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The New Year's Resolution You'll Talk About for Years
In the past four years we have made Spanish language education accessible to students of every age, background, and ability level throughout the Portland Metropolitan Area. As we move into the New Year, we wanted explain why Tierra is a great fit for all students of the Spanish language by assessing our students’ motivation and goals.
Communication & Travel
Some students realize that they want to be able to communicate effectively with the millions of Americans who speak Spanish as a first language. Others seek a more authentic travel experience in one of the more than 20 countries on 4 continents where Spanish is a majority language.
Career advancement
For many students, learning Spanish is recommended or required for their career. For others, their prospects for advancement are higher if they add this crucial skill. Our classes are a great medium for students who want to gain this highly valued skill.
Cognitive benefits
The benefits of bilingualism are well-documented and indisputable. In fact, bilingualism has been shown to improve cognitive skills and may even delay the onset of dementia (Dreifus, 2011). Studying a second language gives our brains much-needed exercise that has a positive impact on cognitive function, regardless of the ability level or age of the learner.
Expanding horizons
Of the many wonderful reasons to study Spanish, the most inspiring one is how it opens our hearts and minds to new ideas and people. As we begin to study Spanish, we quickly realize that language is not merely a means of communicating information; it is also a way of seeing and understanding the world. Studying Spanish unlocks a new way of thinking – about our community, our world, and our place in it.
Why Tierra?
Tierra Educational Center’s interactive, communicative approach to language instruction provides students with a relaxed and friendly environment in which to learn and practice speaking Spanish. We believe that learning Spanish in a small class with a highly-qualified, experienced instructor gives our students the skills and confidence to communicate effectively in a variety of contexts. Unlike online study or self-study, our interactive classes provide immediate feedback and thorough explanations of new and challenging concepts. Tierra’s students are motivated by a variety of goals; thanks to our small class sizes, teachers are able to integrate the interests of their students into the curriculum and offer students ample opportunity to put their skills to use!
Bibliography
“The Benefits of Second Language Study.” NEA. December 2007. Web. 6 Dec. 2012.
Dreifus, Claudia. “The Bilingual Advantage.” The New York Times. May 30, 2011. Web. 6 Dec. 2012.
“Language Use in the United States.” U.S. Census Bureau. April 2010. Web. 6 Dec. 2012.
Rowan, Anthea. “Break Down the Language Barriers.” The Telegraph. 25 Jan. 2011. Web. 6 Dec. 2012.