CLTA qualified teacher - Immersion Spanish. Native speaker with 7+ years of experience teaching adults in cafés/office in central London.

Find out more about Maximo

• Do you speak this language fluently because of your origins or because a teacher inspired you to learn?

  I speak Spanish (Mexican Spanish and Castilian Spanish) because of my origins. I also speak fluent French after having lived an studied in France and in Belgium for half of my life.

• Can you name a living, historical or fictional character that you think is the emblematic representative of the language's culture?

  In modern times, the singer Rosalia is an emblematic representative of Spanish language, of its beauty, prose, energy and dynamism.
  
  Regarding the French-speaking culture, the singer Stromae is a perfect contemporary representation of a culture trying to catch up with the demands and the ideas of modern times yet not loosing its essence.

• Is there a typical word, phrase, tradition or behavior in the language that you particularly like?

  In Spanish language, the phrase "paso a paso" perfectly illustrates the patience, perseverance and calm that governs the spanish-speaking minds.
  
  In French, the word "l'esprit" denotes much more than "the soul". "L'esprit" is a state of mind, a way of thinking, a way of acting. It is a french way of being and seeing the world. Getting to feel what this word actually means in the language can be a very rewarding feeling on your path to fluency.

• Why does speaking this language matter to you?

  Speaking both Spanish and French matter to me as they represent and shape who I am, how I think and see the world. I am a big believer of the idea that the language we speak shapes the way we see the world. Being able to speak more than one language allows you to see the world from different perspectives. Now it's your turn to experience this.

• What is the main difficulty in learning this language and what can help the process of learning?

  Tenses, endings and conjugations are the most difficult aspect of both Spanish and French language. But with perseverance, motivation and a good teacher you have nothing to worry about!

• Provide a valuable anecdote related to your language learning or your days at school.

  When I was young I used to learn English as a foreign language at school. I liked studying grammar but that was not enough for getting me to speak. Later on, I started watching all kind of TV series in English and it was this immersion in the language that led me to properly speak English. Thus, from this personal experience, my Spanish and French lesson are always conversation-based.

• How has travel or a specific trip helped you to increase your skill and knowledge of the language?

  Travelling has allowed me to put into practice my knowledge of languages and to realise how enjoyable the process of communication (in a foreign language) can be.

• What makes you a Superprof in language?

  What makes me a Superprof in language is how my lessons are fully tailored to my client's needs. Organic yet client-focused conversational lessons are what you need to start your own journey learning a new language.