2015 Summer Local Spanish Language Immersion for Church Leaders 

Come immerse yourself in the Spanish language in a local church setting using a method proven to support beginners and beyond. For a fraction of the overall cost of most immersions, you will:

• Gain confidence for a conversation with Spanish speaking neighbors
• Have fun learning with art, games, music and real conversation
• Learn to pray, read the Bible and a liturgy in Spanish
• Gain understanding of Hispanic-Latino cultures
• Get to know New Harvest UMC in Toppenish: one church with two languages and two cultures

Who Should Attend?

• Church leaders who are called and committed to reaching out to Spanish-speaking community members, but do not have skills for conversation in Spanish. 
• Those who have a tiny bit of Spanish but are not able to form many sentences or have confidence in her/his vocabulary
• People with more Spanish skills are welcome to attend with the desire to review basics and develop more confidence. 

 Program, Methodology and Instructor:

Suzy Martinez is Founder of Expanded Connection - a company that has been focusing on Language acquisition, Cultural Connections and Medical Spanish for over 20 years across the United States and Mexico, will facilitate this event.  She is Bi-lingual and Bi-cultural. Spanish is her first language. She is a certified Mediator for the State of Washington and Medical Interpreter. She has her Master's in Fine Arts and Leadership from Seattle University and a Bi-lingual Cross Cultural Teaching credential from Chico State. Her favorite groups to teach are the community builders and service providers!

Expanded Connection offers you the key to learning in the 21st century. It is an innovative way to learn dynamic, playful. Stress-free and highly effective. Drawing on 25 years of research on the brain, mind, and learning of Dr. Georgi Lozanov, MD and PhD and many others, our belief is that everyone has an incredible ability to learn and amazing potential for creativity. Our educational philosophy is based on the following:

• A true EXPANDED CONNECTION experience involves the whole brain, music and rhythm, relaxed concentration, learning through all the senses, games, humor, and imagination, and a supportive environment.
• Learning challenges can be overcome and our potentials expanded dramatically under ideal conditions.
• The EXPANDED CONNECTION teacher, crucially important for accelerative learning, is an artist who integrates all of the above to create a stimulating, joyful and relaxed environment.
• An accelerative experience contributes to greater overall confidence, creativity, relaxation, and general well-being.

This is Cutting Edge Learning!

Dates and Schedule:

 Monday August 10, 2015 at 10am to Friday August 14, 2015 at 4:30pm.  The long schedule includes classes, community exploration, arts, games, worship, meals, videos, and interaction with people of the New Harvest UMC. The schedule is long to help participants immerse themselves in Spanish, which will help to build confidence and a Spanish brain.

Come early and/or stay late to worship on Sunday with the New Harvest Congregation in Spanish on Sunday, August 9, at 1 pm and/or Sunday, August 16, 1 pm

Cost:

$650 includes tuition, materials, two meals a day and the option of staying free at the church.

Scholarships available. You must apply on or before July 25. Scholarships will be announced by July 30. Funds are limited and will be divided among those needing scholarships. Please apply if you need one as we do not want anyone left out just because of finances.

To apply:

• When registering, please write a paragraph describing how you plan to use the skills in Spanish and culture gained in this class and,
• Briefly state the level of scholarship you need to make it possible for you to attend.  No one will receive full scholarship.

Location:

New Harvest United Methodist Church, 201 North Beech Street, Toppenish, Washington

Lodging Options:

1. Free: Stay at church.  Please bring your own bedding, cot or mat, and towel to stay at the New Harvest UMC. The church has a shower and air conditioning.
2. Additional Charge: Stay at a local hotel.  Participant is responsible for his/her own lodging logistics.
3. No Additional Charge: Stay with a friend living in the area, if available.  Participant is responsible for her/his own lodging logistics.

Meals:

• Breakfast ingredients will be available at the church for people to make their own, or to cooperate in making their breakfasts before the day’s activities begin. Ingredients will be added to base on requests from the group.
• Lunch will be provided at the church. Efforts will be made to meet special dietary requirements.
• One meal a day, usually dinner, will be on your own. This will be an opportunity to explore the community and order your meal in Spanish from selected restaurants.

IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS:

• Regarding the teaching, program, and finances: Lyda Pierce, lydapierce@earthlink.net, 509-778-3864
• Regarding local arrangements: Sarah Martinez, sarahi1407@gmail.com, 509-865-2477

 

Register Now!