Your child may need homeschool Spanish tutors to become truly fluent in the language. It's worthwhile to find a good tutor for your child, as Spanish is a widely-spoken language and is particularly useful to many Americans and other native English speakers.
Even in subjects that you are qualified to teach your child, assistance from a tutor can help you avoid homeschool burnout, something homeschool families face occasionally.
Finding Qualified Homeschool Spanish Tutors
Before searching for a Spanish tutor, you should first find out (if you don't already know) whether your child is studying the dialect of Spanish spoken in Spain, or whether they are learning Mexican Spanish. Spaniards tend to use more formal words than do Mexicans, and because the countries are several thousand miles apart, there are other disparities between the dialects. Once you have decided which form of Spanish your child is learning, you will be better prepared to find a qualified tutor.
Internet Resources
If you live in a state that borders Mexico, like California or Arizona, you can readily find homeschool Spanish tutors on Craigslist or other local Internet community forums. Just be sure to check references and screen the tutor carefully. The tutor should either be available to tutor your child in your home or in a school, library, or office setting where other responsible adults are present to ensure your child's safety.
Commercial Tutoring Centers
In areas where Spanish tutors may be less common, commercial tutoring centers such as Sylvan, usually offer foreign language tutors. While commercial tutoring can be expensive, it is usually an efficient way for your student to learn proper grammar and syntax.
Public Schools
Your local school district may allow your child to attend Spanish language classes at a public school while concurrently attending homeschool. Many community colleges also allow middle school and high school students to enroll in courses. This is a good option for older, well-behaved kids who learn quickly, but can be intimidating for younger children or kids who are socially insecure.
Public schools and local colleges are also good places to search for your child's homeschool Spanish tutor. Simply call the school registrar's office and ask them for a referral to a second year or higher Spanish student, or ask them to post a tutoring ad for you on their bulletin board.
Alternatives to Formal Tutoring
Many local homeschool associations offer forums or meetings for members where homeschool parents can meet to trade resources. You may be able to find a Spanish speaking member who is willing to tutor your child in Spanish in exchange for English tutoring for her child.
Your older homeschooled children can also offer to babysit for a Spanish speaking family in exchange for tutoring. This option has the added benefit of providing an immersion environment for your child and real life exposure to everyday Spanish. Immersion is considered by many language experts to be the preferable method for learning a foreign language. Practical application is nearly always a faster, more thorough way to learn a skill than theory and practice alone.
If you try all of these avenues and still have trouble finding a Spanish tutor or alternative who fits your child's needs or your budget, search for another Spanish homeschool curriculum before you give up. Your local library may even offer free access to Rosetta Stone software for its members, as many libraries now do. If your library does not provide this service, they may know of another resource that does.
A foreign language is an essential part of your child's homeschool education. You are providing your child with an invaluable life skill by teaching her a foreign language, and as long as she is eager and willing to learn, you can find a way to help her become fluent in Spanish.
