CLAYTON – With increasing interest from the community, Hocutt-Ellington Memorial Library is once again offering its free, eight-week Conversational Spanish Class, now in its third iteration. Led by Johnston Community College Instructor Dr. Jennifer Horvath, the class invites residents to explore the power of language and connect across cultures.
The Conversational Spanish Class, which began Monday, January 13, has reached full capacity. Focused on building relationships through language, the course allows students to work on understanding vocabulary, starting conversations, and exploring Spanish-speaking practices. These goals are designed to help students gain confidence and practical experience that they can apply in their daily lives.
Horvath, who has been teaching Spanish for over 27 years, brings a wealth of experience and a relatable approach to the class. Having started her own language-learning journey at the age of 14, Horvath knows the challenges and triumphs of grasping a new language. Throughout the years, she has taught thousands of students, lived in Spain, and visited countries like Guatemala and Costa Rica, gaining valuable insights into Spanish-speaking regions.
“Give yourself grace and patience,” Horvath pointed out. “It will come. When learning a language, don’t translate. It’s exhausting and limits your fluency. Instead, immerse yourself. Label your surroundings, pick out familiar words, and trust your learning process.”
With around a dozen students, the course has attracted individuals with diverse motivations but a shared passion for learning. One student, who works in a predominantly Spanish-speaking area, shared, “My co-workers speak Spanish, and I think it’ll be helpful to be able to communicate with families and not have to have interpreters for every conversation,” said Jennifer Snipes. “I thought this would be a fun way to engage.”
Another student, a Clayton Middle School teacher, emphasized the importance of learning Spanish to better serve his students. “Our school’s Hispanic population is growing, and I want to help students directly, instead of waiting for a translator,” said Robin Oelrich. “We have a translator who covers six schools, but we have to set up for her to come to us if we need help. She’s really good, but I want to be able to assist students without relying on her. This class allows me to do that.”
Oelrich, who also adopted six children with Guatemalan ancestry, expressed how learning Spanish is important for his family as well. “I want to make sure they retain their heritage,” he said. “Speaking Spanish with them is an important part of that.”
In addition to the diverse group of community members taking the class, a library staff member is retaking the course with her spouse in preparation for their second mission trip to Guatemala. “Yes, we did go to Guatemala,” said Library Associate Mardia Jacobs. “It was wonderful! My reasoning for taking Spanish again is because we are going back, and I want to further my knowledge. I want to be able to interact with the young people there because I’m nosy – I just want to know what they’re saying. I’m excited for August when we go. I can’t wait!”
Her husband, Marc Jacobs, who is also participating in the course, talked about his experience from their first trip. “Our first trip was phenomenal, and it wasn’t until the last day that I started feeling like I could come out of my shell and have a conversation,” he explained. “I spent the first six days just absorbing and listening, translating in my head. By the time I could come up with a reply, the conversation had moved on. So, we’re going again, and I’m going to try to be more proactive about interjecting how I feel in Spanish instead of just translating.”
The library covers the costs of the class to make it accessible to all residents, aligning with its mission to offer enriching and meaningful opportunities. “We’re proud to provide programs like this for free,” said Library Manager Mel Poole. “By bringing valuable resources directly to our residents, we empower them to communicate confidently across languages and cultures, building stronger connections in our community.”
The Conversational Spanish Class continues through March 17. The library also offers access to language learning from home through Transparent Language Online via NC Live with your library card.
