Linda Bruce is a Dog-Rescuer, World Traveller, Proud Grandmother and a Great Spanish Student with Strommen.
Our language students are the best and they deserve to be highlighted. In our new section, Strommen Student Spotlights, we will ask our best students a few fun questions and let them take it away from there. Thanks for letting us help you achieve your language goals and for sharing your story Linda!
Please tell us a little bit about who you are
Linda: I am a former language teacher myself and have spent many years living abroad. Now I live in Los Feliz, and am enjoying life!
Where are you from and where have you lived?
Linda: I am originally from Los Angeles, but lived for almost 20 years in Moscow, Russia.
How long have you been in LA?
Linda: For my childhood and young adulthood and now since 2009.
Besides studying languages, what else do you do?
Linda: I am active in dog rescue, like to travel, and am now enjoying spending time with and taking care of my 9 month old granddaughter.
What language are you learning and why did you start learning it?
Linda: Spanish; I have just always wanted to learn Spanish.
What is your favorite word in the language you are studying and why?
Linda: Ojalá!; I guess because it expresses the idea of what you hope or wish for and I like the way it sounds.
Any advice for other students new to the language?
Linda: Study your verb conjugations!
What is your favorite restaurant related to the language you are studying?
Linda: El Coyote Mexican Cuisine.
Who is your teacher with Strommen?
Linda: Cynthia is my private teacher. I also take group classes with Fernando and traveled with the group to Argentina last year.
What has he/she helped you with the most?
Cynthia has helped me with understanding spoken Spanish and with expressing myself in the language. Fernando has been a great source of grammatical information and knowledge.
How long have you been taking classes? Have you seen a lot of improvement?
Linda: Two and a half years; yes, of course I have had major improvement!
Have you almost reached your goals? Or do you still have a way to go?
Linda: I am still working toward my goals, but I am happy with my progress so far and am encouraged to continue.
What do you struggle with the most?
Linda: Vocabulary; I feel that if I knew more vocabulary, I would be able to speak, understand and read at a much higher level.
What part of the language are you the best at?
Linda: Grammar is my strongest point.
What are your classes like?
Linda: Cynthia is excellent; she has ultimate patience and always is in a positive and uplifting mood. I always leave her class feeling better than when I came in because of her great attitude and ability to explain word meanings and grammatical questions in the Spanish language. We rarely resort to speaking English even when discussing quite difficult grammar questions.
Has studying a language with Strommen helped you in life or work?
Linda: I don’t work, but I am now able to speak Spanish with certain friends.
Are you interested in any other languages, or do you speak any others already?
Linda: I was a teacher of Russian for many years and speak it fluently.
What was your favorite trip abroad (or in the US)?
Linda: I have lived in Russia, so I won’t count my Russian trips. My favorite trip was to Japan and, after that, Argentina with Fernando.
Do you ever get a chance to practice outside of class? When and where?
Linda: Yes, I try to speak Spanish at every opportunity, I read the news on CNN Espanol, and I read short stories for pleasure.
Thanks so much for answering our questions!
Linda: My pleasure!
