The "Usted" vs "Tú" dilemma: How do you help professional students decide? I’m curious about something. I see a lot of tutors (and textbooks) pushing the "Spanish is becoming more informal" narrative, encouraging students to use "Tú" almost immediately to sound friendly. As a lawyer, this honestly makes me cringe a little. In my world, if a student uses "tú" too early in a meeting or a negotiation, they don't sound "friendly"—they sound like they lack authority. I always tell my students: "Usted" is your shield. It’s much easier to drop the formality later than to apologize for being too casual. Am I being too rigid or "old school"? How do you guys handle this? Do you teach them to be "friendly" from day one, or do you prioritize the "Usted" safety net for business and legal contexts? I’d love to hear if I’m the only one still fighting this battle! #BusinessSpanish #LegalSpanish #ESP #ProfessionalSpanish #CulturalNuance #TeachingTips #SocioLinguistics #UstedVsTu