May 2012 - Danielle McGurrin

Vivacious and friendly, Danielle's positive energy contributes to creating a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere in any class she joins. She is commendably determined to learn Spanish despite the demands of her academic career and is committed to her studies, often taking a private class when she's been forced to miss class. Having relished the opportunity to communicate with native speakers and explore the city-scapes and volcano-dotted countryside of Guatemala, her adventurous spirit and genuine desire to learn about Latin American culture fuel her dreams of further travels south. Always actively engaged in the class material and quick to ask questions, Danielle embodies the enthusiasm and drive that we at Tierra love to see.
 

Name:  Danielle McGurrin
Occupation: Criminology professor
Time Studying at Tierra:  since Sept. 2010 (1 year and a half)

1) Why are you studying Spanish?

"I am studying Spanish for both professional and personal development. I teach at an urban campus that values cultural and ethnic diversity and it's important to me that I take part in that. I studied abroad in Mexico for three months when I was an undergraduate student in the mid-1990's and I miss having that level of Spanish language competency in both written and oral communication as well as reading comprehension. One of my short term goals in studying Spanish is so that I can teach a summer course at the National University of Rosario which has a study abroad program set up through PSU. I'd like to facilitate for my students the same extraordinary international educational opportunities that were provided for me when I was a college student."

2) What is your favorite part about your experience here at Tierra?

"Tierra Educational Center offers its students a private school education at public school prices. The class sizes are always small (no more than eight) which not only creates a more intimate learning environment, but it allows everyone to get to know one another better which makes communicating in Spanish that much more accessible and fun. The teachers at Tierra are all of the highest caliber. They're not just content experts, but they all have a deep understanding of the different ways that students learn in the classroom. The curriculum is well thought out and well rounded--a lot of emphasis inside the classroom is spent on oral communication and comprehension, and the teachers accomplish this from the basic to the complex. We're constantly learning new vocabulary and concepts as we're learning grammar, syntax, and phoenetics, all while we're reading, writing, and sharing stories, poems, songs, etc. The different layers of learning Spanish are so seamlessly integrated in each lesson that each class feels more like a structured and engaging workshop rather than a more traditional passive classroom experience. Also, if a student misses a class (and I've had to miss a few!), the good folks at Tierra will even e-mail the student what homework s/he missed with the opportunity to complete a one hour make up class at significantly reduced rates. As a teacher myself, this service just isn't offered to students at the college level. It's really quite remarkable that Tierra can offer its students an extraordinary Spanish language education with with top-rate student services, while charging such extremely reasonable rates."

3) Can you tell us of a time you have been able to use what you have learned studying here?

"I traveled to Guatemala during the winter of 2011 with a friend after only having studied Beginner Level Two with Elyse for 10-weeks. I was so pleasantly surprised that I was able to communicate in conversational Spanish the entire time that I was there with the wonderful people of Guatemala. Guatemalans are so warm, generous, and fun. It meant a lot to me that I could communicate with people especially in small towns and villages about their Mayan history, art, religion, food--all of which were so interesting and enriching. Elyse and Tierra prepared me extremely well for this trip, and it definitely inspired me to want to travel to more Central and South American countries in the near future!"

Felicidades Danielle!!