STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK

Hone your Spanish with a new weekly Conversational Spanish class for intermediate Spanish speakers beginning from noon to 1 p.m. today—Wednesday, Feb. 19—at Town Center West in Hailey.

Taught by popular language tutor Leonardo Padilla Sacha, the free classes will be structured around specific topics each week and focused on developing fluency and practical speaking skills.  Drop-ins are welcome.

“We’ve fielded many requests to offer this class over the years and I’m so glad we can meet this need now,” said organizer Kristin Fletcher, the library’s programs and engagement manager. “Often people took Spanish in high school or college or have traveled south of the border.  They gained some basic skills but want to improve their vocabulary and fluency for future travel or to carry on a conversation in Spanish with a friend or neighbor.”

Intermediate-level conversational Spanish classes are important for the community because they help individuals build confidence and improve their communication skills in real-life situations. These classes will enhance understanding within our community by encouraging cultural exchange, said Fletcher. By providing practical language tools, the classes will empower participants to succeed in both personal and professional interactions.

Originally from Peru, Leonardo Padilla Sacha grew up in a family that spoke both Spanish and Quechua, the indigenous Andean language later adopted by the Incas.  The beauty of multiple languages and the connections they create deeply inspired him.

As a teenager, he helped younger students and his siblings with their studies.  His first formal teaching experience was in Peru where he taught for 5 years.  Since moving to the Wood River Valley, he has taught English to native Spanish speakers and Spanish to native English speakers, sharing his native language and culture with others.

He has taught HPL’s Conversacíon de inglés language class for four years and is well-known for his ability to connect with students from diverse backgrounds and adapt his teaching to meet their needs. 

For more information and to sign up, contact the Library at 208-788-2036 or visit https://haileypubliclibrary.org/