We had the good fortune of connecting with Joseph Pearson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Joseph, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Community Spanish is a response to the need to create an effective way to learn Spanish for adult learners who need a course or program which both meets their needs and inspires them to learn. Language courses usually focus on grammar/vocabulary or conversation, but fail to effectively integrate the two in a sustainable way. Community Spanish shows students that grammar is a construct which informs conversation, and that exploring texts (both words and audiovisual) help expose us to natural language in use. However, the key to success in this program is community: We count on the group of learners in each course to create a strong community of individuals who hold one another accountable, cheer one another on, and help one another learn. Community Spanish was created with the idea of combining research-based best practice in language learning with community-based learning to create an engaging, meaningful, and effective learning opportunity.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I believe that bridging the language gap creates a world where respect, understanding, and cultural appreciation unite diverse communities. I am also confident that anyone of any age or background can both learn and benefit from learning Spanish. Community Spanish is a unique 21st-Century online program that connects people across the globe through live, interactive, and engaging Spanish classes. Our Spanish-language program is housed in our own uniquely designed platform called the Virtual Language Laboratory. Inside, we provide original content, free resources for extended learning, opportunities for collaboration, and live weekly classes. Combining live classes with virtual resources, Community Spanish is the best way for people with active lifestyles and deep motivation to acquire Spanish fast! Each course is personalized to the needs and motivations of students within that course and is structured with an underlying curriculum we specially designed for fast and fun language learning. Community Spanish combines the best of conversational classes with real-world grammar and vocabulary in an immersive learning experience that will help students communicate in situations that are relevant and useful. Our live classes, accessible from anywhere in the world, unite students with others who are as excited and motivated to learn Spanish in order to build accountability through friendship and community. Our personalized courses last 10 weeks and offer a combination of 10 hours of live instruction with 20+ hours of optional independent practice and learning. Each week, all participants meet at the same time for an hour-long Spanish class. Then, students gain access to diverse resources and original activities designed to immerse you in authentic language learning through virtual contact with Spanish in the real world. Last, students develop a community with all other students enrolled in our program through a private social media group that provides direct access to the instructor.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
To start, I would take my friend to Torrey Pines for a hike on the cliffs to see the beautiful flora and fauna of our area. Assuming they would be inspired by the breathtaking views of the ocean, I would likely take my friend swimming and snorkeling at La Jolla Shores. We would start at the shores and swim south toward the caves where we would encounter leopard sharks, rays of all sorts, sea turtles, and fish. We would obviously be exhausted by then, so we would drive back north to Oceanside, stopping on the way at Rico’s Taco Shop in Encinitas. We would end the night having drinks and watching the sunset on Mission Avenue in downtown Oceanside.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I dedicate my shoutout to the language teachers who have inspired me to learn Spanish and become a Spanish teacher!

Website: www.JosephAllenPearson.com
Instagram: Instagram.com/joeypearson
Twitter: Twitter.com/joeypearson
Facebook: Facebook.com/communityspanish

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