching movies and t v shows and listening to native speakers helps a lot when incorporating new sounds to achieve a clear pronunciation of the language.
  
  For Spanish, i would say that the difficulty lies in the many different tenses in grammatical structures that make up the language itself. Spanish tends to have a lot of exceptions that are widely used and that make the learning of the language a little more challenging.
  
  For both languages, something that I believe to be instrumental for the learning process is consistency. Exposure to the language, whether it is via texts or listening to audios, will make the difference when learning these languages. Finding a purpose to learn.It also helps the process a lot. The key is the keep it engaging and meaningful.

• 6) Provide a valuable anecdote related to your language learning or your days at school.

  My favourite anecdote in learning another language is that when I was in Colombia, as I was waiting for a bus at a random bus station, I ran into these two american guys who were unable ask for information about the bus that they needed to take, because they did not speak Spanish. I was able to help them communicate and, as fate would have it, I ended up traveling with one of them who eventually became my husband. To this day, we still laugh about the way we both learn each other's language and the funny moments along the road. Our ability to experience each other's culture has been the backbone of our relationship, and a lot of what defines our funniest moments together.

• 7) How has travel or a specific trip helped you to increase your skill and knowledge of the language?

  I am a passionate traveler, and I have been in countless situations where being able to communicate with the locals in a language that they understood allowed me to experience the place in a completely different light. People always appreciate the effort, and they are willing to help you when you try to speak their language. I personally experienced this during my five month backpacking trip through South America, where I kept running into european or american travelers who could not communicate with the local hosts or service providers, and the feeling of being able to do that for them, to be the bridge between cultures, has been immensely rewarding.

• 8) What makes you a Superprof in language?

  I absolutely love teaching both Spanish and English, and I have been able to help many students find that love for themselves. Whether you work with me for one class to get you ready for exams or you contact me because you're planning your next vacation, and you want to get the most out of it,
  I am here to help you and to share with you a little bit of that passion. It is a flame that once ignited continues to live in you, and however long it takes you to achieve your goal, It is always better when you learn to love the process ♡ and that's what I can bring to the table ♡