Conquering Spanish | Interviews with learners | Episode 2: Mary Herman

Conquering Spanish: Interviews with Learners

Mary’s connection to Spanish began with a friendship on her family’s farm in Pennsylvania. Her curiosity and commitment have taken her from classroom learning to unforgettable experiences in Costa Rica and Nicaragua. Now, working with Coach Francis at Spanish55, Mary’s passion for Spanish is stronger than ever—her goal is to connect with her students’ families and community on a deeper level.
In this episode of Conquering Spanish, Mary opens up about her journey and shares how learning Spanish has transformed her as a teacher and person.
Show notes:
Teaser
🎬 Coming up... Listen in as Mary shares how her Spanish journey started with neighbors from Uruguay, the twists and turns of learning while traveling, and the surprises along the way!
Intro
Meet Mary Herman! Our guest today is an elementary school teacher whose love for Spanish began with a childhood friendship. She’s here to share how that spark turned into a lifelong passion.
Meeting Mary
Mary introduces herself and shares how her Spanish journey began with a neighborly friendship on her family’s farm and continued through her school years from kindergarten onward.
Differences in Spanish
Mary explores the fascinating variety in Spanish—how accents, words, and meanings shift across regions and cultures, especially as she works with her diverse student community.
Experience Learning While Traveling
Mary recounts her trips to Costa Rica and Nicaragua, where her Spanish skills allowed her to truly connect with local families—a memorable step in her journey.
Spanish Misconceptions
She reflects on some misconceptions, like the “all or nothing” view of fluency, and shares her realization that learning a language is a nuanced, ongoing journey.
Learning vs. Teaching
Mary explains how being a Spanish learner herself deepens her empathy for her students, making her a more understanding and supportive teacher.
Dealing with Frustration and Challenges
From tricky accents to the subjunctive, Mary opens up about the frustrations of language learning and how her mentors, like Coach Francis, help her overcome these challenges.
Lessons with Coach Francis
Mary highlights her experience with Coach Francis, sharing how their personalized lessons go beyond grammar and how they’ve become close friends along the way.
Spanish Goals
She talks about her goals, including reaching fluency and becoming more confident when speaking Spanish, especially with her students’ families.
Surprised by Spanish
Learning Spanish has unexpectedly grown Mary’s empathy, giving her a better understanding of others’ challenges and showing her that it’s never too late to start.
Shoutout to Coach Francis!
Mary gives a heartfelt shoutout to Coach Francis, whose guidance and friendship have been central to her progress and motivation.
Final Thoughts
Consistency is key! Mary shares her belief in staying dedicated and patient in the language journey, no matter the pace.
Conclusion from Host
The host wraps up with reflections on Mary’s inspiring journey and encouragement to continue pushing the boundaries of language learning.