October 2025 - Barbara Trepiccione

Full of energy and brimming with enthusiasm, Barbara has taken on learning Spanish with inspiring dedication. One of those people who simply has a deep thirst for knowledge and learning, Barbara’s many passions include the Italian language, painting, yoga, and now, Spanish. A lovingly involved grandmother, she was pushed to study the language by the desire to speak in Spanish with her young granddaughter who is in a Spanish immersion daycare. A highly esteemed classmate, her infectiously positive attitude helps build camaraderie and her innate curiosity leads her to ask intriguing questions, always probe deeper, and bring in interesting cultural discoveries to share with the group. We are honored to count Barbara as part of our wonderful student community and we look forward to continuing to see her expand her skills and exceed her own expectations.

Name: Barbara Trepiccione 
Occupation: I am retired, was formerly a certified public accountant 
Time Studying at Tierra: 1 year

1) Why are you studying Spanish?

"A main motivation was that my granddaughter has been in Spanish immersion daycare for a year which I think is wonderful and I want to be able to speak Spanish with her. Once I started taking classes, I found that the classes themselves were so enjoyable I wanted to keep coming!"

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

"I’ve been so pleased to discover such a supportive environment at Tierra. I started in Beginner 1 with Alexa and she’s guided me through my learning process with so much skill. She makes me feel welcome to ask any questions and helps create a comfortable atmosphere where it’s ok to make mistakes".

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

"The person who comes to clean my house is a Spanish-speaker who speaks very little English. In the past it was really challenging for me to communicate with her, but now we can have conversations! I also really enjoy being able to read books in Spanish with my granddaughter and learn songs in Spanish together".

¡Felicidades Barbara!