Ask Portland Early Learning Project Director Jessica Swartz Amezcua, owner of Adventures in Spanish (a longtime BWNA newsletter advertiser) about the benefits of learning Spanish, or any other foreign language for that matter, and she lights up. “There are so many reasons to learn a second language! It boosts your confidence, allows you to communicate with more people, enhances your brain’s capacity, enables you to think outside the box, deepens your understanding of languages and cultures, and expands your horizons!!”
Jessica is also a strong advocate for starting early in life on the path to bilingualism. “It’s never too late to learn a second language, but children are able to learn a second language more deeply than adults. As we get older, our brains become less flexible and more specialized, making it that much harder to acquire true fluency. Children, on the other hand, engage both halves of their brains in the learning process.”
Adventures in Spanish offers an array of programs throughout Portland, some of which are headquartered in Beaumont-Wilshire. For instance, at Bethany Lutheran Church (where BWNA meetings are held), children can participate in monthly Spanish Story and Play Times free of charge and families can enroll in classes for toddlers and parents. Additionally, neighborhood preschool and elementary schools serve as venues for afterschool Spanish classes. A unique teaching approach incorporates gross motor movement, sign language, visual cues, and touch through the playing of games and singing of songs. Jessica is especially ebullient about the learning process and her staff. “Our small classes are designed to be educational, inspiring, and FUN and are taught by a team of bright, talented, and engaging teachers who are passionate about language and communication and love sharing their passion with Portland families!”
Adventures in Spanish was voted “Best Language Camp for Summer 2019” by the readers of NW Kids. For a complete schedule and instructions on how to register for fall classes, go to Portland Early Learning Project website (portlandearlylearning.com). Jessica is happy to answer questions via e-mail at jessica@portlandearlylearning.com.