Hi there!

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I'm Colleen and I'm here to make learning Spanish attainable, enjoyable, and as efficient as possible — especially for busy adults like you. I know firsthand what it's like to learn a second language. And guess what? For me, it was a long, HARD road. I spent YEARS (!) memorizing vocabulary and grammar rules to no end.

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Sure, I could apply grammar

and vocabulary to exams, no problem.

.... Easy Peasy.

I could conjugate verbs all day!

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But when it came time to spontaneously

communicate in Spanish, my brain would freeze up.

***cradles head in hands*** 

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It was frustrating. My goal, after all, was not to have the ability to fill in grammar sheets. I wanted to have fluent conversations in Spanish! I was determined. And I kept at it the only way I knew how — by studying more: making flashcards, buying textbooks, using Spanish learner websites, signing up for more classes, listening to the local Spanish-language radio station... you know the drill. This went on for years, my friends! 

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And sure, I was making progress— just very, very slowly. But I never felt like I had truly "made it." I even spent a semester in Spain! Surely that would do the trick! 

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"Immersion is the best way

to learn a language, after all."

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Well— yes and no.

 

While immersion sounds ideal, it only works when the input is comprehensible. Being surrounded by a language you don’t yet understand isn’t just overwhelming—it actually slows you down.

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Fast forward 10 years.

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My happy ending is, of course, that I did eventually become confidently fluent in Spanish. And after YEARS of trial and error with my students and experimenting with dozens of teaching methods, you know what I learned?

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Language acquisition doesn't HAVE to be a long, rigorous process. No one should have to suffer to achieve fluency in another language. There IS an easier, faster,

more enjoyable and more natural way!

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On my quest to find a better way to teach Spanish, I learned that, even as adults, our brains are designed to acquire languages. In fact, we can acquire as many languages as we please! We can be the "sponges" we tout our kiddos to be if we are given the right opportunities and support.

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The best part? The most brain-friendly methods to acquire languages don't feel like work. This is important. Because language acquisition takes time. And let's be honest— you already have enough on your plate. You need a language class that feels like an escape, that leaves you craving more.

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I have developed a curriculum based on research-backed methods that will guide you along the path to fluency in an entertaining and natural way.  It is a holistic approach to learning a language in which we focus our time and energy on what we need to use the language from the get-go.  I focus on giving you the most useful words that you will need to communicate and build a mental representation of the language. Most importantly, learning this way will give you the confidence to speak without constantly second-guessing yourself.

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Curious to learn more? The table below summarizes the differences between a traditional approach and my communicative approach to teaching Spanish.