Mi tutora dice que una columna estrecha ayuda a leer más deprisa, pero a mí me gusta ver el índice en el centro.

Because tutora is the feminine form of tutor.

In Spanish, many nouns for people change ending depending on gender:

• tutor = male tutor/supervisor
• tutora = female tutor/supervisor

So mi tutora means the speaker’s tutor is a woman.

Also notice that mi does not change for masculine/feminine singular nouns:

• mi tutor
• mi tutora

but it does change for number:

• mi tutora
• mis tutoras

Dice que means says that.

• dice = he/she says
• que = that

So:

• Mi tutora dice que... = My tutor says that...

In Spanish, que is very commonly used to introduce a reported statement, just like that in English.

Both are possible, but una columna estrecha is the normal, neutral order.

In Spanish, adjectives usually come after the noun:

• una columna estrecha = a narrow column
• un libro interesante = an interesting book

If you put the adjective before the noun, it often sounds more literary, expressive, or stylistically marked:

• una estrecha columna

So in everyday Spanish, una columna estrecha is the expected form.

Because it agrees with columna, which is a feminine noun.

Agreement in Spanish means adjectives change to match the noun in gender and number:

• una columna estrecha
• dos columnas estrechas

Even though columna ends in -a and is feminine, remember that gender in Spanish belongs to the noun itself, and the adjective must match it.

Because the verb ayudar is often followed by a + infinitive.

So:

• ayuda a leer = helps to read / helps one read

This is a very common structure:

• ayuda a estudiar
• ayuda a entender
• me ayuda a dormir

In English, we may or may not include to. In Spanish, the a is normally needed here.

Here más modifies deprisa, so it means more quickly / faster.

• deprisa = quickly
• más deprisa = more quickly / faster

Spanish often uses más + adverb to make a comparative:

• más deprisa = faster
• más lentamente = more slowly
• más fácilmente = more easily

There is no que here because nothing is explicitly stated after it. The idea is general: a narrow column helps you read faster.

If you wanted to compare two things directly, you could say:

• ...ayuda a leer más deprisa que una columna ancha
  = ...helps you read faster than a wide column

They are similar, but not exactly the same in form.

• deprisa is an adverb: quickly
• rápido is basically an adjective: fast/quick

In everyday speech, Spanish speakers often also use rápido adverbially:

• leer más deprisa
• leer más rápido

Both are very common and natural. In Spain, deprisa is especially frequent.

So in this sentence, más deprisa means faster.

Because a mí adds emphasis or contrast.

• me gusta = I like
• a mí me gusta = as for me / I, personally, like

The sentence contrasts two opinions:

• Mi tutora dice...
• pero a mí me gusta...

So a mí helps underline that the speaker’s preference is different from the tutor’s view.

This doubling is very common in Spanish:

• A mí me gusta
• A ti te gusta
• A él le gusta

The indirect object pronoun (me) is still required, even when the stressed form (a mí) is present.

It may feel repetitive to an English speaker, but in Spanish it is normal.

With gustar, the pronoun is essential:

• me gusta
• te gusta
• le gusta

The phrase a mí is not replacing me. It is adding emphasis, clarification, or contrast.

So:

• Me gusta ver el índice... = I like to see the index...
• A mí me gusta ver el índice... = I like to see the index..., as opposed to someone else

This kind of pronoun doubling is very common in Spanish, especially with gustar and similar verbs.

Because with gustar, the thing that is liked is the grammatical subject.

In this sentence, what is pleasing to the speaker is:

• ver el índice en el centro

That whole infinitive phrase functions as a singular idea, so Spanish uses gusta:

• Me gusta leer
• Me gusta viajar
• Me gusta ver el índice en el centro

Compare:

• Me gusta el libro = I like the book
• Me gustan los libros = I like books

So it is gusta because the subject is singular: the action ver el índice en el centro.

Because after gustar, Spanish often uses an infinitive to say that you like doing something.

• Me gusta leer = I like reading / I like to read
• Me gusta estudiar = I like studying / I like to study
• Me gusta ver el índice en el centro = I like seeing the index in the centre

So ver is the infinitive to see.

Here índice most likely means index or table of contents, depending on context.

Spanish índice can mean several things, including:

• an index in a book
• a table of contents
• an indicator or measure
• the index finger

In this sentence, because it talks about reading and layout, it probably refers to a page feature such as an index or contents section.

Because the stress falls on the first syllable: ÍN-di-ce.

Spanish accent marks often show where the stress goes when it does not follow the regular default pattern.

Without getting too technical, the written accent tells you that índice is pronounced with stress on the í.

This also helps distinguish pronunciation clearly for learners.

It means in the centre or in the middle.

• en = in
• el centro = the centre / the middle

So:

• ver el índice en el centro = to see the index in the centre

This probably refers to where the index appears on the page or screen.

Because the sentence is describing location, not movement toward a place.

• en el centro = in the centre
• al centro = to the centre

Here the speaker likes seeing the index already located there, so en el centro is the natural choice.

Compare:

• Está en el centro = It is in the centre
• Lo movieron al centro = They moved it to the centre

Pero means but and introduces a contrast.

The two ideas are:

• the tutor says a narrow column helps reading speed
• the speaker personally prefers seeing the index in the centre

So pero marks that contrast very clearly:

• ..., pero a mí me gusta... = ..., but I like...

Yes.

The main present-tense forms are:

• dice = says
• ayuda = helps
• gusta = likes / is pleasing

The infinitives are:

• leer = to read
• ver = to see

So the sentence expresses a general opinion and a present preference, not a past event.

Yes. Más rápido would also sound natural.

So these are both possible:

• ayuda a leer más deprisa
• ayuda a leer más rápido

In Spain, deprisa is very common, but rápido is also widely used in everyday speech.

There actually is an article: el.

• ver el índice = to see the index

Spanish often uses the definite article where English does too, and in this case it refers to a specific item the speaker has in mind.

So el índice is completely normal.

Yes, Spanish word order is flexible, especially with emphasis.

For example:

• Pero a mí me gusta ver el índice en el centro.
• Pero me gusta a mí ver el índice en el centro.
• A mí, me gusta ver el índice en el centro.

The original version is the most neutral and natural here. It places the contrast clearly after pero.

A few key ones:

• Possessive adjective: mi tutora
• Reported statement with que: dice que
• Noun + adjective order: columna estrecha
• Verb + a + infinitive: ayuda a leer
• Comparative adverb: más deprisa
• Contrast with pero: ..., pero...
• Emphatic/dislocated pronoun with gustar: a mí me gusta
• Infinitive as subject of gustar: ver el índice en el centro

It is a very useful sentence because it combines several common Spanish patterns in a natural way.