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 orally. 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 put the words together, especially if you’re just starting out with Spanish and many of the words are new to you. 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. Ultimately, you want to create the habit of saying complete phrases or 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
Learn to speak naturally and become fluent in Spanish.
Pronunciation & Conversation Program
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:
audio exercises
Audio clips with verb tense conjugations used in sentences, local examples and pronunciation analysis.
Conversation
Access to our weekly conversation class (optional) via Zoom or in-person.
Verb cheat sheets
Download premium-only cheat sheets and learning materials.
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. You don’t have to attend the conversation class, unless you want to. If you decide to join, you are required to have completed Levels 1 and 2 or have knowledge of present tense conjugations.
The price to join this program is $900 MXN pesos + tax a month or $9,000MXN pesos + tax for a year. Choose a plan below and get started!
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)
If you are just starting out learning Spanish and would like to learn from the groud up… then take a look at our Level 1 Foundation Course instead.
Learning tools
You can play the audio files on your smartphone and practice anywhere you go. You can slow down the speed of the audio and search a topic or word from a catalogue of exercises.
Our weekly conversation class is very fexible as you do not commit to a class schedule. If you decide to join at some point, we suggest you plan each month in advance. You get access to learning materials and prepare for the assigned topic or theme each week. You can attend via Zoom in the summer or when you are not in Mexico. You can attend this class at the classroom in Cabo San Lucas or San José whenever this class is available in person.
When you sing up for a conversation class, we’ll notify you about class schedule and learning materials. We’ll guide you through.
Class calendar
This class is 45 minutes long and is available once a week (every Friday at noon) via Zoom all year round. This class may not be available for two or three weeks during Septmeber. This class is not available during holidays like Christmas or Semana Santa. In-person classes are offered from November to March each year (subject to teacher’s availability). As a Toani member you can opt to attend the class on Zoom, in person, or both (with prior reservation).
You can download learning materials, dialogues and “Cheat Sheets” to practice as you listen to the audio exercises or to prepare befeore attending a conversation class.
Become a member
Toani has been designed with our conversation and pronunciation methods in mind and all of our plans include the following:
- Hours of audio clips with verb tense conjugations used in sentences, local examples and pronunciation analysis.
- Access to Our Weekly Conversation Class via Zoom (or in-person when available)
- Downloadable Spanish Verb Cheat Sheets and Learning materials.
Cancel anytime. If you subscribe for 1 year, we’ll notify you towards the end of your yearly plan so you can evaluate your results. You can then decide whether take a break before you enroll again, or continue for one more year.
FAQ's
- 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 a link to join the class.
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.
Go ahead and subscribe and start practicing with our audio exercises.
If you’re planning to join the conversation classes as an external student (meaning you are not currently enrolled in any of our classes), we want to meet you first. After you sign up, you will schedule a free 30 minute interview and we’ll help you with some suggestions before you attend your first class.
You are required to have completed at least Level 2 or have knowledge of present tense conjugation before you join your first conversation class.
The answer is no. Remember, this class is optional. If you decide to join, you are never asked to “present” (like back in school) in front of the group. However, you will be encouraged to interact with other class members during the session in Spanish. The whole point of the conversation class is to practice what you’re learning in class. You can access the topic or theme assigned each week and prepare in advance. There’s a teacher during each conversation class helping you build sentences in case you get stuck.
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 English if there 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.
This class is optional. You can plan a month in advance and schedule one or multiple classes (or skip classes in between), as long as you prepare in advance and study the vocabulary assigned for the class you’re attending.
We suggest to have something to write with and something to write on to take notes. You can print the corresponding worksheets or learning materials directly from your student dashboard.
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.
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 or in the classroom, or both (with prior reservation).
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!