TEFL students at intermediate level, but can't converse

As some of you know, I teach English to supplement my income, it's a great job, I get to meet some very interesting people, and it feels great to help people learn my native language. English really is the world language now, so when a student is motivated enough to pay for private lessons you know they have a reason for staying the course.

My most recent student is an interesting case, a young woman whop is not a native Spaniard, in fact she is Asian and has lived in Spain for only couple of years, so even her Spanish is still at beginner/intermediate level.

But she's truly motivated to consolidate her Spanish, and to learn to speak English. One problem with the education systems in so many parts of the world is that students learn English at school, but the education system in their home country doesn't have enough competent speakers, so the focus becomes reading and writing.

My newest student is a case in point, she reads English well, her writing is good, but speaking poses problems for her. Not because she has an inadequate vocabulary, but simply because writing gives her time to think, she can use a dictionary, whereas speaking is more immediate, and she doesn't have the luxury of using a dictionary.

It's a common problem with Spanish and Asian students, probably also other nationalities, and maybe it doesn't just affect English students, but nevertheless it's a problem that needs to be dealt with reasonably quickly if I want her to remain motivated, and increase her confidence.

Sadly, this is a real world example of why private English tuition is so important. Students get the chance to practice speaking English, and in the case of my new student, I'll be taking at least 2-3 weeks to just let her talk, she's shy so in reality I'm going to have to ask her a lot of questions and give her time to formulate her answer, but without this I don't grammar revision would be very helpful.