It’s been just two days since registration started for Patchogue-Medford Public Library’s free beginner Spanish classes and the popular program is almost at capacity.
Due to space constraints at the library, only 26 people will be accepted into the 10-week program. So the library wasn’t exactly knocking down greaterpatchogue.com’s door for publicity after announcing the classes on its Facebook page Wednesday.
But the librarians do want the public to know the library recently purchased $1,200 worth of Rosetta Stone software for those looking to learn the country’s second most popular language behind English.
Those looking to take advantage of the Rosetta Stone offer should contact life-long learning librarian Jose-Rodrigo Hernandez for help at (631) 654-4700, ext. 257,, or visit the library website to access the Spanish-learning software from home (instructions below).
The library is also stocked with popular books and audio books that are in Spanish, Hernandez noted.
As for the classes, the library is offering a 1A class for true beginners and a 1B class for those with a bit more knowledge of Spanish. The 1A class runs from 10-11:30 a.m. on Saturdays starting Sept. 19. The 1B class runs from 7-8:30 p.m. on Wednesdays starting Sept. 23. Both classes max out at 13 students. They’re each taught by certified Spanish as a second language teachers from local schools.
Click here for more information and to enroll. Names will be taken for a short waiting list. The classes will be reintroduced in the spring.
Jean Kaleda, the library’s Spanish service coordinator, said this is the second year of the Spanish classes, with the 1B course being added due to the demand from those people who had taken the 1A class.
The reasons people enroll vary greatly, Kaleda said.
“It ranges from teachers to business owners to general community members who are just looking to communicate better with the people around them, in their everyday lives,” she said.
People seeing their sons or daughters marry into Spanish-speaking families have also attended the classes.
Kaleda said a near-term goal of hers is to enroll Spanish- and English-native speakers together in a language-interchange conversation group, where both populations could learn the languages simultaneously.
Speaking with other people is widely considered to be best way to learn a language, she said.
Those looking to access Rosetta Stone through the library’s website should click on the Articles & Research link in the Online Resources dropdown menu. From there, click Language, then Rosetta Stone and enter the barcode number on your library card. You can create any username you wish to use the material.
