Small vs Big: Experiences of Learning Spanish in Group Classes

Learning a new language is a fascinating journey that many people has considered at some point of their life. Spanish being within the top 3 most spoken languages in the world is a natural choice for many learners. In this article we want to analyze the difference between learning in small and big groups, as many students will need to make such choice when they want to start their learning journey.

Advantages of Learning Spanish in Small group classes

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1. Personalized attention: One of the biggest advantages of learning Spanish in a small group is the flexibility that your teacher will have to adapt to your needs. While both small and big groups follow a well-structured curriculum, in a small group class whenever there is something you don’t understand the teacher will spend the necessary time to make sure you can follow and master what is being taught so that you don’t’ get lost in class. This is essential for long term learning as most students are very likely to lose their motivation if they feel they can’t follow the pace.
2. Enhanced interaction: In a small Spanish group class, students will have many more chances to have direct interaction with the teacher to practise speaking skills with a native speaker which is the ultimate goal of learning a new language. You will also get the chance to interact with other classmates in a small group, making the learning process more effective. Finally students will be able to get feedback when they make mistakes and this will foster their confidence long term.
3. Stronger group dynamics: In smaller groups there are higher chances to develop stronger bonds between classmates. This will benefit the learners not only through their learning experience but also they will benefit from deeper connections and more collaboration between classmates. They will be able to more likely engage in other activities outside the classroom with the aim of practising the language or simply socializing.

Disadvantages of smaller groups

1. Cost concerns: Typically small group classes are not as cheap as the big group classes.
2. Limited diversity: You are less likely to meet similar minded people in smaller group classes due to the class capacity. If you want to get exposure to a wide range of people that have similar or very different mindset as yours, you are less likely to meet them in small groups.

Advantages of Learning in big group classes

1. Diverse learning environment: There is no doubt that big groups offer a diverse environment where different students can meet people from all walks of life. This diversity will expose students to a wider range of perspectives and styles which will be beneficial for their life outside the classroom.
2. Networking opportunities: For students that learning the language is not necessarily their main objective, big groups offer the opportunity to meet more people. This can be beneficial if you want to expand your professional contacts, broaden your cultural experiences and get to know people from different walks of life.
3. Big group activities: Such class environment enables students to create different teams to compete against each other and creates dynamics that are not possible in small groups.

Disadvantages of learning in big group classes

1. Limited personal attention: In large groups, the teacher will not have time to cater to specific needs of a student. Lessons become very standardized and there is no adaptation possible. This typically results in some students not being able to follow up the class. Also the teacher will not be able to correct students when they make mistakes making the learning process less effective.
2. Decreased speaking opportunities: In such classes students don’t have the chance to interact with native speakers like the teacher itself to practise real life situations. Generally there is a lack of speaking activities within the classroom which is typically the most important skill to practise and the most challenging one.
3. Classroom management: Given the groups are very large, teachers will not have any flexibility to adapt the curriculum to the needs of the classmates, as they are expected to cover certain topics in the given time-frame. If some students have interest to get more in depth on a topic, the teacher will not be able to adapt.

Choosing between learning Spanish in a small or big group finally depends on the personal case of each student. Budgeting constraints are typically the main factor that will push students to go for a big group class but this will affect the lesson quality and learning outcome of the lessons. The most important is to understand the advantages and disadvantages of each choice so that you can make an informed decision.

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David Cornadó Musté is a French and Spanish teacher with more than 15 years of teaching experience in Singapore and Hong Kong.