Study Spanish remotely with an ¡Habla Más! Coach
Eager to learn Spanish? Work with an Upward Scholars ¡Habla Más! Spanish coach!
¡Habla Más! is an Upward Scholars program where Spanish coaches—all native Spanish speakers and former or current Upward Scholars students—provide individual and small-group Spanish instruction to beginning, intermediate, and advanced learners. Lessons are suitable for adults and kids in elementary, middle, and high school. Lessons are via Zoom or another platform of your choice. If you live in the Bay Area, in-person lessons may also be arranged.
Please complete this interest form to work with an ¡Habla Más! coach. We’ll then send you an email with a link to a web page with each coach’s profile, including their background and contact information.
This article from the Menlo Park Almanac features ¡Habla Más!, and this video, created by ¡Habla Más! coach Brenda Graciano, describes what being a coach has meant to her.
You can find out more about our program below.
Want to make your virtual or in-person events more accessible to Spanish speakers? Our ¡Habla Más! English/Spanish Interpreters can help!
Contact Programs Manager Marlene Torres-Magaña at marlene@upwardscholars.org with your event details, and she’ll connect you to available interpreters.
¡Habla Más! Program FAQs
+ Who are ¡Habla Más! coaches?
¡Habla Más! coaches are native Spanish speakers who came to this country as adults. They’re all former or current community college students and former or current Upward Scholars students.
+ Have coaches been trained to teach Spanish?
All of our coaches have completed a 20-hour training focused on teaching them how to provide high-quality, professional individual and small group Spanish lessons. All current coaches have also completed an additional 10-hour Advanced Grammar Certification that equips them with a better understanding of the intricacies of advanced Spanish grammar.
+ How long are ¡Habla Más! sessions?
We recommend 30- or 60-minute sessions, though you can also request 45-minute sessions with your coach. You can meet with a coach once or several times a week.
+ How much do coaches charge?
Your first 30-minute lesson is free. All subsequent lessons are $20 for 30-minute sessions, $30 for 45-minute sessions, and $38 for 60-minute sessions.
+ How and when do I pay for lessons?
¡Habla Más! coaches are paid once a month, on the first of the month, in advance of your scheduled sessions. Payment methods include Venmo or PayPal. If you’re using PayPal, please remember to choose the “Friends and Family” option. Discuss these policies with your coach if you have questions or concerns.
+ Why did you start this program?
Many Upward Scholars students are fluent Spanish-speakers eager to share their language and their culture. We created ¡Habla Más! to give a select group of students the opportunity to work in a professional capacity helping members of our community improve their Spanish skills.
+ Can I have a group Spanish lesson?
If any of your family or friends want to join your lesson, please consult with your coach. Some coaches offer group sessions while others prefer individual sessions. Group sessions also depend on Spanish levels of the people in the group. Generally, coaches will agree to group individuals with similar levels of Spanish and provide individual lessons for people with different levels. NOTE: The rates above apply to each person in the group.
+ What happens if I have to cancel a scheduled session?
If you are unable to attend your scheduled session, please contact your coach in advance. Cancellations made 24 hours or more before an appointment can be rescheduled or accommodated by your coach. However, cancellations with less than 24 hours’ notice will be charged in full. ¡Habla Más! coaches always strive to inform you of any change or cancellation to your sessions with more than 24 hours’ notice. In the event that your coach must cancel with less than 24 hours’ notice, the session will be rescheduled or credited to you for the following month.
+ What is your late or no-show policy?
If you are running late, please notify your coach as soon as possible. If no notification is made, coaches will wait up to 10 minutes for a half-hour session or 15 minutes for an hour-long session. Note that the lesson will still end on-time regardless of tardiness. After the grace period, the session will be considered a no-show and you will be charged the full amount for the session. ¡Habla Más! coaches always strive to inform you if they are running late. If your coach is late, the lost time will be made up during that session or the following one.
+ If I go on vacation, how can I guarantee my current time slot(s) will be available for me upon my return?
If you know you’ll be going on vacation, communicate with your coach in advance so they can make arrangements. Advance notices are greatly appreciated but do not guarantee that your previous time slot(s) will be available upon your return. If you would like to guarantee your slot during your absence, discuss paying for a portion of the sessions you will be missing with your coach.
+ What will the sessions cover?
You can focus on conversation, grammar, pronunciation, or whatever makes the most sense to you. Just make sure you communicate your wishes to your coach.
+ Will we use a textbook in my coaching session?
Using a textbook is optional, but recommended. Most coaches use Complete Spanish Step by Step by Barbara Bregstein. If you and your coach decide to use this book, you can purchase it from Amazon here. If you’d like a coach to work with your child, the coach can use the child’s textbook, or can develop customized materials for your child.
+ Is it okay to give my coach feedback?
¡Habla Más! coaches are just starting out in this field and welcome feedback. You are the customer! Please tell your coach how they can make your lesson more productive. Clients will also have access to a Client Satisfaction Form where they can submit indirect feedback to their coaches.
+ How do I connect with an ¡Habla Más! coach?
If you’re considering working with an ¡Habla Más! coach, please complete this form. We’ll then send you an email with a link to a web page with each coach’s profile, including their background and contact information.
+ Suppose I have additional questions or issues?
Please contact Programs Director Diana Viscarra at diana@upwardscholars.org with any questions or concerns.
“I am so glad that I decided to participate in ¡Habla Más! My instructor has been so helpful, and I look forward to our lesson every week.”
“During shelter-in-place, I wanted our two kids, ages 9 and 10, to continue to use the Spanish they’d learned in school. Our coach is fun, prepared, and enthusiastic, and our kids love the sessions!”
“¡Habla Más! gives me the opportunity to speak Spanish with a native speaker who’s easy to talk to and an excellent teacher.”