¡Prenda la luz!  – Turn on the light!                     

I’m about to issue a contradictory message, considering how often kids have to be reminded to apague la luz – turn off the light, every time they leave a room.  Why?  Because when it comes to learning a foreign language, their minds are just like that light – they get turned-off every time they walk out of class, and usually stay that way until the following session.

For our students, that would be 3-hours and 45-minutes of weekly classroom wattage.  Thankfully, we at The Summit aspire for education beyond just “ordinary”. 

Listening is to speaking what reading is to writing, as the four necessary keys for learning a second language.  However, few bother to mention the “master key”, which unlocks learning anytime a student chooses to 'prenda la luz'.

Thinking is the missing component, that even college textbooks never specifically addressed.  Regardless of grades or acquired knowledge, until I could learn to think in Spanish, I was never able to use it.  When did it happen?  I’m not sure.  How?  By learning to see the English-speaking world around me, en español!

All those mindless thoughts and conversations we have with ourselves is where it safely starts; the chance to test-drive an ever-expanding vocabulary, and desire to fill-in the gaps as needed.  Total immersion becomes available anytime, anywhere; no classroom, textbooks, or homework required -- only a curious mind, an appetite for knowledge, and a handy dictionary helps!

And just so you know, aside from 'to turn on',another form of prenda translates 'to fall in love with; to take a great liking to'.  When it comes to Spanish as "the light", I'll be quite satisfied with either definition!

Parents, this is where you can get involved with the education process.  When sitting quietly in your home, at a stoplight, or anywhere with your child, simply ask what they see – en español.  If all they can do is count objects or name colors, they’re headed in the right direction!  I think you’ll be surprised at what they know, and what you might also learn together.

This ‘thinking theory’ removes the barricades of classroom walls, and helps support the cutting edge direction of collective online-learning.  The current introduction includes weekly schedules, assignments and announcements that are now posted in advance on this website, so students can come to class prepared.  Together, we don’t want to waste a moment of valuable time in the classroom!

The students and I are excited, and parents should be, too.  Since daily visits to our Summit classroom aren’t possible, I invite you to familiarize yourself with the virtual classroom shaping-up on this section of the website.  And just like the students, get in the habit of frequently checking back, because we’re just getting started!