Spanish lessons for nonprofit and community organization staff
Become Fluent teaches Spanish to people who work in education, health and community services, including at organizations in California that serve Latino communities. Lessons are online, one-on-one or in small groups, and built around the conversations you have with the families you serve. Individuals can book for themselves, and organizations can book for their staff. Your tutor has 15 years of teaching experience and an MA in Romance Languages.
Who it is for
Education
Teachers, aides and program staff who talk with students and families: welcoming a family, explaining a program and following up.
Health and wellness
Community health workers and clinic-based staff: asking how someone is feeling, explaining the next step and checking understanding.
Community services
Case managers, advocates and intake staff who help people find services: asking what they need, explaining options and filling out forms together.
Situations you will practise
| Situation | What you say | What you hear |
|---|---|---|
| Welcoming and intake | Greet someone, ask what they need and take down their details. | A need described in the person's own words, often fast and informal. |
| Explaining services | Describe a program, who it is for and what to do next, in plain language. | Questions about eligibility, cost, timing and documents. |
| Forms and appointments | Walk through a form, set up an appointment and confirm it. | Corrections, worries and requests to repeat. |
| Phone calls and follow-up | Call a family back, leave a clear message and confirm details. | A voice without gestures, at the speed of a real call. |
| School and health conversations | Talk about a child's day at school, a health concern or a referral. | Concerns, family context and everyday words for school and health. |
| Sensitive conversations | Listen, show respect and ask carefully about difficult subjects. | Emotion, hesitation and stories told out of order. |
Sample dialogue: a family visits a community organization
| Speaker | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Staff member | Buenos días. Bienvenida. ¿En qué le podemos ayudar hoy? | Good morning. Welcome. How can we help you today? |
| Parent | Necesito información sobre clases para mis hijos. | I need information about classes for my children. |
| Staff member | Con gusto. ¿Cuántos años tienen sus hijos? | Of course. How old are your children? |
| Parent | Tienen siete y diez años. | They are seven and ten. |
| Staff member | Muy bien. Voy a explicarle los programas que tenemos. | Very good. I am going to explain the programs we have. |
| Parent | ¿Tengo que pagar algo? | Do I have to pay anything? |
| Staff member | Le explico las opciones. Primero necesito su nombre y un número de teléfono, por favor. | I will explain the options. First I need your name and a phone number, please. |
| Parent | Me llamo Carmen López. Mi teléfono es el 555-0142. | My name is Carmen López. My phone number is 555-0142. |
| Staff member | Gracias. La llamo mañana para confirmar la cita. | Thank you. I will call you tomorrow to confirm the appointment. |
A 10-session outline
- Assessment and goals. Your level, your role and the situations you meet at work.
- Welcoming and introductions. Greetings, names and putting someone at ease.
- Asking about needs. Open questions and follow-up questions.
- Explaining programs and services. Plain-language descriptions and next steps.
- Forms, documents and appointments. Going through a form and confirming a time.
- Phone calls and follow-up. Understanding and leaving clear messages.
- School and health conversations. Everyday words for school, health and family.
- Sensitive conversations. Listening, showing respect and asking carefully.
- Regional variation and cultural context. How Spanish differs between communities, and why it matters.
- A full simulated day. A set of conversations in a row, with feedback and a plan for the next sessions.
Your plan is adjusted to your role and your level after the first lesson.
How it works
- Tell us about your role, or your team's roles, and who you serve.
- Your tutor assesses each person's level.
- Each person receives a plan built around their work.
- Lessons are online, one-on-one or in small groups.
Individuals can book for themselves, and organizations can book for their staff. Sliding-scale rates are available. Ask when you book your free trial lesson.
Frequently asked questions
Can my organization pay for staff Spanish lessons?
Yes. Individuals can book for themselves, and organizations can book for their staff. Sliding-scale rates are available. Ask when you book a free 30-minute trial lesson.
Do you teach teams, or only individuals?
Both. Lessons can be one-on-one or in small groups, built around the roles of the people in the group.
Are these lessons interpreter or translation training?
No. The lessons are language training so that you can talk with the people you serve. They are not an interpreter or translator qualification, and they do not replace a qualified interpreter when one is needed.
Your tutor
- Ross Torres, founder of Become Fluent
- 15 years of teaching experience
- MA in Romance Languages, University of New Orleans
- Certificate in Spanish-English legal interpretation, San Francisco State University
- Native English and Spanish speaker
These lessons are language training. They are not an interpreter or translator qualification, legal advice or a clinical qualification.
Book a free 30-minute trial lesson
Tell us about your role and the people you serve. Your tutor will plan the first lessons around them.
Book a free 30-minute trial lesson