Meet 7-week Spanish Immersion Student: Karen Luisi
“Put your pride in your back pocket for 7 weeks. Ask questions early and often. Take naps.” That’s the advice of retired Army veteran Karen Luisi after seven weeks of studying Spanish at Middlebury. Immersion challenged her, surprised her, and helped her connect more deeply with the Spanish-speaking community around her.
Karen Luisi
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Program: 7-week Immersion
Level: 1
Current: Retired (Army). Living my best life.
What surprised you about your experience at the Middlebury Language Schools?
I don’t know about surprise…but what amazed me was how incredibly dedicated the instructors are to our learning. And not just MY instructors - ALL the Spanish language instructors - from every level; including the choir director! It didn’t matter if we knew each other or not. If I had a question, I could ask any of them… “what do you call this?” (in Spanish, of course). If they saw me working on verb conjugations in the cafeteria, they would offer learning advice. If I was frustrated, they listened and offered encouragement. They would fill in the blanks as I struggled to express myself with limited vocabulary.
The professors were infinitely patient, understanding, and encouraging.
Why did you choose to study at the Middlebury Language Schools?
I was tired of not being able to communicate with folks in my area. I want to participate in conversations with my neighbors and understand songs in Spanish.
And just knowing the words (literal translation) is not the same as understanding the heart of a song. There’s so much more to understanding language than just knowing the words.
Please describe how your language skills improved due to your studies at Middlebury.
I think other people noticed my improvement more than I did. I always felt like I didn’t know anything. But students at higher levels pointed out to me how much more I was able to say than when they first met me. And I could certainly understand more than when I first started. I didn’t have to know every word in order to understand what was being said. Context is everything.
Describe your typical day at the School of Spanish.
My typical school day started around 6:15am. I got up, showered, and ate breakfast at 7am. Classes ran from 8-1pm with a one hour break from 10-11. Lunch from 1-2. Then study and homework or perhaps a little nap. Dinner was from 7-8. Then more study and/or homework. I attended the pronunciation clinic on Thursdays from 4-5. I went to bed late (between midnight and 2am) because my best focus time was between 9pm to 2am. That’s just how I’m wired.
What advice would you give someone wanting to attend the School of Spanish?
My best advice is this: Put your pride in your back pocket for 7 weeks. Ask questions early and often. Take naps.
Immersion is extremely fatiguing…for everyone - no matter their age. Protect your time and energy. You don’t have to participate in every co-curricular activity available. Do what works best for you and your learning. Eat ice cream.
What are you up to now/how will you use your new language skills in your future professional or personal life?
I am blissfully retired from the Army, so my time is my own. I am also a professional voice actor, chef, and improv artist. I don’t do any of that for a living. I am continuing my Spanish studies at home with books and a private tutor. And I am practicing my new language skills with my neighbors and landscaper. My landscaper (who is a native Spanish speaker and speaks perfect English) told me that when I get home - he is ONLY speaking Spanish to me from now on. I reminded him that I am only a beginner, but he doesn’t care. Spanish only - he told me. Ha!
What else?
I wrote a very short story in Spanish while I was in school. It’s called, Mi Cielo. I read it at the “Creator’s Gathering”. I’m thinking of recording it and publishing it in Spanish as an audiobook. I’ll let you know if I actually do it.
Please see the Language Schools website to learn more about our programs. Our application for Summer 2027 will open on November 2.