TEC Student of the Month Award

Warm and generous, Julie (“Julia”) brims with enthusiasm for learning Spanish and takes every opportunity to use her burgeoning skills and connect with Spanish speakers and learners of all walks of life. She is a dedicated and hard-working student with a special interest in deepening her knowledge of Latin American culture, and her travels have only whetted her thirst for discovering new places and peoples. Innately sociable and driven to practice, she not only frequently attends Tierra’s conversation nights and fiestas but also hosts her own bi-weekly Spanish conversation events, offering her home to friends and classmates as a special venue in which to get to know one another and exercise their speaking skills. We congratulate Julie for her boundlessly positive attitude and proactive determination, and feel lucky to count her as part of our community at Tierra!
 

A student who’s advanced with extraordinary speed, Steve (“Esteban”) embarked on his journey to learn Spanish just one year ago in a Beginner 1 course at Tierra and is now a Higher Intermediate student. Inquisitive and thirsty for knowledge, he spends sizable amounts of time studying Spanish outside of class and always takes advantage of his instructors’ expertise to ask pertinent questions and solidify his understanding. A doctor who’s now (semi) retired, he’s been able to apply his newly-acquired language skills to better serve his Spanish-speaking patients. A jokester at heart, he revels in the camaraderie established among classmates and misses no opportunity to test out his humor in Spanish. As he plans for a future immersion experience south of the border, we applaud Steve for his impressive drive to master the Spanish language in all its nuances.

With an infectiously upbeat attitude, Reed’s presence inspires all around him to adopt a rosier view of life. Since retiring from his career as a civil engineer, he has pursued learning the Spanish language with remarkable intent, utilizing a winning combination of group and private classes at Tierra, self-study, and immersion abroad. Motivated in part by his desire to explore the Spanish-speaking world, this year he enjoyed several weeks of studying Spanish in the Basque city of San Sebastián in northern Spain. Always up for a challenge, Reed is comfortable in environments that push his skill level and rises to the occasion with grace.  His enthusiasm for Spanish and commitment to learning shine through in every activity, assignment, and conversation, making Reed a model student we’re delighted to have in the Tierra community.