Missoula middle-schoolers teach Spanish to younger children

"We learn… 10 percent of what we read, 20 percent of what we hear, 30 percent of what we see, 50 percent of what we see and hear, 70 percent of what we discuss with others, 80 percent of what we experience, and 95 percent of what we teach to someone." Anon

Last week, Larsen was quizzing kindergartner Ashlyn Phillips on the Spanish names of "la familia" – the family – and the little girl was acing every response.

"Can you say abuela?" asked Larsen.

"Abuela," said the little girl.

"And that means?"

"Grandmother."

"Good job. Can you say grandmother one more time, in Spanish?"

"Abuela."

Larsen is in the classroom twice a week, teaching children at Hellgate Elementary. She developed the lesson plans and also created the little book titled "Familia!" she used with her students.

All this work, and no paycheck. Because Torri Larsen is a student of Spanish herself, an eighth-grader nearly as fresh to the language as little Ashlyn Phillips.

By JAMIE KELLY of the Missoulian

Full Story: http://missoulian.com/news/local/missoula-middle-schoolers-teach-spanish-to-younger-children/article_8bc64b00-2ac8-11e1-87cf-0019bb2963f4.html