“Norma Ortega is a terrific teacher. She is enthusiastic about her subject and maintains a wonderfully positive attitude throughout lessons. She is a true optimist and shares interesting stories and background information on a variety of topics. As an experienced instructor, Norma is quick to figure out a student’s level and organize the types of assignments and practice needed. With an approachable and sympathetic demeanor, she continues to motivate students with interesting material and explanations so that they will make good progress as they learn to speak and understand another language. Highly recommended!”

– Janet Woodward

 

“I am a late-in-life learner starting classes in my 50s. Norma has structured my education to fit my professional needs and my individual life interests. Not only has Norma taught me the necessities of vocabulary and grammar, but also introduced me to Spanish literature and the rich cultures of Spanish speaking countries. She is very patient when I struggle over a difficult grammatical concept. Her up-beat encouragement has helped me get through these difficult times and my progress is obvious. Reading, speaking, and comprehending Spanish has all improved for me. It has been a great way to exercise my brain while seeing the world through other cultural perspectives. I believe it’s important to exercise your brain as well as your body. Private Spanish lessons from Norma have certainly done that for me. I’ve been introduced to Spanish literature and the rich culture of Spanish speaking countries. Other benefits for me have been my ability to see the world from another point of view, and best of all, travel to Spanish speaking countries is now so much easier!”

– Warren Munzel

 

“I have been taking private Spanish language lessons with Normal Ortega since 2006, when we returned from our sabbatical in Costa Rica. I was interested in building upon Spanish grammar and vocabulary that I had been introduced to during our time living in Central America, and wanted to work on my Spanish conversation skills. I wanted to work with a teacher who spoke Spanish as their native language. I have found Norma an engaged teacher, always prepared with new material for me to learn. She has encouraged me to speak, which has helped my conversational Spanish a great deal. Her interest in Hispanic literature has rubbed off on me, as now we are reading together classic literature in Spanish.

The Spanish I have learned from Norma has also been able to serve me in a practical way. I have continued to use my language skills working as a physician in Costa Rica and facilitating health discussions with villagers in rural Nicaragua.

Norma is great with beginners as well. She taught Spanish to both of my children, starting when they were in the last years of elementary school and when in middle school. She was able to supplement the Spanish curriculum that they were receiving in the Seattle Public Schools, as she focused on spoken Spanish, giving them extra practice with verbal comprehension and expression.

I look forward to continuing to learn from Norma and would highly recommend her classes and individual tutoring.”

– Elizabeth Jernberg