testimony: Ellen

My classes with IW helped me make a breakthrough in what has been a lifelong struggle to learn to speak Spanish.   My teacher was prepared with a well-thought-out lesson plan each day tailored to my needs and based on the previous day’s work, and yet she was flexible enough to alter the plan as needed to make sure that I was comfortable and relaxed while still challenged.  She was also very patient. She concentrated on developing my ability to communicate in Spanish, with time spent each day on listening and reading to develop comprehension, reading aloud to focus on pronunciation, conversing about different topics, and working on grammar and vocabulary using a variety of methods and materials –games, music, exercises, even reading tongue twisting poems in Spanish. Alejandra was always nearby, and I appreciated her availability and the sense that she was also invested in my progress. While I was fortunate enough to “click” with the teacher I was assigned, it was great to know from the beginning that if I had issues or problems, Alejandra would intervene.  Best of all, for the first time in my life, after many attempts, I finally believe that I can, in fact, learn another language and continue to develop my skills. I hope to return to Buenos Aires and continue lessons with IW in the future.

Ellen Taylor, United States.