Let's Talk Language School: Continental Chat
by Michelle Troutman

The idea to open the Let's Talk Language School came to Executive Director Regina Coppens, her husband, Steve Buchsbaum, and their daughters, after they lived in Spain for a year. "We wanted to continue taking Spanish classes, and really, the closest adult Spanish classes were in Rockland at the Penobscot School," says Coppens. In 2004, one year after they came back, Steve and Regina opened the language school.

When Coppens prepared to go to Spain, she listened to a lot of Pimsleur foreign language CDs. "Some people pick up languages quicker than others. I'm not one of those people. I am a testament to the fact that if you are persistent, you can learn a language. But for some people, it just takes more of an effort than others."

At the same time, she teaches English as a Second Language (ESL) as a volunteer at Learning Works in Portland. They offer classes for immigrants, asylum seekers, and refugees. She teaches on Tuesdays. "It's been very interesting for me to explore my own best ways for learning Spanish, and to think about how others learn best, and try to tailor my English teaching to how people learn best."

Coppens is also a nurse, and worked in home health care; she has also been involved in publishing, having helped local school districts put together newsletters, and was a freelance writer for the Morning Sentinel and for the Kennebec Journal.

The school averages 70 to 80 students per semester. All of the teachers are native speakers, so students can get used to hearing a native accent, and they also learn about the culture where the teachers are from. They offer four languages: Spanish, with teachers Rocio Orantes Carey (Level I and Level II) and Claritza Hurdle (Level III and Level IV), Italian with Danielle Tognato (Levels I and II) and Davida Gavioli (Level III), French with Nathalie Choquette (Levels I and II) and Christiane Guillois (Level III), and Japanese with Megumi Sasada (Level I).

Spanish and Italian are the most popular classes. If there is enough interest, they will offer German or Chinese, languages they taught in the past. Arabic was especially popular after 9/11. The students are from all walks of life, and all ages, from as young as nine to in their 80s; the majority are middle-aged. High school aged students like to take Japanese, influenced by anime cartoons. Public school teachers take classes to earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) to remain certified.

The school features a couple of classrooms, a lending library with CDs students can borrow to train their ears, and a small kitchen, where teachers will sometimes do cooking demonstrations related to the language they're teaching. Let's Talk usually hosts a pot-luck party at the end of every semester.

The classes run an hour and a half once a week. Students can practice their conversation skills, and teachers introduce new grammar, and assign homework, depending on the level. The students are given names to suit the language and culture.

"People that are taking the classes are so interesting, eager to learn about the world and, and it's fun because when you take another language, you sort of take on a different personality. I enjoy that part of it, too."

On a typical day, Gina is marketing the school, and answering calls and emails about registrations. In August, she had just ordered postcards advertising their open house, and had hired three new teachers for Fall 2011 classes.

The challenges of operating the language school include getting enough students to take classes, and to return semester after semester. Computer software and programs on the Internet also provide competition. "There are many good Internet sites to help learn languages, but it's not the same as having a teacher and other classmates that you can have live conversations with, like you have in classroom setting. It's important in learning a language to speak it and make yourself recall what you know, as well as listen and read it."

Let's Talk will continue offering English immersion in April; people from Quebec (mainly St. George) participate in a five-day English immersion. In addition to daily English classes, students tour the Colby Museum of Art, and meet with local people for conversation practice.

Besides vacationing in Spain, Coppens has been to Nicaragua over the past few years, where she is a volunteer for Partners in Health of Maine, an organization that provides health services, training, education and volunteer opportunities for health care providers in Central America. She has been to Mexico and to the Dominican Republic a few times. "I really love going to Spanish speaking countries; I get a chance to practice the language. It's just really fun, and people are so excited to be able to speak with someone else from another country, that it just makes your experience so different than if you don't speak the language."

Students who sign up for the whole year receive $100.00 off the regular tuition price. One semester costs $250.00, and two semesters are $400.00, and start in the middle of September and in the middle of January. If a student brings in a new student, they can each get 10% off the tuition price.

"A lot of people want to learn a language, and they'll take a class, and then maybe go onto something else, some other adult ed thing. So, we're really trying to get students to come back, and study language. After one semester, you get your feet wet, but if you really want to become proficient we recommend that students sign up for the whole year."

Let's Talk will host a Wine and Cheese Open House on September 9, from 5:00pm to 6:30pm. People can come in and meet new teachers, tour the school, and discuss classes. They will serve local wines, cheeses, and hors d'ouevres (Gina's husband now runs Tree Spirits, a winery and distillery in Oakland.)

For those interested in taking a class, Coppens advises, "A lot of research has shown that it's good for brain health to learn languages. A lot of people think, 'Oh, I'm too old to learn a language,' but it's really not true. Not only can you, but it's good for you."

Let's Talk Language School at 31 Temple St. is open for classes starting September 13, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 5:30pm to 7:00pm, and from 7:15pm to 8:45pm: 207-873-0432. www.letstalklanguageschool.org

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