July 2025 - Matthew Rosario

Since beginning his studies at Tierra two years ago, Matthew has catapulted from a low intermediate level to advanced. Having grown up in a Spanish speaking environment but not been encouraged to speak Spanish, studying the language now is a way for him to reconnect to his heritage. Friendly and open by nature, Matthew enjoys the camaraderie of small group classes and he helps create a comfortable atmosphere where classmates form strong bonds and share stories as they sharpen their skills. Having taken all modalities of courses that Tierra offers from standard courses to conversational, grammar review, and literary immersion courses, in-person and online, and lately multiple classes simultaneously, Matthew has milked his experience to the fullest. We are honored to count him among our amazing student community and look forward to continuing to see him relish the journey towards fluency.

Name: Matthew Rosario
Occupation: ASL Interpreter
Time Studying at Tierra: Since July 2023 (officially 2 years now!)

1) Why are you studying Spanish?

"As someone who grew up speaking Spanish and was discouraged from doing so at a young age, I wanted to reconnect with my other native language. I am improving my Spanish as a form of self-healing".

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

"I enjoy the teachers at Tierra! I have had the pleasure of learning from each of the teachers by now, and they all bring enthusiasm and passion for the Spanish language. It is hard to learn from a teacher who doesn't care about the subject they teach, and that is not something I have experienced at Tierra, thankfully!"

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

"Recently, my partner's family visited us for a long weekend. They mainly speak Spanish with each other, and I’ve always felt nervous about speaking with them. I was proud when my partner said, "You spoke a lot of Spanish with my parents," at the end of the visit. Was it perfect? No. Did I make mistakes? Yes, but I managed to hold a conversation, and that was incredible".

¡Felicidades Mateo!