When learning a language is a native speaker better than someone who lived in the country short time?

Question

I have been offered help learning Spanish from 2 people. One is a native speaker and the other did study abroad for 5 months. Is one better than the other?

How much should I pay per hour for this teachings?

Answer 1

The native speaker is only good if s/he can explain to you the language in your own language.

Answer 2

The native speaker by far. And I wouldn't worry if their English was good, bad or otherwise. You can learn grammar rules and a little bit about the language from a good book. But the native speaker will teach you correct pronunciation, won't make mistakes and is much better in the long run.

Answer 3

The native speaker could be better when it comes to pronunciation, idioms, and advanced knowledge of the language. But unless that person has an equal knowledge of English, he/she is not going to be very good at predicting what difficulties you'll encounter and how to overcome them. In that specific department, a native English speaker who has mastered Spanish will do a better job.

I do have to admit that 5 months doesn't seem to be enough for someone to master a language, unless that person has been studying said language for quite a while and then spent 5 months abroad.

Answer 4

I've just said this in my previous answer.
I have no idea why natives like to use so dabd their own language. If you are choose the native, ask him to use ALWAYS proper Spanish (by this, I mean using accent mark, question marks at the begining, recognizing the use of v and b, correct usage of tenses, et., etc., etc.). Unless you want to end up with a slum native-ish Spanish.
If the other one had a five month period of learning, I doubt he knows enough.
So, baiscaly, if the native is an average speaker of his language, and you have only those two options, you are doomed.

Face-to-face teaching? I have never done that. Only via MSN. And I haven't charged anything.

Answer 5

Of course the native speaker is going to be a better teacher. 5 months is not enough to learn a language and be able to teach it to someone else.

Answer 6

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Answer 7

The native speaker if he/she knows English or your language and culture really well.

Answer 8

i find that learning from a native is much better.. they should know the exact meaning and teach u how to pronounce it ..
gd luck

edit:
i dont think 5 months is enuff for a person to master a language well .. so the person u mention mite not have enuff knowledge to actually teach u everything

Answer 9

nope. except the native speaker have more experience w/ the culture, but both can be equally well in learning how to read,write, and speak the language

Answer 10

the native speaker,the second one could work to if he/she is an ace