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TEC Student of the Month Award

January 2016 - Marjorie Taylor

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 12:10 — admin


With her joyful, easy-going approach to learning Spanish, Marjorie is a case in point that attitude means everything when it comes to learning a foreign language. In the nearly two years that she's studied at Tierra, she's achieved great progress through her diligent dedication to her studies, willingness to take on challenges, and embrace of building skills one step at a time. Kind and encouraging, Marjorie's notable patience with herself and with her classmates inspires those who study with her to let go of the fear of making mistakes and enjoy the learning process to the fullest. As her main motivation is her eagerness to travel, we look forward to seeing Marjorie turn her dreams into reality and use her Spanish skills abroad!

 

December 2015 - Andrew Swan

Sat, 12/05/2015 - 02:16 — admin


With his affable nature and penchant for humor, Andrew’s participation in Spanish class helps to create a fun learning environment, full of laughter and camaraderie. A notably dedicated student, he began at Tierra in our Beginner Review & Practice level and, through serious commitment to his twice-weekly courses, has advanced to become a Higher Intermediate student in less than a year! Always present, always on time, and always extra-prepared, Andrew ekes time out of his busy schedule to take advantage of his Spanish studies to the fullest. With dreams of extended travel, we’re certain his impressive progress is only the beginning of a Spanish-learning journey that will take him far!

November 2015 - Erin Holroyd

Fri, 10/30/2015 - 12:55 — admin


With an attitude as positive as they come and boundless motivation, Erin’s joy of learning is truly contagious. Inspired to study Spanish by her travels to Mexico, her sincere interest in Latin American culture and making connections with native Spanish speakers have driven her to make swift progress in her studies and take advantage of every opportunity to practice. A meticulous, detail-oriented student, Erin is determined to attain a solid understanding of every structure studied and dedicated to spending time outside of class building her skills. Her warmth, humor, and extraordinary patience with herself and others render her a pleasure to teach and a sterling companion to her classmates. We are thrilled to have Erin as a student at Tierra and excited to watch her follow her dreams wherever they may lead!

October 2015 - Candace Jensen

Fri, 10/02/2015 - 00:45 — admin


Spunky and fun, Candace’s refreshing approach to life and language learning boosts the spirits of everyone around her. Her tremendous dedication and commitment have paid off as she’s taken leaps and bounds in her Spanish abilities in under two years. Having completed her university studies in German, Candace’s appreciation of language and culture runs deep and she relishes opportunities to attend concerts, plays, and other cultural events in Spanish. The versatility she’s gained by wearing many hats in her professional life and exploring a wide range of interests from gardening and vegan baking to playing the piano surely informs her supportive attitude as a classmate. We’re grateful to count Candace as part of our community at Tierra!

 

September 2015 - Shawn Barkdull

Sat, 09/05/2015 - 14:26 — admin

 

Through impressive devotion to her twice-weekly Spanish classes, Shawn has made astounding progress in under a year. Inspired to learn the language by her love of travel, crossing Spain from north to south fired up her passion to study Spanish and she's since enjoyed practicing her burgeoning skills on a trip to Mexico City, Puebla, and Oaxaca. With a quick wit and kind heart, Shawn is a gem of student, helping to stimulate real, intelligent conversation in Spanish and create a supportive atmosphere where it's safe to make mistakes. We look forward to seeing Shawn continue to zoom toward fluency and explore all the foreign lands she can dream of.

August 2015 - Mary Ellen Hamilton

Thu, 08/06/2015 - 16:15 — admin

With joyful determination, Mary Ellen has transformed herself into a Spanish speaker in just under two years! Having started out in our Beginner 1 course, her incredible drive has fueled her swift progress which is an inspiration to classmates and instructors alike. Her passion for learning is contagious, as is her kindness, generosity, and infinite patience, attributes which help to create a welcoming and supportive atmosphere in any class she joins. Since beginning her studies, she’s had the opportunity to travel to Spain and Mexico and to volunteer in Nicaragua, milking her experiences abroad to the fullest in her pursuit of authentic connection and deep cultural understanding. We are grateful for Mary Ellen’s continued dedication to her Spanish learning journey and look forward to continuing to watch her achieve her lofty goals.

July 2015 - Yu-Jen Tai

Thu, 07/02/2015 - 17:01 — admin

Brimming with enthusiasm, Yu-Jen is the picture of a dedicated student whose extraordinary effort pays off with great progress. Originally from Taiwan, she is a true polyglot: along with her native language of Mandarin Chinese, Yu-Jen speaks Cantonese, Taiwanese, English, and now, Spanish! A genuine love of languages has fueled this impressive language acquisition and her organized, methodical nature has paved the road to her success. With a warm smile and great sense of humor, she is a kind and supportive classmate who sets a cheerful mood in any class she’s in. We’re certain that with her stellar study skills and desire to communicate with native speakers, Yu-Jen will achieve great heights in her Spanish learning pursuits and we are delighted to have her as part of our community. Click here for a profile on this exemplary student.

June 2015 - Bethany Moreland

Thu, 06/04/2015 - 02:49 — admin

Bright-eyed and filled with enthusiasm, Bethany approaches learning the Spanish language with focus and delight. Having started out at Tierra in Beginner 1, she’s shown incredible dedication to pursuing her fluency goals. Inquisitive and thorough, Bethany always ensures she understands the material being taught and asks opportune questions which help the whole class digest the concepts studied.  In her work at a school for deaf children, she’s taken advantage of her new language skills to engage and get to know Spanish-speaking parents. Making swift progress, she demonstrates that having a great attitude and serious motivation are the true keys to success! We wish Bethany, as well as all local educators and youth, a very Happy Summer Break! Click here for a profile on this exemplary student.

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