Fluent, Fast & Fun – Learn Spanish with Miriam! Spanish that sticks! From HOLA, to fluent!

Learn more about Miriam

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

  I was born and raised in Spain, always loved languages and literature, hence mastering all the subjects related to the Spanish language. So after uni I went back and registered to obtain a MA in Spanish Teaching as a Foreign Language and graduated with honors. My origin plus my master helped me to achieve the expertise that allows me to be a teacher today.

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

  There are many remarkable representatives related to Spanish culture, one of the most well known is Don Quijote de la Mancha, who set the course of our literature, it has been translated to many languages and studied all around the world.

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

  We love to celebrate with good Mediterranean food and a glass of wine, it allows us to enjoy the momentum and share our achievements with our loved ones, while talking a lot and laughing together.

• Why does speaking this language matter to you?

  Spanish has become the 2nd most spoken language around the globe and keeps expanding, it allows individuals to communicate in the US and South America, also in Spain and with similar languages like Italian or Portuguese. Businesses benefit from the language a lot by being able to negotiate and close deals everywhere.

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

  I would say grammar is tricky, not the most complex one, but still has many tenses and ways of expressing present, past and future. Also, vocabulary is very enriched, we have so many different words to differentiate related items. Although, once you get into it is only a matter of time to be able to make yourself understood and expand your capabilities to master communication.

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

  To finish my master, I spent 2 years studying from 10pm until 1am Monday to Friday and Sunday nights, with a one year old baby and working full time to make my dream of teaching Spanish a reality. It was though, sometimes I still cannot believe how I could do it for 2 years without hesitation, just carrying on, focused on my goal. Those 2 years taught me how doing what we love makes us unstoppable.

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

  Actually, by living abroad I have grown my sense of belonging to Spanish culture, also helped me to find new ways to express, explain and connect with people to engage them in my language and culture, so yes, I would say moving to the UK made me gain some perspective to be a better teacher.

• What makes you a Superprof in language?

  I truly believe that what makes a difference is really to create an experience on the process itself, not just teaching the language but engaging with my students, listening and understanding their preferences, needs, hobbies ... All of it allows me to create a personalised plan for every single one of them, and also go further and immerse them into my culture. Learning a foreign language goes far beyond the language itself.