FAQs

We specialize in translations between American English and Mexican Spanish. 

We also accept documents written in any dialect of Spanish to be translated into English. However, we do not currently offer translations from English into other regional dialects of Spanish (such as Argentine, Caribbean, or European Spanish).

Yes. 

However, in the US, there is no official government agency that certifies translators or their work. When you request that a translation be certified, the translator provides a signed statement that affirms the accuracy and completeness of the translation. If you need a certified translation, just let us know when you place your request.

To see examples of medical documents that we translate, please click HERE.

To see examples of business documents that we translate, please click HERE.

To see examples of literary documents that we translate, please click HERE.

We provide basic formatting for clients on the Starter and Essential plans. This includes working with common file types like Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and PDFs. We do not offer formatting support for design tools such as Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, or Photoshop on these tiers.

If you're on the Professional plan, we can accommodate advanced formatting requests, including help with layouts, graphics integration, and working alongside your design team when needed.

We currently do not offer interpretation services. 

Translation means taking documents, forms and written content and converting them to another language; interpretation, on the other hand, happens in real time, such as during medical appointments, meetings and phone calls. At the moment, we only work with written materials.

Though turnaround time always depends on scope and length, most projects are delivered within 2 to 5 business days. 

Rush delivery and weekend/holiday delivery are available for an additional fee and subject to availability.

We create a shared Project for our clients in the project management site Asana. There you’ll be able to see status updates and due dates, as well as upload files, make requests and ask questions. 

This option is not available for all projects. Subject to SWAG approval.

The Glossary of Terms is a custom list of key words and phrases we build for your organization to ensure consistency across all translations. It includes preferred translations for industry-specific terms, brand language, and commonly used phrases—so everything sounds exactly the way you want it, every time. It will be located in a shared Google folder, accessible also through our shared Project in the project management site, Asana. 

This option is not available for all projects. Subject to SWAG approval.

Revisions refer to any edits made after the initial delivery—whether it’s correcting a term, adjusting tone, or clarifying phrasing. The number of revisions listed in your plan is how many rounds of changes we’ll make per project. One revision = one round of feedback and edits. Most clients don’t need more than one, but the option is there if you do.

Each video call is a 30-minute session you can use to review projects, ask questions, or plan upcoming translations. Whether you want to walk through edits together or get clarity on tone and terminology, it’s your time to use however you need. Calls are scheduled in advance and available via Zoom, Google Meet or Teams.

We offer two options:

• Per-word pricing for one-time or occasional projects — no long-term commitment required.
• Monthly retainer plans for ongoing translation needs — these include discounted rates, faster turnaround times, and added perks.

See our transparent pricing options in more detail by clicking HERE.

Yes. All retainer plans require a signed contract and a 3-month minimum commitment. After that, your plan will continue on a month-to-month basis.

Yes. Discounted annual pricing is available upon request for clients who prefer to pay up front. If you're interested in a full-year commitment, let us know and we’ll send over a custom quote.

All retainer plans require a 3-month minimum commitment. If you choose to cancel before the end of that period, a 50% fee will apply to the remaining balance of your contract.

After the initial 3-month term, your plan continues on a month-to-month basis and may be canceled at any time with 30 days’ written notice. No partial refunds are provided for unused word counts.

Yes. After the initial 3-month commitment, you can request to pause your plan for up to 3 months. During the pause, no new word count will be added, and no monthly fees will be charged.

To resume service, just give us 7 days’ notice. If the pause extends beyond 3 months, your plan will be considered cancelled and subject to a new agreement upon return.

Yes. Projects that require delivery within 48 hours, or that need to be completed on weekends or holidays, are subject to a 25% rush fee. This fee is calculated based on the standard per-word rate for your plan or project.

Rush requests are always subject to availability, so we recommend reaching out as early as possible if you’re on a tight deadline.

Yes. Any unused words will roll over for one additional month, giving you extra flexibility. After that, they expire. This policy helps you make the most of your plan while keeping things manageable on our end.

Literary translations are priced differently than our standard business or medical services. We offer two options:

• A flat fee plus a small royalty, or
• A no upfront cost model with a higher royalty share

These projects are long-term collaborative efforts, and pricing reflects that. For full details, please click HERE.

Yes. We stand by the accuracy and clarity of every translation we deliver. If you ever find an error or something doesn’t feel quite right, we’ll fix it at no additional cost, typically within two business days. Your satisfaction is our priority, and we’re committed to making sure every word works for you.

We take your privacy seriously. We never sell, share or misuse your personal or business information. All documents and communications are treated as confidential. For full details on how we protect your data, you can view our Privacy Policy HERE.

We can also sign an NDA for companies that require it.

Yes. We take HIPAA compliance seriously. We’ve completed formal HIPAA training through ProHIPAA, which is designed for Business Associates like translators who handle sensitive medical documents.

All files are treated as confidential, and we follow best practices for handling, storing, and transmitting protected health information (PHI). If you have specific compliance requirements, we're happy to discuss them.

Free or inexpensive tools like Google Translate or AI-based softwares can be helpful for getting the gist of a message. But when it comes to understanding context, being consistent, and getting support, AI is no match for a human translator.

Spanish lessons are a subscription. Students pay PER MONTH for the amount of classes they want PER WEEK. The price of lessons already factors in months with five weeks. To sign up for classes, please take a look at our subscription options by clicking HERE.

Classes are scheduled FIRST COME FIRST SERVE on the website

Once a student has signed up, you may book your classes as far as 6 months in advance. If you book more than the allotted number of classes per week, we will try and contact you to resolve the issue. Click HERE to schedule your classes.

Spanish With A Gringo has a 4 hour cancellation and rescheduling policy. 

This policy is very strict to ensure fairness with all students. Limited exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis and with professor written approval. If you choose to reschedule or cancel within the 4 hour window, you will be charged a $10 fee. You will also lose the class for that week. (E.g. If you are taking one class a week, and cancel 10 minutes before the class, you lose that class that week, and will have to wait until next week for your next class.)

If you know you're going to be late to class, please text or email the professor if possible (but dear God not if you're driving). At 10 minutes, the class is considered cancelled and the class cannot be made up.

If there are technical difficulties during the first thirty minutes of the lesson, a make-up lesson can be scheduled. The make-up lesson will last the duration of time missed (e.g. if the internet goes out 15 minutes into the lesson, a 45-minute make up lesson will be scheduled). 

If there are audio problems, a phone call can be made. But if there are video problems, a class will not be conducted solely via phone call. 

Remember, Profe Zacarías is a pretty understanding fella. Ask nicely and you may be surprised by the answer.

NO!

If you know you are going to miss a class, you are allowed to schedule an extra class the week prior or the week after. This is limited however to three hours of class per week; no student is permitted to take more than three hours of class per week.

Of course!

If you are going to miss several weeks of class, please pause your subscription by going to the student portal. You will receive access to this portal upon subscribing. Note that by pausing your subscription, you will lose access to everything, including, but not limited to, vocabulary, curriculum, discounts and challenges.

20% referral discount for BLANCO package.

30% referral discount for VERDE package.

40% referral discount for DORADO package.

If you refer my tutoring services to another client, and that client purchases a monthly subscription, they will receive a discount on their first month of classes. You will also receive that same discount on the next month of your subscription. The discount percentage depends on the EXISTING student’s current subscription level, not that of the NEW student.

Referral discounts may be repeated, but not aggregated. In other words, if you are on the VERDE package, every client you refer will mean another month with a 30% discount for you. But you will NOT be allowed to take 60% off your next month if you refer two clients in one month.

If you leave a kind review of Spanish With A Gringo on our website and other desired sources (such as LinkedIn, Lessons.com, etc.), we will happily give you a 10% discount on your next month's subscription.

If you give us a shout out on your social media page (minimum 50 friends/followers), we will give you a 10% discount on your next month's subscription for that too!

These discounts can absolutely be combined for a 20% total discount! They cannot, however, be combined with another discount, whether it be a referral or some other discount on your subscription.

Administered by the Language Testing Institute (LTI), the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) is a 20-30 minute virtual conversation between you and an avatar with the goal of determining your current level of Spanish speaking proficiency. If you want to take this test on your own, we definitely recommend it—this is how Profe Zacarías got certified!

If you are on the VERDE or DORADO subscription package, once a year, you can take this exam paid for by Spanish With A Gringo! This way, students can get an accurate idea of where their level of Spanish is and see if and how they are improving. Results from these tests have a lot of depth, so students and Profe Zacarías will know where and on what to focus for the next round.

To clarify, the only way a student is eligible to take the Oral Proficiency Exam paid for by Spanish With A Gringo is by taking 12 consecutive months of Spanish classes on the VERDE or DORADO subscription level. However, students may choose to add on this benefit by paying the additional monthly fee of $15 when registering for a subscription. For more information about the test, click HERE.