June 2026 - Winnie Houghton-Fennern

Since her first class at Tierra one year ago, Winnie has been incredibly committed to her studies. The last couple of terms she went so far as to take multiple classes simultaneously, as she was eager to both repeat levels she’d already taken in order to boost her confidence in the material and move on to new levels to continue expanding her knowledge. With a great sense of humor and innate curiosity, she easily bonds with other students and contributes to creating a positive learning atmosphere in any group she is in. We are honored to count Winnie as part of our amazing student community and look forward to continuing to see her joyfully navigate her Spanish learning journey!

Name: Winnie Fennern
Occupation: Barista/ Direct Support Professional
Time studying at Tierra: One year

1) Why are you studying Spanish?

"Years ago I knew I wanted to speak Spanish. I have been very intrigued with this beautiful language since I was a child. Growing up with my native speaking friends only encouraged me to learn to speak Spanish more. After trying other schools, I found Tierra! And boy am I glad I did! Besides my general interest in the language and my curiosity to learn, I also am learning Spanish to keep my mind sharp! Continuous learning is proven to help with your mind abilities as you get older, so why not learn another language!"

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

"My favorite part of learning at Tierra would have to be the teachers and staff. I have never had a better teacher than I do now. Every week I look forward to going to my Spanish class! My teacher Alexa is all around funny, kind, charismatic and really knows how to reach her students. I’ve been attending class with the same teacher and classmates for a year now and have made good friendships from it. I love that you move up with everyone at the same time and that your teacher stays the same!"

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

"There have been multiple instances where my Spanish has come in handy! My favorite example would have to be communicating with my uber driver. It made me feel so proud of the hard work I’ve put into learning and also made not only my day but the uber drivers day! Other than that, being able to speak with my friends has been a huge plus as well!"

¡Felicidades Winnie!