Best Spanish Classes NYC: Find Courses & Onsite Training

Learn More About NYC Spanish Courses

What is Spanish?

The Spanish language spans the globe, with around 500 million native speakers, mostly in Europe and the Americas, and 600 million who have learned it as a second language. It is second only to Chinese in the number of first-language speakers in the world, and just behind English in the United States.

Spanish is part of the language group called Ibero-Romance and evolved out of spoken Latin. The beginning of Spanish as a separate language is counted from the defeat of the Muslim caliphates by the Christian kingdoms of Castile-Leon, Navarre, Aragon-Catalonia, and Portugal in the 13th century in what is referred to as the Reconquista. While 75% of modern vocabulary is derived from Latin, Spanish has been heavily influenced by Arabic and has several regional dialects. The first book of Castilian Spanish grammar was published in 1492.

This was also the year Spanish conquistadors began to travel across the Atlantic, and by the mid-16th century, Spain had settled territory in Mexico and Peru, colonizing three major civilizations in the region: the Aztec, Mayan, and Incan empires. Colonization included imposition of Spanish over the indigenous languages.

After Spanish spread to Latin America, many differences developed between Catalan, the Spanish spoken in Spain, and Latin American Spanish. There are also regional differences across the South American continent and the Caribbean, where Spanish is a predominant language in Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic.

Today, Spanish is spoken on all the continents in the world. It is one of the official languages of 20 countries, and it is also one of the six official languages in the United Nations. The Latin American countries are important trading partners of the United States. Learning Spanish can open many doors.

Why Learn Spanish?

There are many reasons to learn a foreign language, particularly Spanish. Travel, employment, cultural curiosity, and life-long learning are some of the most common reasons people might want to learn Spanish.

Learning Spanish is helpful if you plan to travel to southern Europe, South America, or the Caribbean. While you can get by with English at resorts or in big cities, knowing how to speak Spanish gives you a richer cultural education. You can order in restaurants, figure out how to get around town, or find those hidden treasures tourists miss. Being able to sit down with native Spanish speakers and talk about their culture and society creates a much deeper travel experience.

Furthermore, being bilingual can help you get a job. Spanish and English are two of the most widely spoken languages in the world and this opens up many more job opportunities to people who can speak both languages. Many companies and government agencies want to hire people who can speak both English and Spanish to serve customers better. If you are a teacher, knowing how to speak Spanish makes it easier to work with English Language Learners. There are also jobs for bilingual people as translators in the legal and medical systems, to create subtitles, or to translate books.

Being bilingual in English and Spanish opens doors to different cultures. Even at the late beginner or intermediate level, you can communicate with people who speak Spanish. Hispanics are the largest minority group in the U.S. Being able to understand and speak another person's language gives you insights into a culture that people who can't speak the language don't have.

Learning Spanish also allows you to enjoy movies, television shows, and literature in another language. Being able to read a book or watch a film in the language it was created in gives you a deeper experience than having to rely on someone else's translation. When you master Spanish, you will be able to read Don Quixote or One Hundred Years of Solitude in the original and enjoy films like Roma, Pan's Labyrinth, and Like Water for Chocolate as they were intended to be experienced.

Finally, learning a foreign language can improve cognitive function and helps keep your memory sharp. When you can speak more than one language, the brain needs to choose between the different languages. This gives the brains of bilingual people constant exercise and improves the execution of mental tasks. Life-long learning keeps you connected with others and learning Spanish is a great way to exercise your mind and broaden your experiences.

What You’ll Learn in a Spanish Class?

When you enroll in a Spanish class for beginners, you will learn the rules of Spanish pronunciation and simple vocabulary, like the words for colors and numbers, how to refer to family members, and how to ask questions. You will learn to count and start with some simple phrases often used in conversation, like "Good morning" and "How are you?" You will also learn how to introduce yourself and how to ask for directions.

In an intermediate class, you will increase your vocabulary, learn the rules of spelling, and begin to learn Spanish grammar. You will begin to read and also improve your conversation skills. Beginning and intermediate Spanish courses focus on improving your understanding of spoken Spanish and your ability to respond in the same language. You will read more complicated material and may begin to discuss current events and experiences in Spanish.

You can also choose to take advanced sessions that help you improve your speaking abilities. These often take the form of one-on-one sessions with an instructor. You can also find courses on Spanish literature, film, and culture to help expand your knowledge and language proficiency.

Classes are also available for specific professions. You can take Spanish classes for medical professionals, lawyers, and business people. These courses are for people who have a basic Spanish background and focus on specialized vocabulary to help people interact with patients and clients. These specialized classes often begin with interviewing and end up taught entirely in Spanish to help students get used to listening and responding in the language.

How Long Will It Take to Learn Spanish?

How long it will take to learn Spanish depends on the amount of time you spend practicing and how motivated you are to learn. If you spend about an hour a day listening to spoken Spanish, reading, writing, and practicing speaking, you should be able to achieve conversational fluency in about a year. It helps to watch Spanish language TV programs and listen to content in Spanish.

If you need to learn Spanish for a trip or a job opportunity, you can take a crash course. These are often immersive experiences, meaning the instructor and students speak only Spanish during class. These immersive crash courses can last between two weeks and a month and can help you become fluent very quickly.

What are the Advantages of Taking a Spanish Class?

While it is definitely possible to learn Spanish by watching online videos and studying on your own, a Spanish language class will help you progress quicker, give you the most pertinent information, and improve conversational fluency.

An experienced instructor understands how to structure a class to help you gain the skills you need most as a beginning language learner. The instructor can answer your questions, model the correct pronunciation, and give you learning pointers that you can't get from videos. Instructors are usually native speakers or have lived in a Spanish-speaking country for a long time, and they have experiences and cultural information you might not get from videos.

One of the most important parts of learning a language is practicing speaking, and taking a Spanish class with other students is a great way to do this. Learning to understand is easier than speaking, so practicing in class helps you access the vocabulary you need to carry on a conversation. Not only does speaking practice improve fluency, you also get to know other like-minded people, and it's fun!

Best Spanish Classes in NYC

If you are looking for an in-person class in Spanish in New York City, there are many options to choose from. If you have never studied Spanish before, there are plenty of introductory courses. If you took some Spanish in high school and want to refresh your memory, there are more advanced classes, too. You can find courses designed for travelers that focus on the vocabulary you need when visiting Spain or countries in Latin America. Some advanced classes focus on Spanish literature or films.

ABC Languages offers Spanish for Total Beginners for students 16 and over who want to learn Spanish. This is an introductory class for students with little or no background in Spanish and who want to build skills in conversation, vocabulary, and grammar. After that, students can sign up for Spanish Beginner 2 to expand their conversational skills including mastering verb tenses. Spanish 3 continues to strengthen students' conversational foundations. These courses are taught in person in New York City.

Another option for in-person Spanish classes is ISTC-Transinter. This school offers Spanish instruction for adults and children all over the world, plus translation and interpreting services. ISTC offers 6-Week Spanish for Beginners I and 6-Week Spanish for Beginners II. These courses build conversational skills in Spanish through reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Students should bring a pen and a notebook.

The Instituto Cervantes is connected to the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in New York and offers Spanish language courses for all levels. The A1 Beginner's Class requires no previous knowledge of Spanish. Students will learn everyday expressions and familiar phrases. Making introductions and asking and answering questions to get information is also included, and students will learn to interact and understand someone speaking slowly and clearly. The classes focus on spoken Spanish rather than writing. The A2 Advanced Beginner course covers understanding sentences and commonly used expressions about personal and family information, geography, jobs, and shopping, plus conversing in simple terms. At the B1 Intermediate level, students will build their comprehension of everyday language often encountered in work, school, or recreation, and they will practice handling situations that often come up when traveling. At this level, students will begin to produce simple responses and descriptions of experiences and topics of personal interest. At the B2 Advanced level, students will continue to increase their comprehension and fluency to the level of interacting with native speakers with minimal discomfort.

Spanish 1.1, Part One from Learn Spanish New York will teach students to greet people they meet, including introductions and saying goodbye; ask simple questions; and ask for content information like addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers. Students will also learn about currency in Spanish-speaking countries, talking about family members, describing physical attributes, and other simple conversational items.This is a hybrid class with some sessions online and others in person. Learn Spanish New York also offers free one-day S.O.S. Spanish workshops online.

Another option for learning Spanish in New York City is Idlewild Books. Classes are held at both the Manhattan and Brooklyn locations, plus live online through Zoom. Students can begin from square on and take classes starting with Spanish for Beginners, Spanish Advanced Beginner, Spanish Intermediate, Spanish High Intermediate, and Spanish Film and Conversation.

El Taller Americano, The Latin American Workshop, offers Spanish of the Americas for students from the beginner to intermediate levels. Class emphasizes conversation and dialogue to get students comfortable with speaking and moving towards fluency quickly. Classes are taught on the Upper West Side. El Taller Americano also has children's language programs, including group classes, after-school Spanish, summer camps, and field trips. These Aventuras programs combine drama, music, and art to give children a wide range of cultural experiences while they are learning Spanish conversation and Latin American culture.

Live Online Spanish Classes

If you prefer not to travel to an in-person class in NYC, you can choose to learn Spanish in a live online class. Live online classes usually run at the same time as an in-person session, with some students in the classroom and others joining over a platform like Zoom. In this kind of set up, you can still ask the instructor questions and get help if you need it, or chat with other students. Live online classes are convenient because you can attend from anywhere you want as long as you have a strong internet connection. Here are some possibilities.

ABC Languages also offers Spanish courses online, including Spanish for Total Beginners, Spanish Beginner 2, and Spanish Beginner 3. ABC also has intermediate-level Spanish classes

for students who have basic conversational skills and want to improve them. Students who are comfortable using the present and preterit cases in conversation can sign up for Spanish Intermediate 1 to continue their Spanish journey online. Spanish Intermediate 2 and Spanish Intermediate 3 continue to build vocabulary, fluency, and accuracy.

Students interested in private Spanish lessons can sign up for Spanish Lessons for All Levels with ISTC. This is a great way to learn Spanish quickly if you need it for a job or travel situation. These are private lessons and you can negotiate the topic of the lesson to prepare for travel, job interviews, or business contacts. Classes are held live online.

The International School of Languages offers Spanish language classes for adults live online from beginning to advanced levels. Class meets weekly and size is kept small so all students can get attention. Students study a mix of reading, writing, grammar, listening, vocabulary, and speaking while learning about different cultures and traditions.

Cricket elearning, formerly Fluent City, offers several levels of Spanish classes, including Spanish - Level 1, a beginning Spanish conversation course through Spanish - Level 5, an advanced speaking course. Students can also choose a Spanish Crash Course for people who need to learn Spanish quickly for a trip or business connection.

Students who are looking for an immersive learning experience without leaving home can sign up for Spanish online from Lingua Schools. Courses are conducted over Zoom and students can sign in from a computer or mobile device. Classes include instruction in reading, writing, speaking, and listening.

Students can learn Spanish online with SEFLA Languages in private one-on-one classes or group sessions. There are six levels to choose from ranging from Beginner A1, Low Intermediate A2, Intermediate B1, High Intermediate B2, Advanced Spanish Proficiency 1 C1, and Advanced Spanish Proficiency 2 C2.

Some schools offer Spanish language courses live on-demand, where students can sign up and join an online class right away with classes starting every hour. One of these is StartSpanish. Teachers are native Spanish speakers who use videos, flashcards, conversations, and exercises to help students learn.

Cactus BCN Language School also offers group and private Spanish classes, as well as corporate training. Live online group Spanish classes focus on helping students learn to speak and understand Spanish in everyday situations. Students practice through fun and interesting conversations, and can log in to class from anywhere. Cactus offers Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced classes on a morning or evening schedule.

The Spanish Language Program at the International Language Institute in Washington, D.C. is available online. These are live, instructor-led classes with a combination of in-person and live online students. Students can interact with the instructor and each other to practice conversation, reading, listening, and writing. There are eight instruction levels: three beginner classes, three intermediate, and two advanced level courses.

Edx offers some more unusual online Spanish classes. They offer basic courses for beginners, but also AP Spanish Language and Culture for high school students looking for college credit. This course help students who have been studying intermediate-level Spanish prepare for the AP exam by improving written communication, interpretive communication through reading and writing, and making cultural comparisons. Medical professionals can take AnahuacX: Foundations of Medical Spanish to help them engage with Latin and Hispanic patients. Students learn the specific vocabulary needed to conduct interviews with patients. The course starts with beginner-level Spanish and gradually builds until the course is completely taught in Spanish to give students an immersive atmosphere.

Students looking for an immersive Spanish learning experience can check out Maximo Nivel offering live online Spanish classes for adults, children, and corporate groups. Students can choose from one-on-one private sessions, small group classes, or customized classes on Medical Spanish or Spanish for Business, or Legal Spanish for corporate groups. College students can also learn academic crest from St. Cloud State University for live online Spanish classes.

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Top Certificate Programs

Top Certificate Programs

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Top Certificate Programs

Top Courses

ABC Languages Spanish - Beginner 3

ABC Languages Spanish - Total Beginner

ABC Languages Spanish - Total Beginner

ABC Languages Spanish Beginner 2

Learn Spanish

ABC Languages Spanish Conversation Practice (High Beginner)

ABC Languages Spanish Conversation Practice (Intermediate/Advanced)

ABC Languages Spanish High Beginner

Learn Spanish New York Spanish 1.1 - Beginner Part 1 Not currently offered

Learn Spanish New York Spanish 1.1- Beginner Part 2 Not currently offered

ABC Languages Private Spanish Lessons Not currently offered

Learn More About NYC Spanish Courses

What is Spanish?

Why Learn Spanish?

What You’ll Learn in a Spanish Class?

How Long Will It Take to Learn Spanish?

What are the Advantages of Taking a Spanish Class?

Best Spanish Classes in NYC

Live Online Spanish Classes

NYC Spanish Courses by School

ABC Languages

Spanish - Beginner 3

Spanish - Total Beginner

Spanish - Total Beginner

Spanish Beginner 2

Learn Spanish New York

Spanish 1.1 - Beginner Part 1 Not currently offered

Spanish 1.1- Beginner Part 2 Not currently offered

Spanish 1.2, Part 1 Not currently offered

Spanish 1.2 Part 2 Not currently offered

Toc Toc Spanish

Spanish for Babies (6 mo-1.5 yrs) Not currently offered

Spanish for Babies and Toddlers Not currently offered

NYC Spanish Corporate & Onsite Training Noble Desktop

Spanish Training Locations in or Near NYC

Learn Spanish New York Spanish 1.1 - Beginner Part 1
Not currently offered

Learn Spanish New York Spanish 1.1- Beginner Part 2
Not currently offered

ABC Languages Private Spanish Lessons
Not currently offered

NYC Spanish
Corporate & Onsite Training