How 1-on-1 Spanish lessons helped Ryan from San Francisco untangle tricky vocabulary and speak with confidence

Ryan’s experience: from frustration to flow

Ryan, a young professional based in San Francisco, CA, had always liked languages but was struggling to speak with confidence in actual situations.

Despite memorizing vocabulary and grammar rules, he found himself hesitating mid-sentence and worrying about mistakes.

“I knew the fundamentals, but when it came to real conversations, I simply couldn’t overcome my shyness,” he confessed. To enhance his language for travel and working,

Ryan switched to Wiingy’s 1-on-1 Spanish lessons to get practical conversation skills.

Why Ryan started Spanish classes

He wanted to drop subtitles when watching shows

Each sentence was a minefield: “I can’t breathe very good when I overthink everything,” he confessed.

He needed a tutor who would teach him basic grammar and applaud his victories. That is when he discovered Muskaan on Wiingy.

Mathew was matched with Spanish native speaker Muskaan Sodha through Wiingy, who could offer the discipline and structure he was missing.

Actual classwork: what Ryan really did with Muskaan Sodha

Clearing up por vs. para

Ryan was confused he kept swapping por and para, writing sentences that didn’t make sense.

Muskaan scribbled a basic diagram on their shared screen and clarified, “Consider por as ‘by/through’ – such as viajar por tren – and para is the actual ‘for,’ such as un regalo.”

That visual difference clicked for Ryan. He chuckled, “I went from guessing to actually understanding,” and immediately began applying the difference accurately.

Taming long words

Words such as el aire acondicionado used to be daunting for Ryan – every syllable a hurdle.

Muskaan divided the word into small chunks: “ai-re a-con-di-cio-na-do,” and made him repeat it over and over until it came easily.

She led him through a sentence full of home-appliance terminology, and to his own surprise, he read it off effortlessly without ever hesitating.

Experiencing the language through true/false drills

Muskaan created true/false statements such as “Para preparar la chimenea, necesitas leña.”

Ryan made a joke that “Cinderella would have wished for an air conditioner”, he exclaimed with laughter: “She’d kill for one in her day!”

Their shared laughter sealed the vocabulary, making abstract terms into real mental pictures that remained with them long after the lesson itself had ended.

Enhancing pronunciation

Pronunciation was another aspect, particularly the fine distinction between escuchar (to listen) and oír (to hear).

Muskaan elucidated patiently, “Listening is voluntary – escuchar – but hearing – oír – just happens.” With a couple of guided repetitions, Ryan was able to say confidently, “Antes de escuchar, tengo que oír,” even rolling his “r” just enough to be natural without overdoing it.

Real check-ins

Ryan said he “could barely breathe” since he had a cold, and Muskaan stopped and inquired, “How are you feeling today?”

This helped him recall that learning flourishes in a positive atmosphere. Knowing that he was appreciated, Ryan could relax, concentrate, and progress even more quickly.

The outcome: Ryan’s transformation

Even a tiny mix-up – a por vs. para mix-up, say – can seem enormous when you’re on your own, but 1-on-1 learning turns it into an immediate “aha” moment.

Practicing new words in actual sentences allows you to learn them far more effectively than mere memorization.

Pronunciation and grammar are interrelated: clearer speech aids correct structures, and vice versa. Personalized, encouraging coaching makes every lesson feel safe and keeps you motivated.

What is there to learn from Ryan’s experience

You don’t need to battle each rule by yourself – personalized 1-on-1 instruction dispels confusion fast.

Context sentence practice solidifies learning in a manner that cannot be done with drill memorization.

Pronunciation learning alongside grammar converts shy speakers into confident speakers. A supportive tutor makes each session seem possible and fun.

Begin Your Own Spanish Adventure Today – Book a Free Trial

Are you prepared to end your doubt and begin speaking Spanish with confidence? Schedule a free trial class with Wiingy’s experienced Spanish tutors Browse through our extensive list of Spanish tutors at Wiingy from different cities in California, including:

• Spanish tutors in San Jose,CA
• Spanish tutors in San Francisco, CA
• Spanish tutors in Fremont, CA
• Spanish tutors in Sunnyvale, CA

 You will be provided with:

• A personalized learning plan for your goals – travel, work, or daily conversation
  
• Real-time corrections and encouragement from native speakers
  
• A supportive 1-on-1 environment where mistakes become progress

Meet the tutor – Muskaan Sodha

With more than five years of teaching experience, Muskaan uses friendly humor with concise explanations. She breaks down difficult grammar into usable conversation and motivates you along the way. Her students refer to her as a “Spanish superhero” because she makes learning easy and enjoyable.

See more transformation stories 

Find out how other learners have unlocked new possibilities with 1-on-1 classes on Wiingy.

Footnote: Name of student changed to maintain privacy.