Learning Spanish: Classroom vs. independently
I've been reading in my "Pratice Makes Perfect" Spanish workbook, and in the past few days, I've covered about 4 topics. I thought to myself, "Wow. In school, it would have taken us 2 months to get through all of that! And I did it a few days." That got me thinking...is it better to learn Spanish independently or in a classroom?
Independently: When you are learning by yourself, you can go at your own pace. You don't have to spend extra time on a topic that you understand, and you can take more time to learn the more difficult topics. However, in a classroom, you can interact with other students. Sometimes, I find that other students have questions that I later benefit from.
Classroom: You are able to talk to other students and ask them questions. Your teacher will be there to explain the topics for you. However, you have to stay on schedule. Sometimes, you might feel like the class is going to slow, and other times, you might be like you're falling behind.
I think I like learning in the classroom better. Ultimately, I think the choice just depends on your own personality.
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Tell me what you think. 
33 Answers
I have learnt Spanish through a combination of private lessons and participating in one or two courses over the years but principally through native teachers teaching me privately .one to one. In addition to this I have travelled to Spain more than 7 times both to the south staying in a villa in Campo Amor south of Torrevieja, and to the north staying in Blanes, Pineda de Mar and Cellela
Learning Spanish through private lessons has many advantages and sone disadvantages (As I have already outlined on another post on this thread) but the opportunity to converse with native speakers is invalauble, whether gained in a Spanish speaking country or with natives in your own country.
Obviously you would pick up the language more rapidly when being fully immersed in their native environment with many other natives listening and the chance to interact with them on a regular basis but even learning from a native teacher in private lessons can be very beneficial and I think that this method is much better than simply listening to tapes and other forms of media, especially when you consider that receiving correction and guidance is possible with a teacher but not with most forms of media.
This is only my opinion gained from experience you are free to disagaree respectfully...as always 
Sonrisa, if there is one thing I have learned from this thread, it is the importance of "good" teachers 
... AND, every student is unique.
There seems to be a bit of conflict between institutional teachers and students here.
Yes, there are people who take up education for a living. They are very important, however I would like to mention people who are not professional teachers.
We all have teachers in our lives. Friends colleagues. Even strangers on the street. They are all teachers of sorts. In some aspect, you are a teacher too.
