Why learn Spanish?
If you are heading off to volunteer in one of our Spanish-speaking destinations, getting a head start on the language can make a huge difference to your experience! There are countless reasons why this could be a good idea, but to list a few of the key reasons, it can help you:
- settle in with your host community
- get to know the local team better
- help you understand more deeply what you are doing and why
- help you understand the local culture better
- and also give you a new skill which you can use again and again on your travels, and back in your home country too!
That’s why we’ve teamed up with Monika, our wonderful Oyster representative at the Wildlife sanctuary in Ecuador, to offer online Spanish lessons to help you learn some language skills before your departure.
Meet Monika
Monika is a qualified Spanish teacher and has spent years helping volunteers build their confidence with the language before they arrive. She has been teaching Spanish for 30 years, studied Spanish as a second language at Universidad Católica, and has taught at some of Quito’s most prestigious language schools, as well as with the Peace Corps and the US Embassy. Whether you’re starting from scratch or already have a decent grasp of Spanish, she’ll tailor lessons around your level and goals.
How it works
- Personalised lessons: Monika builds a teaching plan around your ability and needs
- Study Materials: Monika shares books and resources so you can keep practising between sessions
- Volunteer-focused content: lessons centre on the Spanish you’ll actually use as a volunteer, though she’s happy to adapt to what you’d like to focus on
- 100% online: all you need is a laptop and an internet connection – Monika will send you a Teams invitation
- Weekly lessons: Typically 2-hour sessions, twice a week – but Monika is flexible if you’d like to fit in more.
- Flexible scheduling: Monika is mostly available between 11am and 2am UK time, so lessons can usually fit around your routine.
- Backup available: If ever you aren’t available at the same time as Monika, not to worry! Monika coordinates a small team of fellow qualified teachers to make sure a lesson is always available, even if she’s personally busy when you want to have a lesson
Pricing
| Package | Duration | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 8 hours | 2 weeks | £150 |
| 16 hours | 4 weeks | £275 |
| 24 hours | 6 weeks | £400 |
| 32 hours | 8 weeks | £525 |
How to book
Interested in learning Spanish with Monika before you travel? Just let us know – we’ll add the cost to your payment schedule and introduce you to Monika so you can start arranging your lessons.
