How 1-on-1 Spanish Lessons Helped Cody from New York Improve Fluency and Boost Confidence

Cody began his Spanish learning journey with a solid foundation, having learned a few words and basic phrases over the years. However, he quickly realized that despite his efforts, his progress had started to plateau. 

He felt stuck, struggling to build his vocabulary, understand grammar rules, and improve his pronunciation. Cody’s initial attempts at self-learning didn’t bring the results he hoped for, and he found it difficult to move beyond the basics. 

Cody’s self-study efforts left him frustrated, struggling to break through his language barrier. Seeking personalized lessons, he aimed to confidently use Spanish in real-world situations.

He found Wiingy’s 1-on-1 lessons with Louisa Flaherty, who customized each session to fit his learning pace, goals, and style.

Why Cody started Spanish lessons

Cody was motivated to improve his Spanish for both personal and professional reasons.

While he had some experience with the language, he felt like he wasn’t advancing enough and wanted to reach a more intermediate level. 

He expressed his challenges, saying, “I need to do better.” This frustration led him to seek 1-on-1 lessons that could offer targeted support and help him gain more confidence.

Real class insight: what Cody worked on with Louisa Flaherty

In his lessons with Louisa, Cody focused on building a stronger foundation in Spanish while tackling the specific areas he found most challenging. Here are some key lessons and insights from their sessions:

Mastering possessive adjectives

Cody wanted to master possessive adjectives. Louisa helped him understand the subtle differences between words like “su” and “suya” depending on gender and number. Cody learned that “su libro” is used for masculine objects, while “suya” is used for feminine objects.

He practiced sentences like “El libro es suyo” (The book is hers) and “La casa es suya” (The house is hers), solidifying his understanding of possessive structures. With Louisa’s guidance, Cody was able to quickly correct mistakes.

Vocabulary building

He worked on describing people and things, a critical skill for improving his conversational abilities. Louisa introduced him to various adjectives commonly used in everyday conversations, such as “rubia” (blonde) and “delgada” (skinny).

Cody practices describing celebrities and fictional characters, using sentences like “La actriz es rubia y delgada” (The actress is blonde and slim). These exercises helped him expand his vocabulary and also allowed him to practice sentence structure.

Improving pronunciation and fluency

He faced difficulties with speaking naturally, especially when trying to describe famous personalities.For example, Cody practiced saying “actor famoso” (famous actor) and “bajo” (short) to describe someone like Will Smith. 

He admitted that fluency was a challenge, but Louisa’s support helped him make steady progress. As he practiced these real-life descriptions, he became more confident in his ability to speak fluidly with less hesitation.

Grammar practice

Louisa also emphasizes reinforcing Cody’s grammar skills, specifically plurals and verb conjugation. Cody learned how to correctly form plurals in Spanish, such as changing “libro” (book) to “libros” (books) or “amigo” (friend) to “amigos” (friends). 

They worked on verb conjugations in the present and past tenses, focusing on avoiding common mistakes. Louisa helped Cody understand the differences between “mis libros” (my books) and “los libros” (the books), ensuring he could express himself more clearly.

Cultural context and conversational practice

Louisa incorporated cultural elements into their lessons, helping Cody understand how language is used in real-life settings. They discussed using vocabulary appropriately when describing people and situations.

In one lesson, Cody practiced describing a famous actor and his family members with newly learned adjectives. This exercise expanded his vocabulary and encouraged him to use Spanish more naturally.

What you can learn from Cody’s journey

• Personalized coaching allows for targeted improvement in areas you struggle with most.
• Mistakes are part of the learning process, but they can be easily corrected with the right guidance.
• Confidence in speaking comes with consistent practice and a focus on real-world application.

WiIngy’s 1-on-1 Spanish lessons give you the flexibility to learn at your own pace and target specific areas for improvement.

Try it yourself – book a free trial

If you’re feeling stuck with your Spanish or struggling to speak confidently, take the first step towards improvement by booking a free trial lesson with one of our expert tutors. At Wiingy, we offer a diverse selection of Spanish tutors from across New York, including:

• Spanish tutors in Buffalo, NY
• Spanish tutors in Syracuse, NY
• Spanish tutors in Ramapo, NY

Our platform connects you with experienced native-speaking tutors who provide personalized lessons to help you advance your Spanish skills.

What You’ll Gain:

• A tailored learning plan that fits your unique needs, whether for travel, professional use, or everyday conversations.
• Direct, real-time feedback from expert tutors to address challenges and build your confidence.
• A supportive, 1-on-1 learning environment where you can progress at your own pace.

Begin your Spanish learning journey today and discover how personalized, 1-on-1 lessons can help you unlock your full potential.

Meet the tutor – Louisa Flaherty

Louisa Flaherty is a dedicated Spanish tutor with over five years of experience, holding a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish and French.

She is currently pursuing a Master’s in teaching Spanish and has taught both online and in-person since the Covid period.

She specializes in providing personalized lessons for students at all levels, from beginners to advanced. Louisa focuses on conversation, grammar, vocabulary, and cultural immersion.

See more transformation stories

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• How 1-on-1 Spanish lessons helped Brad from San Francisco master Spanish grammar
• How 1-on-1 Spanish lessons helped Ryan from San Francisco untangle tricky vocabulary
• How 1on1 Spanish lessons helped Tom from San Francisco communicate effortlessly
• How 1-on-1 Spanish lessons helped Bruce from San Francisco confidently navigate everyday conversations

Footnote: Student’s name has been changed for privacy.