Inflation

The next session of Young Amigos starts April 15!  There is an early registration discount of 15% if you commit to the class at least 60 days before it starts.  That happens to be February 14.  So… ¡Feliz Día de San Valentín!  My Valentine's Day gift to you!

My tuition prices did increase with the start of the new year, so I wanted to offer some assistance for those who register early.  I did so begrudgingly.  I'm a softy, a teacher, not really a businesswoman.  It was brought to my attention that once I pay for the online resource center access, the workbooks, the cost of shipping and handling, etc. for each family that I’m actually under market, and not really earning that much.

  

Another thing, the pricing from 2012 reflected a different model.  I did not interact, check in or provide personalized feedback.  I developed that model against my own beliefs about quality education.  As the session was running, I couldn't have felt any less attached to the families taking my courses.  I spent December revamping my model so that I have relationships with the families taking my classes, or at least offer relationships.  I followed my heart on this one.  I also feel this differentiates me from my competitors.  For example, Rosetta Stone (impressive program, by the way!) won't ask how things are going, offer unique solutions to issues, send personalized videos or hand out stars for a job well done!  They won't remind you that you forgot to do an item during the previous week, or update you when everything is back on track.  I don't have the impressive technology that some of the others do.  I am simply a caring human being; a qualified, certified instructor, teaching your family Spanish from afar.  And it means a lot to me!

Tuition information can be found here:  http://croghanlanguageacademy.webs.com/tuition    Some explanation might be appreciated:

Synchronous = There is a weekly 45-minute live meeting  

Asynchronous = There are no live meetings to attend, all work is completed on your own time.  

If you are currently taking my Asynchronous class and feel like you’re just not getting enough structure, enough instruction, enough feedback, etc. perhaps consider the Synchronous offering.  In my honest opinion, I feel that the blend of some work on your own and some done with me is ideal.

Questions?  Email croghanlanguageacademy@gmail.com!

College students: How to get started

Your questions about where to go, how to begin, where to start... I will attempt to answer all of that here, providing a road map to get on the right path in your Spanish class.

In all cases, the syllabus is where you need to start. It is displayed prominently in your course, but if you can't locate it, post a question in the discussion forum. Read it at the start of class and refer to it often.

1. I then would make sure you have accessed the assignment due dates sheet, or course calendar and get those into your own personal calendar. They will not change (unless I have made an error, in which case I would send out an announcement).
2. If your course includes the purchase of passcodes to an online homework site, you will want to get that purchased and register there ASAP. You get your code(s) through the purchase of your texbook (so don't throw away ANY of the packaging until your code(s) are accounted for and you've enrolled in the site).
3. From there, I would then spend some time getting to know the all aspects of the course. Do not try to pass up this self-orientation time, and do not rush the experience. 
4. Once you have spent some time orientating to the course, you should go ahead and begin learning your first lesson. You naturally may feel hesitant or doubtful as you begin. I would be glad to check on something for you to confirm completion. Just send me a note about it.
5. Each lesson in all of my classes will work the same as the first.  I think consistency and routine is important, so for the most part, Lesson 2 should get easier, just because it works the same as Lesson 1! 

If, after following all 6 steps, you still have questions or feel lost in some aspect, please let me know!

Send me photos of my students learning Spanish!

If you are a Young Amigos student that purchased a January course before the end of December, you should have received a t-shirt for each student as a token of my thanks for early registration!  If you registered after January, I am selling these (children through adult sizes), so let me know if you are interested!

If you are a Descubre student, you can also buy a t-shirt and this blog pertains to you as well...

I would like to ask a favor.  I don't have any photos of students working on my courses.  Being an online class, that's a little hard, if not impossible.  But I would LOVE it if you would shoot some shots and either email them to me, post them on www.facebook.com/CroghanLanguageAcademy or on our Edmodo social class site.  Students wearing their Croghan Language Academy shirts in these photos, even if they are too big :), would be the icing on the cake for me!

It is also an option to only share them with me, with the promise that I will not share them with anybody else.  I completely understand that you may not want to make them public, but I would still like to see them, regardless.  But if it doesn't bother you, I'd REALLY appreciate it as I'm trying to bring in more students, and I think pictures of students in action will help.  See permission slips below...

For now, I can only borrow pictures from the internet, but these just don't mean a thing to me.  :(      (:

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If sharing photos, please copy and paste the following, and mark the appropriate categories.  In all instances of sharing, no names (first or last) nor locations will be mentioned.

___  I grant permission to use the photo(s) of my child(ren) for the CLA website.

___  I grant permission to use the photo(s) of my child(ren) for the CLA Facebook page.

___  I grant permission to use the photo(s) of my child(ren) for the Bilingual Babble Blog.

___  I am sending photos for Krista to view only, but do not share in any other way. 

Is English threatened?

We are in the 21st century.  While discrimination and racism may feel to some like they are behind us, I think minorities would tell you that they are not, necessarily.  In some ways and in some places, it is still with us.

I start out one of my college courses with a discussion about whether or not they think the English language is threatened in the United States.  With the influx of minority populations, especially those who predominantly speak Spanish, my sense is there is fear out there.  Many people feel uncomfortable when in a public place and they hear people speaking Spanish.  And then they get mad and say "If you're going to live in this country, you better learn to speak the language (i.e. English)."  Why?  Have you considered... maybe they do speak English, but they are just having a private conversation?  Or perhaps they are just more comfortable speaking in their primary language?  Or maybe they are really trying to learn English and just struggling with it (after all, learning a new language is NOT easy, especially the older you get)?  We shouldn't jump to conclusions about intentions just because we hear people speaking a language other than English.

My point is... why waste time judging, speculating or criticizing?  Where is it really going to get you?  It is wasted energy.  My belief is that people fear it is really going to affect them one day, this speaking of Spanish or whatever other languages they feel threatened by.  English isn't going anywhere, folks.  You need not feel threatened.  So if that is the case, then why not turn this energy positive and learn to accept, tolerate and welcome into your lives people who speak another language.  Build relationships with them!  Reach out to them:  learn to speak their language as they are learning yours.  

How to start a new class

So, today I had about 45 minutes to kill.  I wanted to do something productive, there's lots on the list, but I wasn't sure what I was in the mood for.  I decided to start learning a bit of Italian.  I purchased Rosetta Stone (it's been sitting here a couple of weeks now, in it's pretty yellow box, just begging to be opened).  What did I actually accomplish?  Well, I got the package opened, the program downloaded and registered, and that's about it.  I didn't even have time to start looking around to see what there is to see!

This was a good reminder to me about something I always preach to my college-level students:  Give yourself TIME when getting started.  Be realistic.  It was not realistic for me to think I'd actually start learning Italian in just 45 minutes.  Now that it's ready to go, I STILL have some orientation to do to learn how this is going to work.  So it will probably be a little while before I actually start learning any Italian.  :)  I can be patient.

I am also getting ready to start new sessions of Young Amigos next week.  This is a good notion for them, too.  I estimate families can plan to spend about 2-3 hours per week on the course.  But the first week just takes more time, because you are learning the objectives and plan of action for the course.  Be realistic.  You need that orientation time.    

Color label your house in Spanish!

One common strategy to learn a language is to label items that are often in your sight. When you look at the item, read the label. Over time, you should be able to look at the item and identify it without reading the label anymore! Here is a color label template that you can use to make labels for your house. Each label includes the actual spelling of the Spanish word (in bold) and a pronunciation guide based on the English language (in italics).

Alternatively, if you don't want to place the labels around the house, go ahead and color them without cutting them apart.  Then study them once a day in the same fashion, until you can look at the color and identify it in Spanish without having to read it.

Here are the translations of each, so that you can color your labels appropriately!

1.  negro - black
2.  blanco - white
3.  azul - blue
4.  rojo - red
5.  morado - purple
6.  verde - green
7.  amarillo - yellow
8.  anaranjado - orange
9.  gris - gray
10.  café - brown
11.  rosado - pink
12.  turquesa - turquoise
13.  azul marino - aquamarine blue
14.  verde oscuro - dark green
15.  azul claro - light blue
16.  violeta - lavender or violet
17.  de oro - gold
18.  de plata - silver
19.  bronceado- bronze
20.  cobrizo - copper

Hip Homeschool Moms Giveaway!

Would you like the opportunity to try out a session of Croghan Language Academy's online Young Amigos class completely for free???  Check this out!

Up for giveaway...  100% paid tuition for the next 10-week session of K-6 online Young Amigos, beginning January 14, 2013, for one family!  The class is also appropriate for almost-kindergartners.  Review my January 1 blog post for details on this course.  It is the Asynchronous offering (no scheduled live class meetings) up for giveaway.

Croghan Language Academy is a new venture for Krista in 2012.  She has many years of experience with Spanish and teaching of all ages (both online and bricks & mortar).  She is a current member of ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages) and is excited to be an exhibitor at Great Homeschool Conventions Cincinnati April 4-6.  Look for Croghan Language Academy if you plan to attend!

 Learn more about Krista.


This Giveaway for one K-6 online Spanish class is open now and ends January 11 at 12:00 a.m. (just in time for me to get your course materials out to you for class!)

Happy Raffling!!!  Here's how to enter...


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Defining myself

I am NOT...

1. A software developer or computer programmer.
2. A book or Do-It-Yourself manual.
3. An automated machine or program.
4. An app on your phone or tablet.
5. A DVD or CD you throw into the machine.

I AM...

1. A trained teacher who holds a B.S. in Spanish Language Education and an M.A. in Spanish with an emphasis on education, and who has spent extensive time in Spain and the Dominican Republic.
2. Experienced with nine years of full-time teaching in public schools and four years of adjunct teaching at the college level, including in-class, online, and blended (in-class and online) learning.
3. Passionate about cultures, diversity, tolerance, travel, and want to share those interests with my students.
4. A nurturer of hearts and minds; a cultivator of relationships that are established through the teaching and learning process.
5. Human.

Which would you prefer to help your family learn Spanish?  

Let's do this together!

Young Amigos 2013

Do you have a K-6 student (also appropriate for "almost-K") looking to learn Spanish online with a certified instructor?  I offer two types of courses for this level:  Synchronous and Asynchronous.  Synchronous, think "synchronized," means that you work through most of the lesson on your own, but there is a weekly online class meeting to facilitate learning.  Through experience, I've learned that this model is best for optimal learning.  But I also understand the need for flexibility, and so I continue to offer an Asynchronous (not synchronized) course where all of the work is done on the family's preferred schedule, no meetings to attend.  Both courses involve some self-feedback (quizzes that grade themselves or provided answer keys) but also some personalized feedback communicated to you directly from the instructor.   

Both of these course types last 10 weeks.  After 10 weeks, there will be the option to enroll in a subsequent class.  I am pleased with the number of seats I've filled so far, but I'm hoping to get a few more students for my course beginning on January 14.  If you would like to purchase a course "taster," I've set up the option to purchase Week 2 of the course for just $18, so you can see how things will work.  

For more information:

croghanlanguageacademy@gmail.com 
http://croghanlanguageacademy.webs.com/ 
Level Objectives for each course of Young Amigos
Course Information
Course Manual
2013 session dates

¡Próspero Año Nuevo!  -Krista  

Intellectual and Relational Capital

Streams of Life Pastor Mark Fry had a great sermon this past Sunday.  John said to me as we were having lunch after service:  "Wow, those are some heavy challenges!" I agree.  But I found the notion of these challenges for an improved "me" inspiring and motivating.  Here they are, in particular order of importance:

Types of Capital

1. Spiritual
2. Relational
3. Physical
4. Intellectual
5. Financial

I encourage each of you to consider how you can invest in each of the 5 different types of Personal Capital in 2013.  But let me share an idea about how to kill two proverbial birds with one stone.

Language-learning in the 21st century is a great example of Intellectual Capital.  You are awakening major brain power to learn the structure of a language other than your own.  It is no easy task, and I often tell students who are struggling:  Hey, if it were easy, wouldn't we all speak at least 2 or 3 different languages?  It takes time, effort and determination if you are learning a language in any other way than survival-mode (i.e. living in the target culture).   

I also see language-learning as Relational, in a couple of different ways.  First, there are motivational factors involved when a teacher/student relationship ensues in order to learn a language.  It is one reason that I am not a big proponent of do-it-yourself language-learning programs, such as Rosetta Stone.  Some learners just need accountability, and this implies a relationship between at least two people.  A computer or software cannot hold you accountable, because there is no relationship with the technology (no matter how much a person loves their iPhone!)  Although, I'll be trying out Rosetta Stone Italian this year, so I'll keep you posted on my hypothesis.

Secondarily, as a person expands his or her language horizons, new friendships are possible that are tough to attain if you only speak one language.  When I ask my college students why they are taking my Spanish class, one of the most popular responses has something to do with relationship with others.  They want to be able to communicate with co-workers, new friends, new family members, neighbors, etc.  Expanding communication opens up hearts!    

Just a couple of thoughts to consider.  I hope you will take some time to decide how you will invest in each of the 5 types of Personal Capital for 2013!  And then... find a way to follow through on those commitments!  :)