Frequently Asked Questions
Getting Started
You can either Book a Trial (if your child is a new student) or Book a Class.
New students to Spanish with Mary must first complete a registration form.
Book a Trial: After clicking on the Book a Trial button, you will be asked to complete the registration form. When you submit this form, you will automatically be taken to a booking page where you can choose your date and time for the trial.
Book a Class: After clicking on the Book a Class button, you will be taken to the Book a Class page, where you can select your preferred package via the drop-down options. You will then click on the PayPal button to make your payment. After your payment is processed, you will be taken to a class booking page where you can choose your first date and time. After you book your first class, you will then receive an email confirmation. If you have purchased a package or more than one lesson, this email confirmation will contain a link where you can book your additional classes, one at a time. Note: If this is your child’s first time taking a class, they will need to complete the new student registration form.
Our 25-minute classes are designed for our “mini learners” (kids 4- to 6-years-old) to meet their learning abilities and characteristics. These shorter classes provide exposure to the Spanish language, and the student will be able to say and understand simple sentences. Kids in this age group generally have a shorter attention span, so activities are shorter and changed more quickly in order to keep them engaged.
Our 50-minute classes are designed for our “young learners” (kids 7- to 10-year-olds) and are designed to meet their learning abilities and characteristics. Students in this age group have a greater ability to process the Spanish language and understand and produce more complex sentences.
We recommend that mini learners take our 25-minute classes and young learners take either our 25-minute or 50-minute classes. Regardless of the class length, all learners will receive instruction appropriate to their maturity level and Spanish level.
If there is a date or time that you are interested in that you do not see on the calendar, you can email us at contact@spanishwithmary.com and we will do our best to accommodate you.
Our classes take place through Zoom, and you will need to download the Zoom app. Please visit the Zoom website for further details, and be sure to test your connectivity before your trial or first class.
During class, students are required to turn on their cameras and microphones.
In order to have a successful class, we recommend that your child be in a quiet place with no distractions and book a time for the class when your child will be focused.
As a general rule, students will need a notebook, pencil, crayons or markers, glue, scissors and, if possible, a dry erase whiteboard with markers. It is ideal if your child has a folder for any work sheets and a box designated for any games or manipulative materials that we will use in class.
We will send you any handouts or work sheets that need to be printed before the class.
Teacher Mary and any support staff of Spanish with Mary are required to complete a police background check, including vulnerable sector screening.
If your child is a current student and wants to continue learning with us, please email us and we will consider extending the age limit for your child.
Class Structure
A trial lesson is a free, private, 25-minute session for your child, you, and Mary to get to know each other. Each potential student is eligible to one free trial lesson. This class will help us learn your child’s interests and needs and will help us determine your child’s level so we can better prepare her or his classes. During the trial, you will be able to see what our classes are like, and we can answer any questions that you may have.
Note: For trial classes, requests to cover a specific topic or grammar point will not be accommodated.
We use a variety of methods and activities to maintain students’ engagement while ensuring language acquisition. We will sing, read stories, practice vocabulary and structures, and will play games to reinforce the learning material. We always try to adapt material to each student’s interests. Our ultimate goal is for your child to have fun while learning.
We value the advantages of full immersion programs. Our goal is to use Spanish 100% of the time, and we will encourage students to do so; however, full immersion will be achieved gradually. We recognize that the use of English or another first language brings benefits when it comes to establishing an initial connection and rapport with the student, and to ensure understanding or clarification about class materials or instructions.
Yes, we have created a program based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CELF) and following the Instituto Cervantes Curricular Plan (PCIC). We follow the program closely, but we always go through units at your child’s pace, and we adapt the material to match your child’s needs and interests.
Parent involvement depends on the child’s learning habits and age. Kids ages 4 to 6 may need some support in the first couple of classes while they get familiar with the system and class activities. Older kids usually do well on their own; however, some supervision helps when they have difficulty focusing or if they get distracted easily.
If your child is going to be late, please email us ahead of time if possible. In case of tardiness or no shows, the teacher will wait 15 minutes in the virtual classroom.
If the student does not show up during that time, the class will be finished and no refund will be given. If the student arrives late to a class during the 15 minute wait, the class will still conclude at the previously scheduled ending time.
If there is any activity that needs to be done before a class, we will send a note to the parent or guardian.
To help retain information from any lessons, we recommend a 5- to 10-minute review immediately after class as well as in between classes (as often as possible during the week).
In general, shorter, more periodic review sessions are better for retaining information than one long review only once between classes.
Absolutely! Though we have a set curriculum, if your child has a school project or needs help with a specific topic in Spanish, we will be happy to help. However, we need at least 48 hours notice in order to prepare the class and ensure that it aligns with your child’s needs.
Note: This offer doesn’t not apply to a trial class as the purpose of a trial is to get to know each other and to assess your child’s interests and language levels.
Our classes are designed for one student only. We understand that siblings are sometimes curious about the classes and want to be present; however, having more than one child in a class is not permitted and may lead to the class ending early with no refund.
Technology/IT Issues
We recognize that sometimes technology is not on our side. This can be anything from connection problems, to camera or microphone issues. If you have IT issues before a class begins, please email us. If you have IT issues during class, we will do our best to continue with the class; however, if the problem is not solved and affects learning, the class will be ended. In both cases, it is the teacher’s discretion to reschedule any missed time portion of the class.
If the problem is on our side and cannot be resolved, the missed time portion of the class will be rescheduled.
Payment and Rescheduling Classes
Once you select your preferred package on the Book a Class page, you can then click on the yellow Buy Now button to be automatically taken to the PayPal processing page. PayPal is a safe, secure way to pay with your credit card or VISA debit. All classes must be paid for in advance.
Yes, all our packages expire six months from the date of purchase.
We know that sometimes, we all have emergencies or scheduling conflicts. If your child will be unable to attend a class, it is possible to cancel or reschedule with a minimum of 24 hours notice by clicking on the Reschedule this Booking link at the bottom of your “Lesson scheduled” confirmation email.
Please be mindful that all transactions are final when you purchase a class or package. Cancelling or rescheduling a class with less than 24 hour notice is not permitted; if a student does not show up to a class, she or he will be deemed as a “no-show” for that class and it will be forfeited.