How to choose the right course and when to use tú vs usted

Published May 16, 2026·Updated May 26, 2026

Transcript

Read along, Spanish & English, side by side

You know what surprises me? A lot of people sign up for a Spanish course, but in class, they hardly speak. I mean, they pay, attend, take notes, but talk very little and then say they aren't progressing.

Totally. And the most common mistake I see is mixing "tú" and "usted" without thinking. In a meeting, you say "tú" and the other person looks like, "Uh, a bit of formality, please."

And another very common thing: walking into a place and greeting incorrectly due to nerves. Once a student said "good days" and then "I like table," and everyone in the restaurant laughed, but in a good way.

Well, hello everyone, how's it going? I'm María and today, we're going to talk about Spanish courses, how to choose one, and most importantly, how to really make the most of it.

I'm Carlos. Welcome, everyone. We're going to take it step by step, no pressure, with easy ideas for beginners and also for those who already understand a bit.

First, a basic thing. Before paying for a course, think: What do you want it for? To travel, for work, to live in a Spanish-speaking country? That changes the type of class you need.

Yes, and also check the pace. There are intensive courses with many hours each week and there are relaxed ones, one or two afternoons.

If you can't practice at home, maybe the intensive course will tire you out a lot.

Alright, and now, to kick things off, let’s do a quick roleplay.

Imagine you're calling a school to ask for information.

I'm the receptionist, okay?

Perfect, I’m the student.

Let's go, no fear.

Receptionist: "Hello, good morning, Escuela Sol, how can I help you?"

You see, I say "usted" because I don't know the person.

Student: "Hello, good morning. My name is Carlos."

"I want information about a Spanish course, do you have classes in the afternoon?"

Easy, I greet, introduce myself, and ask clearly.

Receptionist: "Yes, of course."

"We have classes on Mondays and Wednesdays in the afternoon, what’s your level, more or less?"

Here I politely ask about the level.

Student: "Well, I’m a beginner, but I understand a bit. Is there a level test?"

That’s really useful, a short test to place you correctly.

Receptionist: "Yes, there’s an oral and written test, very simple."

You can also take a free trial class.

Key phrase: "free trial," right?

Student: "Great."

And one more thing, how much does the course cost?

Simple and direct, no fear in asking the price.

Receptionist: "The course costs 250 euros a month with materials included."

Ready.

And I close with, "Would you like to reserve a spot for Monday?"

Student: "Yes, please, do you need my ID or passport?"

And that's it, end of the roleplay.

Easy, see?

Very good.

In a real course, those phrases will save you.

For example, you can repeat "please," or you can speak more slowly.

Pure sound.

And don’t forget about the cultural aspect.

In Spanish, people really value starting with "hello" and "how are you?"

It seems small, but it truly opens doors.

Speaking of doors, I have a short story.

A student of mine walked into a bar and wanted to say "good morning," but said "good days" and then blushed.

Everyone laughed, yes, but the waiter taught him how to say it right, and look, in the end, they chatted for five minutes.

That happens, and it’s okay.

Mistakes can be your best friend if you smile and keep talking.

In class, practice that greeting every day so it comes out naturally outside of class.

Now, quick tips for the first day of class.

Introduce yourself with a mini phrase: "Hello, I’m Ana."

"I'm from Italy."

"I work in an office."

Three sentences and you connect.

And if you don't understand, use short phrases: "I don't understand," "once more, please," "what does homework mean?"

With that, you can survive the first week.

An important note about tú and usted.

Tú is informal with friends and young people.

Usted is formal with older people or at work, with clients or your boss.

Yes, and in class, with the teacher, you can hear both.

Some teachers say "tú" to build trust, but you can start with "usted" and switch if the teacher says "it's fine, tú."

Alright, before we continue, a mini-game.

Let's see, Carlos, and you all listening, what does "can you repeat, please?" mean?

Come on, quick answer.

It means asking the other person to say the same thing again, but politely.

It's asking for repetition without sounding rude.

Easy and very useful.

Exactly.

And another: when do you use "usted"?

When you want to be formal and respectful, for example, with the receptionist, with a client, or with someone you don't know.

Let's continue.

How do you choose a good course?

Well, look at the size of the group.

If there are 20 people, you might speak less; if there are 8 or 10, you speak more.

And ask about the methodology.

Is there conversation every day?

Do you listen to real audio?

Do you do role plays?

If you speak in every class, you progress more.

Another practical thing: the schedule.

If you always arrive late because of work, look for a class later, like at 7 PM.

Consistency is more important than intensity.

Also, be careful with the place.

In Spain, there are regions with another language besides Spanish, like Basque in the Basque Country.

Sometimes you see signs in Basque and Spanish. No worries, in your course, you'll practice Spanish the same.

Yes, and always respect the local culture.

Now, more tricks to make the most of the course.

And set mini-goals.

If you're shy, prepare phrases at home.

Write down "I have a question," "I don't understand this word," "can you give me an example?"

Then, either in class, just read them out.

Let's do another micro roleplay, very short.

You're the student and want to change levels because it seems easy to you.

Let's go.

Student: "Hello, teacher."

"Excuse me, the class is a bit easy for me."

"Can I move up to the next level?"

With calm and respect, alright?

Teacher: "Of course, thanks for saying that."

"We'll do a test and see if it's possible."

That's it.

It's not a big deal, it's normal.

Another situation: you don't understand a grammar explanation.

You can say "I don't see it clearly. Can you explain with another example?"

It works really well.

Regarding studying at home, you don't need three hours.

Ten or fifteen minutes a day are enough.

Read your notes, record your voice with your phone, repeat sentences out loud.

And also listen to easy Spanish.

A short podcast, a basic-level video, slow songs.

If you repeat every day, you improve a lot, really.

Let's talk about common mistakes in the course.

1. Taking a lot of notes, but not speaking.

Remember, the goal is to communicate, not just to write beautifully.

2. Not asking questions.

If something is unclear, ask right away.

Later, at home, it's too late, and you get frustrated.

3. Skipping the greeting.

It seems small, but in Spanish it's important to start with "hello, how are you?"

Break the ice and create a human connection.

And 4. Mixing tú and usted.

If you're in doubt, use usted and observe.

Or ask: "Do you prefer me to use tú or usted?"

Very direct and polite.

Let's go back to real stories.

A friend of mine walked into a restaurant and wanted to say "a table for two", but he said "a table two".

Everyone laughed, yes, but then the waiter said "it's fine, I understand" and helped him say it correctly.

That's key: people appreciate the effort.

If you make a mistake and smile, the world, well, helps you.

Your course should give you that confidence to speak outside of class.

In class, practice full sentences.

For example, "I want to book a table for two at eight in the evening."

Or "I'm looking for a small apartment near downtown."

They're useful blocks.

And practice questions because, of course, asking drives the conversation.

"Where is the bathroom?"

"How much does it cost?"

"What time does it open?"

Make short lists and use them.

If your teacher does pair activities, change partners sometimes.

That way, you hear different accents and rhythms.

That prepares you for real life.

And if there's a language exchange in your city, great.

Go with a classmate.

Ten minutes in Spanish, ten in your language, and done.

It doesn't have to be perfect.

A note on pronunciation.

Practice the R with words like "but" and "dog".

And the L and Y as in "I call" and "yolk".

One minute a day helps a lot.

If you're embarrassed, record yourself alone.

Hi, I'm María, I study Spanish, today I'm tired but happy.

Listen to yourself, correct and repeat tomorrow.

Another useful idea is to talk to household objects.

You say: "this is a cup."

"The cup is white."

"It's on the table."

It seems silly, but your mouth gets used to it.

And celebrate the small victories.

If you get confused with ser and estar, use simple phrases while you learn.

"I'm a student, I'm tired today."

Little by little, no drama.

And with the past, don't obsess at first.

You can say: "I go to the movies yesterday."

Uh, sorry, "I went to the movies."

You correct and move on.

All good.

Let's talk about the material.

Don't buy 10 books.

One from the course and maybe a phrasebook is enough.

The important thing is to use them every day.

And organize your notes by topics: greetings, food, work, transport.

That way you find phrases quickly before a real situation.

Another mini practice for class.

When the teacher asks something general, raise your hand and say a sentence.

Even if it's short.

Just one intervention per class already improves you.

Also, ask about spoken tasks.

For example, record a one-minute audio introducing yourself.

It's more useful than just filling gaps in a book.

If your course is online, pay attention to the sound.

Use headphones, close other windows, and look at the camera when you speak.

Communication is not just words, but also gestures and rhythm.

And online, even more important: don't mute the microphone all the time.

Practice saying: "yes, sure, I understand."

Those little reactions create conversation.

When you feel blocked, take slow breaths and repeat the idea with easy words.

For example, "I don't remember, library, uh?"

The place with books to study.

It's understood.

Your teacher is there to help you, not to judge you.

If they correct you, listen, repeat the correct version, and that's it.

Don't apologize every minute, better say: "thank you for the correction."

Also create routines with real schedules.

For example, review at eight in the evening while making tea.

If you attach it to a daily action, you won't forget it.

If you live in a Spanish-speaking country, use the street as a class.

Read signs, listen to conversations, and write down one new word a day.

With just one, you're already making progress.

And if you don't live there, bring Spanish into your home.

Change the language on your phone, put labels on objects: door, window, fridge.

Small things, big impact.

Let's go back to the topic of formality for a moment.

At work, start with 'you' and kind questions.

"How are you?"

"Is this time good for you?"

Then you can see if you can switch.

And in informal settings, with friends or peers, use 'you.'

Say: "How are you?"

"What are you doing this weekend?"

Listen to how they talk and mimic the tone.

If the person says: "call me 'you,'" great, switch right then.

If not, keep using 'you' without worry.

It's better to be too formal than too informal in serious situations.

Another mini roleplay to wrap up the practical part.

Do you want to ask your teacher for more conversation?

I'm the teacher, you're the student.

Student: "Teacher, the grammar is fine, but I need to speak more."

"Can we do roleplays on Fridays?"

Direct and friendly.

Teacher: "Good idea."

"This Friday we’ll practice ordering at a restaurant and greeting in the office."

And there you go, you have real practice.

If you find yourself in a tricky situation, like very different accents, be patient.

In Spanish, there are many countries and many sounds.

Little by little, your ear will get used to it.

And celebrate humor.

If you say "good days" again, laugh and correct: "sorry, good morning."

That attitude, honestly, opens up more conversations.

Before we go, a question for you all.

What phrase do you always use to start a conversation in Spanish?

Do you say "hello, how are you?"

Or do you have another that works better for you?

And one more: have you had a funny or embarrassing moment in class or at a restaurant?

Share it, so we all learn and laugh a little.

Alright, I think that's it.

Remember, a good course is one that gets you to speak, ask, and smile with your mistakes.

Consistency, kind greetings, and useful phrases every day.

If this episode helped you, like it and subscribe to the channel.

That way you won't miss upcoming episodes with more roleplays and easy tips.

Thanks for being here, really.

See you next week with more good Spanish.

Bye.