Improve your pronunciation in Spanish
As we interviewed new students over the years, we found that the main problem learning Spanish is the struggle to associate what you hear with what’s on paper. It’s hard to recognize words you learn in spoken conversation. Often we hear things like:
- I know plenty of vocabulary but I can understand only if they speak slow enough.
- When I try to say a simple phrase, they just stare at me like they’re confused. I’m not sure what I’m saying wrong.
- It’s easier if I can see the words first.
These are some of the common problems we hear. All these problems can be solved if you practice everything you learn in Spanish orally, and in full sentences! This is where our pronunciation technique comes in. It goes both ways, speaking and listening. You improve your pronunciation but at the same time you are improving your comprehension skills.
Of course, this process can be challenging as you have to build a sentence in your head and then put the words together. But, pronunciation and conversation are both skills you can develop, whether you’re a beginner or advanced student. The process is just like working out. In order to get positive results your instructor will encourage you to train consistently. Similarly, our pronunciation training method is based on repetition and pronunciation exercises with audio. You want to create the habit of saying phrases or full sentences just as you’ll hear them…instead – of – pausing – in – between – words.
In order to help you improve your pronunciation, we have put together a collection of audio exercises to practice every day on your computer or smartphone. Below is a description of how to join this self-paced program.
Toani Membership
Toani was created to help you get better at speaking in Spanish. When you sign up you get instant access to the following learning tools:
Virtual Classroom
Learn Spanish at your own pace and time with extended access to our Virtual Classroom.
audio exercises
Audio clips with verb tense conjugations used in sentences, local examples and pronunciation analysis.
Conversation
Access to our weekly conversation class via Zoom (or in person when available in Cabo San Lucas or San José).
Verb cheat sheets
Download premium-only cheat sheets, conversation guides and learning materials.
Quizzes
Self-grading quizzes with multiple-choice answers to test yourself out.
Learning steps
Play and listen to our audio exercises when you go for a walk, when you’re working out or when you’re relaxing at the beach. There are repetition exercises with common phrases and vocabulary. You can access all audio files on your computer or smartphone and reinforce on the go!
Optionally…you can join our weekly conversation class and practice with other students that are the same or at a similar level as you. All students at our school use the same pronunciation technique, which makes it easy for every class member to understand and practice with other students. During each session there’s an instructor helping you build sentences if you get stuck. You can study the vocabulary assigned each week and prepare for class in advance. You can opt to join only one or multiple classes each month. This class is included in your membership, but it’s optional to join. You can decide to join anytime. You are required to have completed Levels 1 and 2 or have knowledge of present tense conjugations.
Benefits
- Improve your comprehension skills and sound more natural in Spanish.
- Gain confidence and be easily understood.
- Become fluent and practice in our weekly conversation class.
Who is this program for?
This self-paced program based on audio exericses is ideal to reinforce your pronunciation if…
- … you are an advanced beginner, intermediate or advanced student.
- … you are currently enrolled in one of our courses (Levels 1-5)
Learning tools
As a member of Toani you get full access to hours of audio clips with verb tense conjugations used in sentences, local examples and pronunciation analysis.
You can download worksheets and premium-only learning materials directly from your student’s dashboard.
Below is an example of a Verb Cheat Sheet for Basic Conjugation.
You have access to join a weekly conversation class on Zoom with prior reservation. You can join as many classes as you like, as long as you first reserve a spot as the seats are limited. If it’s your first time in this class, then schedule an interview with us first so we can talk more about how to prepare before each session or in case you have any questions regarding your level of Spanish.
We suggest that you plan each month and schedule one or multiple classes in advance. When you sign up you have the option to indicate that you will participate as a listener. You will receive the corresponding Zoom link in your email and a reminder one hour before class begins. We usually suggest a topic or theme to chat about each week or month.
We organize a conversation class in person, only from November to March each year, in Cabo and San José. Watch our emails and class calendar to find out if there are any conversation classes available at school. As a Toani member you can opt to attend the class on Zoom free of cost, or for a special discounted fee ($200MXN pesos per student) you can attend this class in person when available in Cabo or San José.
CLASS RULES
USE SPANISH AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE
Many students wait a whole week to join the conversation class and practice their Spanish. Let’s respect everybody’s excitement and time by not interrupting when they are talking. During Zoom meetings, mute your microphone if there is noise in the background, or when you’re sneezing or coughing.
Sometimes this class represents the only opportunity some students have to practice. Let’s also respect the objective of this class, which is to talk in Spanish. In case of “emergency” you can use English if you don’t understand the given instructions.
At discretion, teachers and students can use English when there’s a complicated word or phrase. Also, we are periodically posting videos on the website to prepare before class, including a topic or theme to chat about and common questions or phrases like “How do you say…?”, “I didn’ t understand. Can you say it again?” or “ Did I say it right?”.
BE LATE
We are being a bit ironic here about being late. We really don’t mind if you arrive late, as we say in Spanish, as long as you enter the room (or Zoom meeting) and quietly find a seat if the session is already in progress. No hay problema, just don’t panic, get in the conversation and enjoy.
NO POLITICAL DEBATES
It’s hard to have control of the conversation when it comes to politics, regardless of one’s point of view. We would normally talk to our students about political vocabulary in Spanish and the political system in Mexico during private lessons, but not in group classes. Sorry!
FAQ's
Follow these steps to cancel:
- Navigate to your dashboard.
- Click the “Orders History” on your profile drop-down menu
- From the list of orders, click “View Order”.
- Then click the “Cancel” button.
- A confirmation message will appear. Confirm to cancel the subscription.
- The subscription will now move from “Active” to “Pending Cancellation.” This will allow access to your scheduled classes until your next payment is due. When the next payment is due the subscription will be moved to “Cancelled” and you will be unenrolled from the course or membership and no further payments will be attempted.
From your dashboard you have access to a calendar showing all classes available in the month. You must add your name to the list and reserve a seat. You may schedule one or multiple classes in advance. For classes held on Zoom, you should get the meeting link and passcode by email right after you schedule a class.
You must have completed Levels 1 and 2 or have knowledge of present tense conjugations.
We’ve had classes with 2, 4 and 6 students. When 6 students or more join a videoconference call, we usually split the call into two “rooms” and create two small groups. We limit the number of seats to preserve the quality of the class. If a class gets full, the calendar will automatically block the availability and you will have to find a different time to join. We try to add extra sessions before the end of the month if all spots are booked.
Yes, but it has to be related to the conversation we´re having at the moment. That way all students get something out of it. If we don’t have a short answer we may suggest to save the question for a later opportunity when we get more time. For most questions, we have a practical answer to get the conversation going so feel free to ask.
We suggest to use Englis if there is an “emergency” in case you are not sure about what to do for the activities in class. At discretion English can be used to clarify complex phrases, idioms or questions. Again, we mediate the session, so we might switch to English every now and then just to make a few clarifications and to make sure everyone feels comfortable.
Nothing happens. You can plan a month in advance and schedule one or multiple classes. Or you can skip classes and continue to work on your own with the audio exercises and quizzes.
We suggest to have something to write with and something to write on to take notes. We are periodically posting videos on the website to prepare before class, including a topic or theme to chat about and common questions or phrases like “How do you say…?”, “I didn’ t understand. Can you say it again?” or “ Did I say it right?”.
Yes, you have access to join a weekly conversation class on Zoom with prior reservation. You can join as many classes as you like, as long as you first reserve a spot as the seats are limited.
Yes! We need them.
Th first rule is to enjoy the class and practice your Spanish during the session. At discretion, teachers and students can use English when there’s a complicated word or phrase.
The objective of the conversation class is to practice in Spanish. This is not an instructional class, however, there is always an instructor helping you find the words you need, if necessary- as you put your sentences together. You are welcome to ask questions related to the topic, vocabulary or dialogue used in class. If there is a question you have about a complicated phrase, word or grammar component, the instructor will take a note of it. We can either post a video lesson breaking down the phrases or we can also dedicate a few minutes during your regular class.
You can prepare in advance and review the words or topic assigned for each session. We periodically post video lessons, vocabulary or dialogues on the website to prepare before class. There is also a section to learn survival words/phrases during the session.
You are required to have completed Level 2 or at least be half way through Level 2 in order to join your first conversation class.
BE LATE
We are being a bit ironic here about being late. We really don’t mind if you arrive late, as we say in Spanish, as long as you enter the room (or Zoom meeting) and quietly find a seat if the session is already in progress. No problem, just don’t panic, get in the conversation and enjoy.
NO POLITICAL DEBATES
It’s hard to have control of the conversation when it comes to politics, regardless of one’s point of view. We would normally talk to our students about political vocabulary in Spanish and the political system in Mexico during private lessons, but not in group classes. Sorry!