September 2017 - Pete Brainard

Inquisitive in nature, Pete’s endless thirst for knowledge leads him to weave his quest for cultural understanding with his Spanish studies. A global citizen without a doubt, he and his partner have spent the better part of a decade living between southern France and southern Spain. During his stints back in Portland and since their return a few years ago, he’s been impressively dedicated to his Spanish classes at Tierra. His contributions in class frequently bring nuances of meaning to light and stimulate discussion, enriching the experience for all. A motivated student who enjoys the challenge of reading fiction in Spanish, his generosity and kind heart endears him to classmates. We are proud to count Pete as a valued member of our community at Tierra and look forward to continuing to see him achieve his fluency goals!

Name: Pete Brainard
Occupation: Retired
Time studying at Tierra:  Off and on since about 2011.

1) Why are you studying Spanish?

"Learning Spanish and other languages has been a lifelong dream. I love languages and how they sound, evolve, absorbing other languages, borrowing words and ideas from immigrant, indigent and neighboring cultures."

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

"My favorite part of my experience here at Tierra is the class interaction. The teachers are always engaged and attentive to the students, responding to their differing strengths and weaknesses within the class. They also provide and share cultural context, reflecting their own backgrounds and interests demonstrating how Spanish is a vibrant and evolving language."

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

"I have been able to use my Spanish principally while living in Spain with my partner and as I improve reading authors from various Spanish speaking countries."

¡Felicidades Pete!