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Growing up in Mexico, I had the experience of learning Spanish as a second language. Over the years I've taught Spanish in various contexts, but primarily to adults who are looking to get a basic foundation for communication.
Something I've found interesting are the various language learning approaches that I've encountered along the way. Some take the complete immersion approach, where everything is learned by listening and talking. Others take a more traditional approach, studying the grammar and learning the technical side of the language.
It seems that both approaches lack something. I am convinced, more than ever, that immersion is where language learning happens most naturally. Grammar explanations and vocabulary lists on their own do not capture the essence of a language. On the other hand, being immersed in conversation and story without having adequate understanding can be quite frustrating and discouraging.
That is why I built this course from the ground up with story at the center. The story gives you the context for learning the grammar and vocabulary. As you start this course, you will immediately find yourself immersed in story and written content. You won’t understand all of the content which could be frustrating to you, but rest assured. You are not expected to understand everything you encounter. As I introduce grammar and vocabulary, your foundation will grow, expanding the amount of the content that you can understand.
If this sounds scary, I want to invite you to give it a try. Don’t expect more of yourself than the course does. Give it your all and focus on what you do understand, not on what you don’t know.
May I join you on your language-learning journey?
Adriana Castro's story begins in Ecuador, in the small pueblo of Marcabelí a few hours away from the bustling port city of Machala. Born in New York City to undocumented Ecuadorian parents, her life took a dramatic turn when her parents were deported just a few months after her birth, forcing the family to return to Ecuador. Adriana was raised on a banana plantation, where her parents worked tirelessly to provide for their family.
Growing up in this environment instilled in Adriana a deep appreciation for hard work and a hunger for knowledge. Her parents' sacrifices fueled her determination to excel in her schoolwork and she was eventually nicknamed “the professor” in her small town because of her intense drive to always be the best in every area of academics. Her passion for learning and innate curiosity about the world led her to dream of becoming a world-class chef.
It was her teacher Liliana that made all the difference. Recognizing Adriana’s potential, she invited Adriana to move to the city where she could receive the best education that Ecuador had to offer. Choosing between education and remaining with her parents in her dear town of Marcabeli was a heart-breaking decision, but with her parents’ encouragement, Adriana made the big decision to pursue her educational dreams. Her dreams of completing her education were shattered by a tragic accident that changed everything. She would eventually find herself returning to her birthplace, New York City, looking for employment to help pay off family debts.
Bruno Cruz grew up in the prosperous city of Monterrey, Mexico in an upper-middle-class family. His father, a successful entrepreneur in the manufacturing industry, was his role model for hard work and ambition. His mother, a likable lawyer with a growing practice, instilled in him a deep love for learning and a striving for excellence in everything he did.
His parents made sure he attended the best schools in the city and showed a deep interest in his personal growth and success in every area of life. He also had many opportunities to join his parents on business trips and grew up with a much broader worldview than most of his peers. Not wanting their children to be spoiled by prosperity, his parents involved them in their humanitarian aid efforts, giving him a deep empathy for the hurting and needy around him. This nurturing environment not only equipped him with the tools to succeed academically but also sparked his desire to make a difference in the world.
His parents encouraged him in his education and used every resource they had to help him be successful in life. After graduating from high school, he finds himself on a plane to New York City to pursue a career in medicine. But the unknowns and being so far away from home leave him feeling lonely. Will he find friends in this new chapter in life?
Carla Diaz grew up in Bogotá, Colombia, one of Latin America's largest urban centers. As the only child of a single mother, Carla learned the survival skills of hard work and tireless persistence. Her mother Jazmín, was her hero—working multiple jobs just to pay the bills and give her daughter a chance in life. They lived in Fontibón, a neighborhood where crime and violence were commonplace.
But there was also something magical about Fontibón, bordering the sprawling El Dorado International Airport with one of the busiest airspaces in Latin America. The constant hum of jet engines overhead and the sight of every type of plane imaginable sparked her imagination and a dream was born in her little heart to one day be a pilot.
Carla's determination and bright mind set her apart from her classmates. Her mother, who never stopped believing in her, was her chief cheerleader and motivator. Through a series of seeming “coincidences”, Carla found herself closer to her dream of being a pilot than she ever imagined possible. She was on her way to New York City where she would be studying aviation at a renowned flight school. This was a turning point that would change her life forever.
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