--- title: Blog | OCTB.us | Vladimir Kovin --- [![Overcome the Barrier](https://www.octb.us/hs-fs/hubfs/logo-blue.png?width=2839&height=439&name=logo-blue.png "Overcome the Barrier")](https://www.octb.us) - [Default HubSpot Blog](https://www.octb.us/default-blog) # OCTB Blog - [All Articles](https://www.octb.us/blogg) - [Resources](https://www.octb.us/blogg/tag/resources) - [Spanish grammar](https://www.octb.us/blogg/tag/spanish-grammar) - [Hispanic culture](https://www.octb.us/blogg/tag/hispanic-culture) - [Resources for kids](https://www.octb.us/blogg/tag/resources-for-kids) ![](https://www.octb.us/hubfs/www.OCTB.us.png) [Spanish grammar](https://www.octb.us/blogg/tag/spanish-grammar) ### [Why studying Spanish with OCTB is so cheap?](https://www.octb.us/blogg/why-studying-spanish-with-octb-is-so-cheap) Apr 28, 2022, 5:17:44 PM ### They are not actually! We intentionally keep our prices low to make classes more affordable because we know that language learning takes a long time (if anyone tells you otherwise they are lying to you). And no matter how great is the tutor, the app or the method you are using to learn a foreign language you will not feel like you've learned much after just 10 classes or so. As a matter of fact the opposite usually is true: the more you learn the more you feel like you don't know anything. Sadly it's just the nature of learning a foreign language. If we charge an arm and a leg, let's say $20 an hour, after taking 10 hours ($200 in total) you will most likely quit. > [@octb\_spanish\_classes](https://www.tiktok.com/@octb_spanish_classes) Is Overcome the Barrier a scam? Why are the lessons so cheap? Vladimir Kovin, the founder of OCTB, clears up all those questions🇪🇸 [#spanish](https://www.tiktok.com/tag/spanish) [#spanishlesson](https://www.tiktok.com/tag/spanishlesson) [#spanishclass](https://www.tiktok.com/tag/spanishclass) [#languagelearning](https://www.tiktok.com/tag/languagelearning) [#spanishonline](https://www.tiktok.com/tag/spanishonline) [#spanishtok](https://www.tiktok.com/tag/spanishtok) [#tiktokpartner](https://www.tiktok.com/tag/tiktokpartner) [#fypage](https://www.tiktok.com/tag/fypage) [♬ original sound - octb spanish classes](https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7091468563474549547) [Read More](https://www.octb.us/blogg/why-studying-spanish-with-octb-is-so-cheap) ![](https://www.octb.us/hubfs/sebastian-herrmann-jzTQVxCyKYs-unsplash.jpg) [Spanish grammar](https://www.octb.us/blogg/tag/spanish-grammar) ### [Biggest reason why it’s taking you so long to learn Spanish](https://www.octb.us/blogg/biggest-reason-why-its-taking-you-so-long-to-learn-spanish-or-any-other-foreign-language) Apr 21, 2022, 7:13:27 PM ### Short answer is YOU. No, I don't mean because you tend to be lazy or procrastinate (that too of course 😅), what I mean is that you cannot get out of your own way: > [@octb\_spanish\_classes](https://www.tiktok.com/@octb_spanish_classes) Vladimir Kovin, founder of OCTB, shares his thoughts on why it's taking you so long to learn Spanish🇪🇸 [#spanishlesson](https://www.tiktok.com/tag/spanishlesson) [#spanishclass](https://www.tiktok.com/tag/spanishclass) [#languagelearning](https://www.tiktok.com/tag/languagelearning) [#spanishtutor](https://www.tiktok.com/tag/spanishtutor) [#spanishtok](https://www.tiktok.com/tag/spanishtok) [#spanishforbeginners](https://www.tiktok.com/tag/spanishforbeginners) [#spanishonline](https://www.tiktok.com/tag/spanishonline) [#learnspanish](https://www.tiktok.com/tag/learnspanish) [#fypage](https://www.tiktok.com/tag/fypage) [♬ original sound - octb spanish classes](https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7090184282664291118) [Read More](https://www.octb.us/blogg/biggest-reason-why-its-taking-you-so-long-to-learn-spanish-or-any-other-foreign-language) ![problem with foreign language teaching in K12](https://www.octb.us/hubfs/OvercomeTheBarrier_May2020/Images/file2.jpg) ### [Problem with foreign language teaching in K12](https://www.octb.us/blogg/post/can-a-foreign-language-be-learned-in-the-classroom) Jun 4, 2020, 2:09:31 PM The odds are stacked against the teacher. The kids enter the classroom speaking all day in their native language and, no matter how hard the teacher tries, it's impossible to switch that off. Students also don't understand why they need to learn something they are never planning to use in their daily life. On top of it, English is much easier to learn compared to other languages that have conjugations. So, by the time an average US student wraps his mind around what conjugations really are, they are edging towards the tail end of the second year. In the end the one-to-many #classroom setting is not an effective way to learn a #foreign\_language. [Read More](https://www.octb.us/blogg/post/can-a-foreign-language-be-learned-in-the-classroom) ![language exchanges amongst students worldwide](https://www.octb.us/hubfs/OvercomeTheBarrier_May2020/Images/8cb8a5_c74a23b403d04e289df84a4e797a7f86_mv2_d_5100_3404_s_4_2.jpeg) ### [An EdTech program for foreign language classes](https://www.octb.us/blogg/edtech-in-foreign-language-classes) Jun 4, 2020, 2:09:09 PM We've talked [here](https://www.octb.us/post/peer-to-peer_in_k16) about what is missing in foreign language classes and we demonstrated that the one-to-many classroom setting is not ideal for the students to develop their speaking skills in a foreign language...and even less so in a virtual classroom. Now with a vast number of schools across the U.S. going online until September 1st 2020, foreign language teachers are increasingly incorporating EdTech in their teaching. [Read More](https://www.octb.us/blogg/edtech-in-foreign-language-classes) ![Foreign language teachers should stay in the target language 90% of class time](https://www.octb.us/hubfs/OvercomeTheBarrier_May2020/Images/8cb8a5_f0f20143244641f69bf1dca34d80074a_mv2_d_6000_4000_s_4_2.jpg) ### [Teaching in the target language 90% of the time!](https://www.octb.us/blogg/post/staying-in-the-target-language-90-of-the-time) Jun 4, 2020, 2:05:01 PM When a foreign language teacher tries to stay in the target language 90% of the class time, students become immersed in the target language. Although this is difficult to achieve, and although the native language will be required in certain cases, this immersion is a necessary part of teaching a foreign language, as confirmed by this [TELC article](https://www.telc.net/en/about-telc/news/detail/tips-for-teaching-a-foreign-language.html). The real problem arises when the students are not exposed to the target language 90% of the time - the learning gains then become minimal. Moreover, students can simply tune out the teacher or their fellow students when they are not actively engaged. [Read More](https://www.octb.us/blogg/post/staying-in-the-target-language-90-of-the-time) ![](https://www.octb.us/hubfs/OvercomeTheBarrier_May2020/Images/file.jpg) ### [The future of foreign languages in K16](https://www.octb.us/blogg/peer-to-peer-foreign-language-in-k16) Jun 4, 2020, 1:34:55 PM In 2019, the OCTB corporate language training program took on a new direction: that of bringing student language exchanges to #foreign\_language classes in K12 and K16. We envisioned high school and college students across the world teaching each other their native language, at the price of an app. This vision is becoming a reality (click [here](https://bit.ly/3fDJXDP) to find out more), even more so now with the ongoing trend of virtual classrooms and E-Learning in K16 education. [Read More](https://www.octb.us/blogg/peer-to-peer-foreign-language-in-k16) ![Applying comprehensible input to foreign language classes](https://www.octb.us/hubfs/OvercomeTheBarrier_May2020/Images/8cb8a5_c7a4d8a52df94c45be1ad6f26b6ac17d_mv2_d_5760_3840_s_4_2.jpg) ### [Impact of Comprehensible input without Personalized Learning](https://www.octb.us/blogg/post/impact-of-comprehensible-input-without-personalized-content) Aug 9, 2019, 1:13:00 AM As we described in one of our [**previous posts**](https://www.octb.us/blog/post/can-a-foreign-language-be-learned-in-the-classroom)**,** teachers are fighting an uphill battle in the classroom because of the one-to-many ratio of students to teachers is not conducive to learning a foreign language. Comprehensible input is a  technique often applied to foreign language teaching. Although this technique has many benefits, it has one major flaw: the lack of personalized content when applied to a the classroom setting. Before we denounce it, let's look at what "comprehensible input" really means! [Read More](https://www.octb.us/blogg/post/impact-of-comprehensible-input-without-personalized-content) [![Overcome the Barrier](https://www.octb.us/hs-fs/hubfs/logo-blue.png?width=2839&height=439&name=logo-blue.png "Overcome the Barrier")](https://www.octb.us) - Studio - Schedule - Classes - Membership Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Instagram 31 Woodrow Drive | Ames, NY 98910 103.892.1002 info@vitalitystudios.com Copyright © 2026 Overcome the Barrier, INC. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy. Terms and Conditions.