Discussing why you (yes, YOU) should come to Spanish tutoring with Bruce!

Today we’re interviewing Bruce, our drop-in Spanish tutor! We chatted about what first motivated him to learn Spanish, and the amazing power of language tutoring at Reed!

Leilani: Hi Bruce! First, could you tell me a little bit about yourself, and for how long you’ve been speaking Spanish?

Bruce: My name is Bruce, and I’m from the Portland area. I started speaking Spanish, or at least taking classes, in seventh grade. And then I did it for five years. I did the IB [International Baccalaureate] program, so I did IB Spanish in my junior year. In my senior year, I wasn’t able to take Spanish because I had already taken the highest level my school offered. So I started again last year in college. I started at the intermediate level, and now I’m taking 321 [Theory and Practice of Hispanic Literature].

L: What initially motivated you to start learning Spanish?

B: I don’t come from a family that speaks Spanish at all, but it was the only language that was offered at my middle school. My brother was also a couple of years older than me, and he was starting to learn, as well. It was more so that I wanted to learn another language. Now, I’m glad I chose Spanish because it aligns with a lot of what I’m interested in. I’ve been really interested in Latin American politics, art, and history. When I first started to learn, I didn’t have that reasoning. But now I’m really glad I chose to study Spanish.

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Getting excited for study abroad with Vincent!

Today we’re chatting with Vincent, our French tutor, as well as the HA for French House II (Farm House). We talked about French programming at Reed and how Vincent is preparing for his semester abroad in Paris this spring!

Leilani: First, could you tell me about your background and how long you’ve been speaking French?

Vincent: Yeah! I first started taking French classes in high school, and then I placed into second-year level French when I came to Reed. I lived in the French House last year, and I’m living in Farm House this year. So those are the French experiences I’ve had here.

L: What has your experience been like as a French tutor?

V: It’s been pretty interesting to get a sense of how other people learn a language in ways that are different from what I’m more used to. And I think that’s a way of helping me to understand the language better and get more practice with it by working with other people.

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Tutor interviews: Sara Tapalova (Russian)

D: Hi Sara! Please introduce yourself to those who don’t know you.

S: My name is Sara and I’m a junior physics major. I’m a native Russian speaker, which is the main reason why I ended up as a Russian tutor. I was born and raised in Central Asia, so I was brought up in a very bilingual environment – I’ve been speaking Russian and Kazakh since I was a little baby, and if you asked me to choose a “first language” I wouldn’t be able to tell you… I started learning English when I was 6, so I know how to empathise with language-learners. If you feel nervous or embarrassed about mistakes, don’t be! I’ve been there too and I know how hard it is.

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Is Culture Shock Inevitable When Abroad?

Find out in the interview with Henry, the Chinese tutor!

Patricio: Can you tell me about what made you want to learn Chinese?

Henry: It was actually kind of random. I was taking a gap year between highschool and college and I didn’t have a lot going on, so I picked up a bunch of hobbies such as archery and Chinese. I found a really good Chinese teacher and I really enjoyed learning a language in my free time. I was learning French in high school, but I really struggled with that because I was being forced to learn it, but it was a completely different story when I started learning Chinese because I actually wanted to learn it. 

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Meet Sabrina! (Latin)

Salve! I’m a senior English major and Greek and Latin minor, and I have taken Latin classes from Alice, Ellen, and Sonia. I’m especially interested in the intersections between Latin and English literature, and am currently writing my thesis on the influence of Apuleius’s The Golden Ass on Early Modern English comedy and romance. I am eager to help with all kinds of Latin study, such as vocab memorization, preparing for exams, practicing forms, or talking through translations. Whatever it may be, I am here to support you, and I will do my best to cater to your specific needs.

LangLabbie note: Visit the Language Lab for Sabrina’s drop-in hours!