Conozca a Holly Venegas, Maestra Instructora             Read Student Testimonials Here!

How did you learn Spanish? From a young girl I was drawn to learning Spanish through the friendships I made with others. I took courses through High School, received my BA in Spanish through a total immersion literature program, and then traveled extensively throughout Costa Rica. I am also a Colorado Certified Teacher. I married a native speaker and have continued to live an enriched life as a fluent bilingual speaker.

How did you get interested in teaching Spanish? I was born to teach. But I don’t really teach Spanish… I teach STUDENTS Spanish. I am careful to understand my students, to cater to their learning styles and diversify my instruction to make them successful. I have had 15 years of successfully teaching students, children and adults who have been first time learners, or had difficult experiences learning languages in the past. My MA degree in Curriculum and Instruction allows me to make strategical lessons that help students reach their goals.

What makes you unique as an instructor? I am a master motivator. Research confirms that we don’t learn anything if our emotions are not attached to it. I bring enthusiasm, real life experiences, culture and an appetite for learning with me to my classes. I engage students with their own personal interests, and materials that are progressive and fun. I also focus on helping students identify their goals and reach them. I motivate them through one successful conversation after another. I help students to build their confidence through practice and personal experience with the language. I am also exceptionally creative and organized. People who learn Spanish from me use it immediately and continue to learn at a rapid pace. I am easy to learn from because I have a systematic approach that is fun and functional.

What experience do you have? Spanish for Life, LLC has been my main venue for teaching in the last few years. I have been contracted by businesses and churches to teach specialized courses to employees or members. Previously I taught Spanish in public, private and alternative High Schools. I recently authored a unique thesis on Teaching Adults Spanish through Story Telling. I have been affiliated with of CCFLT “Colorado Congress of Foreign Language Teachers” as a member and presenter. I developed a high school and elementary bilingual reading collaboration program in the city of Aurora I was the program coordinator of a puppetry program with Spanish speakers through Head Start. I served as the Chair Person of “Exito Latino” an administrative effort to increase awareness and efforts toward higher education amongst Hispanics.

In your opinion, what are the qualities of a good language student? A student with high potential to be successful learning another language has these characteristics: Patient with him or herself and others Willing to take risks speaking Spanish Committed to the process and the practice Speaks with native speakers and utilizes daily reading resources Open to understanding and accepting cultural differences Has a reason to learn and use Spanish in daily life: work, relationships, travel, promotions etc…

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