Local Language Teacher Receives the California Adult Education Students Succeed Award
Maria Oliveira, a Contra Costa Spanish and Portuguese language teacher has won the California Adult Education Students Succeed Award.
(PRWEB) December 4, 2004 -- Maria Oliveira, a Contra Costa Spanish and
Portuguese language teacher has won the California Adult Education Students
Succeed Award. This project identifies learners who have reached their life
goals as a result of their participation in the adult education system and are
now active participants in their communities. The project disseminates the
stories of these former students and the exemplary programs that assisted them.
Ms. Oliveira was nominated by the Fairfield – Suisun Adult School in
Fairfield, CA based on the following criteria: She is an adult with significant
life responsibilities, such as those related to employment, family, and/or
community. She has established and met life goals as a result of completing an
adult education program. She has improved the life situation of self/others as a
result of learning experience. She has overcome difficult circumstances in order
to pursue adult learning experiences.
Maria’s educational background
began at age 7 in the Azores Islands. She came to the United States as a
19-year-old Portuguese immigrant. From 1977-1979 she attended the Fairfield-
Suisun Adult School for which she attributes much of her professional success.
Today, she owns and directs her own language-consulting firm, Maria Oliveira
Language Consulting Service (http://www.marialanguages.com).
While she was at the
Fairfield- Suisun Adult School, Maria took many business courses. These business
classes provided the foundation Maria needed when she started her own business
years later. In fact, she says the accounting skills she learned then are still
a big help today with her growing language-consulting firm.
After earning
several degrees and credentials, Maria came back to the Fairfield- Suisun Adult
School in 1993 to teach in the Community Education Program. She created and
taught an innovative PALS program (Partners Acquiring Language Skills"). In this
class, native speakers of English and Spanish were partners in helping one
another improve in the language they were learning. Presently, Maria teaches
very popular Conversational Spanish language classes at the Adult School to
groups of students who say they "love the class, because Maria loves to
teach."
In addition to teaching Spanish, Maria also teaches Portuguese
and translates. As a language program specialist, she develops conversational
and technical educational materials which consist of CDs, audiotapes and
workbooks that allow anyone to learn to speak Spanish or Portuguese on their
own. Being a most enthusiastic instructor who loves teaching, Maria makes sure
that her students learn. While they are learning, they enjoy and gain an
appreciation for the language and the culture in a safe and warm learning
environment.
Maria's educational philosophy is that one must work hard
and be persistent. She says, "Education is life itself. Acquiring knowledge
through formal education has become the most important thing in my life. It has
enhanced my living and made all my achievements possible."
Maria can be
contacted at: 707-745-8267 or e-mail protected from spam bots.
More
information about her Spanish language learning programs can be found here: http://www.spanish-classes-courses.com. More information about
her Portuguese language learning programs can be found here: http://www.learn-to-speak-portuguese.com. She also offers
language immersion programs in the Azores and in Mexico. You’ll find more
details on her web sites.
For more information about the Fairfield -
Suisun Adult School, please go to their web site: http://schools.fsusd.k12.ca.us/schools/adult/
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/12/prweb185246.htm