TEC Student of the Month Award

Since starting out in a Beginner 1 class at Tierra a year and a half ago, Dane has been wholly dedicated to his Spanish studies and has made great strides! Motivated to study Spanish by his love of travel and desire to challenge himself to learn new things, he seized the opportunity to practice his skills this year when he made a trip to Spain. Analytical in nature, Dane tends to ask the questions that coax out shades of meaning and benefit the whole class. He is warm and kind and clearly enjoys building relationships with his classmates. We are honored to count Dane among our amazing community of students and look forward to seeing him cheerfully continue on his learning journey.

Since starting in a Beginner 1 course over a year ago, Emmett has been extremely dedicated to his Spanish studies. A registered nurse who works down the street from Tierra at Providence Portland hospital, he comes to Spanish class after working a 12-hour shift, yet he eagerly participates and rarely misses a class. He has multiple motivations for learning Spanish, including his love of travel, dream to be bilingual, and desire to communicate with his Spanish-speaking patients. With a dry sense of humor and natural empathy, he is a kind and supportive classmate who clearly enjoys the camaraderie built in group classes. We are honored to count Emmett among our amazing student community at Tierra and look forward to continuing to see his skills blossom as he advances on in his learning journey.

Full of energy and enthusiasm, Astro’s passion for learning Spanish has only grown since starting at the Beginner 2 level in the fall of 2024. Originally motivated to study Spanish by his desire to travel and perhaps live in South America someday, he has discovered that interacting with Spanish speakers in their native language is a powerful way to connect with people and make them feel valued. An animated student who enjoys building friendships with his classmates, Astro contributes to maintaining a positive vibe and a notable sense of camaraderie in his cohort. Someone who dives into Spanish learning by immersing himself in music, Spanish language television, and conversations with strangers, he is a great example of how getting the most practice possible boosts the learning process. We are honored to count Astro among our inspiring student community and look forward to continuing to see him reach for his dreams and beyond.