To hear what students and parents have to say about the classes, click play.
"I liked this class because it gave me the opportunity to become a better student and also a better learner. I became closer to the Lord because of it and also have learned more about the world through this course. I liked that the students were all close together. I am a happy Spanish speaker now, and I don't have to worry about how to talk to my friends from Mexico and Puerto Rico." - Jessica
Hola Brad, solo quería darte las gracias. No tengo palabras para expresar lo mucho que disfruté aprendiendo y participando en tus clases de español a lo largo de los años. Las oportunidades de viajes misioneros fueron realmente impactantes. Tú y Marcy fueron una gran influencia en mi camino misionero. Lo estoy pasando increíble aquí en JUCUM Mazatlán. Puedo entender y conversar con la gente en español. Mi español seguirá mejorando en los próximos meses. Estoy muy agradecida por lo que tus clases me han enseñado. Espero poder ir a otro viaje misionero de LWS en el futuro. - Bendiciones, Mariah
Dear Sr. Riegg -
Where to start?! First of all, praise the Lord and thank you so, so much for another amazing year of Spanish!!! Your class is something I look forward to every single week, and I can't believe how far I've come in just 3 years! I was thinking about this a few days ago, and I realized that, in a way, it's really your last job to teach me Spanish. Your first job (which I think is something you do naturally) is discipling your students and helping them grow in their faith and in other aspects of life such as school. I love how you prioritize Jesus, prayer, Bible, and community in every class, and you do an excellent job of pointing everything back to Jesus!
I truly think I've grown more in the last 3 years than in any other time in my life. I love how even at 8:30 on a Wednesday morning when I'm not quite awake yet we make time for the Lord throughout our language learning. I know you remind all your students and parents that the goal of learning Spanish is to glorify the Lord, and I think if I had started learning Spanish with any other focus (like soley for the ability to speak a second language), I wouldn't have fallen so deeply in love with the language!
It is such a beautiful thing to be able to communicate with the Spanish speakers in my church - they have told me (even during my first year in your class when I couldn't speak very well and my confidence was definitely not as big) that having someone speak in their heart language was so refreshing and they felt that I really cared about them individually! It didn't matter the words I spoke or how badly I messed up; they were simply blessed by my efforts! That reminds me of something Jesus would do - we often mess up but He is blessed by our efforts for Him no matter how small. I know that Jesus is smiling upon you, your family, and your classes.
Also, how can I not mention the Mexico mission trips?! The 2 I've been on to RSM have literally been life-changing!!! So thank you for providing me with those opportunities! I know how much work you have to put into those kinds of trips, but I'm so glad that you've taken on this challenge year after year. It's really amazing how much personal growth I can see after being in a foreign country for a week (or two, if you combine both trips)! I've never met so many whole hearted Jesus-lovers and I've made many amazing friendships that I know will last a lifetime.
Okay, sorry this is soooooo long, but I seriously can not say enough good things about what you are doing through LWS!!! My life has been totally changed - like actually my life course. I've always had a heart for missions, but after going to Mexico with LWS twice, I know that I'd love to do more, and something like a Discipleship Training School through YWAM when I get just a bit older. Thank you for instilling that love for missions and a heart for the people the God has made in me through learning Spanish!! I've been blessed so incredibly much by everything you've taught me these last 3 years, and I cannot wait to start again in Spanish 4 next year!!!
Dios le bendiga,
Libby :)
I believe that God gives us our interests and passions to use in a way that brings Him glory, which is why I've committed to serving at a Christian camp in Bolivia for two years. I'm so excited to be able to immerse myself in Spanish and to share the gospel through that process! I already have a strong foundation in the language, largely because of Sr. Riegg's class and his emphasis on conversational skills. To God be the glory!
-Rachel, former student
I wanted to let you know that what you are teaching in class is really making a difference in my life, and I know more Spanish than I think I do. I practiced the Spanish 1 Bible verses today, and I only had to look at the first few words and then it would come back to me, and I could say the verse for memory. The other day, I was also practicing what I would say to share the gospel with someone in Spanish. I realized that though I didn't have all the exact words, I could use Bible verses and other words to get around the words I didn't know and I could still share the love of Jesus. In conclusion, I'm not trying to boast or be proud. I'm just sincerely thanking you for the time you take to share the gift of language with your students. I know that that gift will stay with me for the rest of my life no matter how much Spanish I remember or use during my lifetime. Thank you for being such a blessing in my life! I also wanted to say that it's encouraging to see another Christian who is truly trying to follow Jesus with everything they have in this wild world. Thanks again for everything you do! - Libby (Spanish 2 student)
My daughter has enjoyed Living Waters Spanish, as Sr. Riegg has made learning a foreign language approachable and fun! The online weekly classes were engaging, as well as challenging with it's immersion approach. As a parent, I appreciated how the assignments were designed to keep my child actively listening to and speaking Spanish on a daily basis throughout the course of the year. The highlight of this class has been seeing my child gain confidence in speaking to other native Spanish speakers. Sr. Riegg has also done a wonderful job bringing Christ into his class as the motivation for his students to be able speak Spanish for God's glory.
Gracias Sr. Riegg! ~ Kristine J. (Spanish 1 parent)
¡Hola Sr. Riegg!
I hope you and your family are well. I’ve somewhat settled into life here at Whitworth, taking Spanish this fall, and just wanted to say how much I appreciate your dedication to teaching and everything you’ve poured into me. Even though it’s a 300-level class it’s been a breeze so far thanks to five years in your classes, your method of teaching through active conversation, and your emphasis on immersion.
You always made learning a new language seem nonthreatening and fun, which is part of why I’ve declared Spanish as a minor :). I hope LWS is still going strong and that you continue to give more students a love for Spanish and serving Jesus.
Thanks for everything! Isaac
Dear Brad and Marcy, Thank you so much for doing such a great job with Living Waters Spanish. As a mom, I so appreciate all that you have taught my sons over the years. What a blessing! They are always speaking Spanish around the house and have the ability to understand and converse with the native speakers they run into. This program teaches students to be able to communicate effectively and quickly. We are at the end of an era for the Blazer family. Isaiah is going to be transitioning to other areas of focus next year. He will take the CLEP exam within the next several months, and I have no doubt that he will do VERY well (as James did). I will continue to recommend you to all homeschooling families looking for a high quality, effective language learning program.
May the Lord continue to bless you richly and abundantly as you pursue Him! Mary (Mom)
Estimado Sr. Riegg, Este año en español ha sido muy inspirador para mí. Si alguien más me hubiera enseñado, probablemente hubiera sido muy aburrido. Pero fui bendecido con un salón divertido y lleno de risas. Así que no importa lo mal que me fue el día, el aula me trajo alegría. Y con todo eso, gracias por ser un profesor tan amable y
cariñoso. Isabella
Hi Brad and Marcy, I just wanted to share some good news with you: Isaac took the AP Spanish exam in May, and I’m happy to say he got a 5 [highest possible score, and good for college credit] on it. Thank you so much for all you’ve poured into him these past years. Blessings, Dee (Mom)
"The experience my girls have had in your class over the last couple of years has been wonderful. They have learned so much and it has inspired them to continue learning and looking for opportunities to expand their skills. Lindsay is now in Panama for a month at a friends house to learn Spanish better.....there is a Bible study class in Spanish the girls are attending at our church and a local Spanish church that they go to on occasion. They have asked staff and a few of the Spanish speaking students to only speak to them in Spanish and on and on I could go!! They will continue to utilize what they have learned and hopefully take another class in the future to become more fluent. Thank you again for your kindness, Godly example, and inspiring way you teach. May God bless you and your family this holiday season and in the coming semester!" -Chris (Parent)
Hello there!...Last semester in my College Writing I class, our final was to write a paper in 30 minutes about our favorite/most impressionable teacher in high school, I wrote about you. I described how you taught us that knowledge is invaluable and a way to know God, glorify God, spread Jesus, and love people. And while mastering Spanish always remained the goal, you also taught us that that's not the most important thing and that our identity/worth is not found in our grades, failures, or accomplishments. You cared deeply for each student in your class and you took the time to get to know, serve, and love each person. You set the example of stewardship and using our talents for Jesus by taking us to Mexico each year.
You are part of the reason I want to be a teacher, because I want to teach my students the same thing: that knowledge is important, necessary, and a way of obeying God, but the fact that we are loved and known by God is always the most important thing. Thank you for being a role model, and inspiration, a reason, a representation of Christ, a joy, and a blessing.
I love and miss your family dearly, maybe I can stop by sometime next year on my way home from school. Thank you really does not sum up how much gratitude I feel for you and your teaching, please just be calmed and encouraged and reminded that you make a big difference. God bless, praying for you, Moriah (past student)
"Thank you so much for teaching this class. I know I haven’t come on a mission trip, but I have enjoyed the class quite a bit. I know it’s not where I should find my identity or value, but nonetheless, I’ve felt special and valued, and that’s always nice to feel. I’ve loved the laughs we’ve shared, and I’m so grateful for just how silly you are. Any class is less fun if the teacher is some stoic dude who has no emotions. So, again, thanks for all you do for us." Roger
"Thanks Sr. Riegg! Your classes were such a special time in my week. I'm really missing that! I know I would never have learned half so much doing it any other way. Thank you so much for being such a wonderful teacher!! At first, I was considering not taking your class because of friendship issues, but I am SO GLAD that I did! Some of my favorite memories happened in that classroom :) Muchisimo gracias para todo! (? ;)"
"Thanks Sr. Riegg! Your classes were such a special time in my week. I'm really missing that! I know I would never have learned half so much doing it any other way. Thank you so much for being such a wonderful teacher!! At first, I was considering not taking your class because of friendship issues, but I am SO GLAD that I did! Some of my favorite memories happened in that classroom :) Muchisimo gracias para todo! (? ;)"
"My husband and I have been VERY impressed with the quality of this class. You (and your wife) are doing an absolutely incredible job. The level of instruction is exceptional, and the heart behind what you do is beautiful. James is learning so much, so quickly." - Mary (Mom)
"Choosing to take the Living Waters Spanish course with Sr. Riegg could be listed as one of the best decisions I have ever made. Not only has my knowledge of Spanish great been enhanced, but more importantly, my faith and love for my Savior Jesus Christ has deepened through this course. The Christ-centeredness of the class room and each class mate inspired me to be more Christ-centered at home. The opportunity to go to Mexico with this group was the culmination of God deepening my love for Him, not to mention that my Spanish speaking ability was challenged and stretched! My confidence in who I am in the Lord grew, as did my determination to actually “. . . walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;” (Col. 1:10). On this trip, the Lord taught me how important it is to glorify God in all things. That is what this course adequately does; it gives glory to God in all things. Thank you Jesus!!!!"
- Katie (student)
- Katie (student)
"On our homeschooling journey we have found a few gems that reaffirm our decision to homeschool. One of those gems has been your Spanish classes. We are so thankful for you and Marcy and for your commitment to teaching Spanish in a fun and engaging way, but most importantly for placing Christ at the center of your teaching. You have been such a blessing to our family. Thank you for who you are and ALL that you do." -Susan (Mom)
The online Living Waters Spanish class has been a great help to me! This program gave me the opportunity to learn Spanish through the use of God’s word, songs of praise, and Bible stories, and provided other people also learning Spanish to interact with and share encouragement in each lesson. I am now on my way to Mexico for the 3rd time to serve with Mexican Medical Ministries and am looking forward to using what I’ve learned.
I am thankful for the Riegg family for their commitment to teaching this language all for the furtherance of the gospel!
Shelbe (Student)
Thanks, Brad! We appreciate your support for our family so much! Isaiah and Kalea have retained so much Spanish. Only because of your phenomenal approach to language instruction and faithfulness. So unusual to meet homeschool kids who have had such a quality foreign language teaching experience. Keola (Mom, online)
"I am so excited. I started reading in San Juan today in my Bible and I was able to read a verse because I knew Hijo, Dios, tu, el, rey!" -Kristen (Student)
"Thank you Sr. Riegg for continuously teaching with excellence and challenging your students to do the same. You are a model of Godly teaching, living and leading, and have been a great example for my boys! With great appreciation for all you do." -Lisa (Mom)
"I am so proud of her grade and so thankful for all she learned in your class. You are such an inspiring teacher! Thanks for your kindness and encouragement to her and all your students through the year. I am so thankful you teach Spanish and am looking forward to her going forward with LW Spanish 2 next year!" -Janet (Mom)
"I am so excited. I started reading in San Juan today in my Bible and I was able to read a verse because I knew Hijo, Dios, tu, el, rey!" -Kristen (Student)
"Thank you Sr. Riegg for continuously teaching with excellence and challenging your students to do the same. You are a model of Godly teaching, living and leading, and have been a great example for my boys! With great appreciation for all you do." -Lisa (Mom)
"I am so proud of her grade and so thankful for all she learned in your class. You are such an inspiring teacher! Thanks for your kindness and encouragement to her and all your students through the year. I am so thankful you teach Spanish and am looking forward to her going forward with LW Spanish 2 next year!" -Janet (Mom)
You have been a great teacher! It has been so wonderful to be apart of your class and wish everyone could experience learning Spanish together in this way. Thank you for all your work and patience with us. You make Spanish fun and give us a foundation to keep on learning it. I have loved learning the Bible and Spanish together! Thank you again. Kristen
"The girls have learned so much from your husband [Brad], and when we pray for him and your family, they refer to him as "an amazing teacher." Don and I are very thankful for the influence he's had, and for his continual testimony of living every part of our lives for the Lord." - Robyn (Mom) Mr. and Mrs. Riegg, Thank you both for dedicating your time to our spanish class, and thank you for being such an awesome teacher, I have learned soo much in your class, and I had a lot of fun. I really appreciate the way you bring God and the Bible into everything we did in class, I really appreciate both of you, and it was so nice to finally meet you Mrs. Riegg, after seeing pictures of you all year, and emailing you...Thank you both so much, and I hope to see you next year!! Ellie (student)
"Mr. Riegg! I just wanted to thank you for all of the years you taught me Spanish! I am helping run a Clothes Closet in Gladstone, and a Hispanic family came in and I was able to speak with the mom and children in Spanish about everything from clothing sizes to how their day was going. It was such a blessing to be able to serve them in that way! It brought a smile to their faces to have me make an effort to converse with them even though it was far from perfect. Your Spanish classes are a ministry!" -Sarah "Hola Sr. Riegg, I was on youtube looking up crocheting patterns when I stumbled upon a Spanish crocheting video. I watched it and soon found out I could understand what the lady was saying. She was talking really fast but I was so excited that I could understand her. Thank you for teaching me." -Lily (Spanish 2 student - 11 years old) Sr. Riegg- Thank you so much for teaching me Spanish and being patient with me and the rest of the class as we learn. Right now I am in Mexico (yes, again. Haha!) with my youth group and we built a house in 4 days for a single mom and 3 girls. They are so poor. But during the trip I was able to use my Spanish and talk to the girls! There were times when my friends would come up to me and ask me how to say a word in Spanish or what does a word mean. Thank you for teaching me in a way where I am able to have conversations with people. Many of my friends already took Spanish and can only go up to "Hola." Thank you for teaching me the best way possible! This mission trip that I'm on right now is so much fun! And one way it is fun is that I can talk in Spanish! Thank you, God Bless! -Brooke (student) "Hola señor! Over my break something kind of ironic happened that I wanted to share with you. I don't know if you knew, but I went to Puerta Vallarta Mexico over Christmas break. While we were there, my mom and I were walking through the town market. In one of the shops, we heard the song Con Mis Labios playing ,which we have practiced in class! I was shocked. I then decided that I wanted to tell the owner of the store El Manojo De Esperanza. After I did the man kept nodding and then asked me "Do you think God loves you? Do you believe he died on the cross for you? Are you a sinner?" I agreed to all of his questions. He then patted me on the shoulder and said "God Bless You." This was an experience for me that was not only part of my homework...but a chance for me to say or teach some one else, in a foreign language. I appreciate the time you take to teach this class through Gods word, and hope it continues well the rest of the new year. By the way, I have a friend from Honduras who I thought would like to meet you and see how my class works. So could she say hi from my computer tomorrow? She speaks spanish too so maybe thats how you could talk!!! Thanks again!" -Sage |
Thank you so much for your wonderful class this year. I know Sitara learned more in this year than in the past three with [Most Popular Spanish Computer Program]. I would definitely recommend you to any home schooling family. -Debbie (Mom) "I think the on-line class has gone great. It certainly allowed us to begin Spanish this year instead of delaying it one more year. I would be happy for any of my other children to have that as an option as well." -Cary (Mom) |
More Testimonials
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Sr. Riegg,
"...I'm just so thrilled with your class and teaching style. [My daughter] really enjoys that you sing and tell jokes and [my son] literally speaks Spanish all day, reciting verses almost to the point that he aggravates himself because they are stuck in his head. Makes me laugh! Such a blessing to our family!" ...Tanya (online Mom) Hi Brad and Marcy, So, Evan received a 65 out of 80 (81%) on the Spanish CLEP test last week. We read a 63 gives him the 9 credits of Spanish 1 and 2 in College, so this is great (considering he didn’t prepare for it one bit)! Blessings!! Kim (mom of Spanish 3 student) Querido Sr. Riegg, ¡Te doy gracias por enseñarme! Me has dado un idioma nuevo, con el que puedo ver mejor la gloria de Dios. También he sido bendecido por los hispanohablantes, quienes son mis amigos ahora. Quiero decir que el trabajo de tu familia no es en vano. ¡Manténganse firmes! Oro que tengan fuerza en el gozo del Señor. "Que haya paz dentro de tus murallas." Salmos 122:7 En Cristo, Lizzy (Spanish 2 student) Quierdo Señor Riegg Gracias por enseñarme español. Aprendí mucho y estoy agradecida por la oportunidad. Eres un maestro asombroso con una pasión por Jesús. Es lamentable que tuve que parar, pero aprecio todo lo que me has ensañado. ¡Dios te bendiga! - Gabrielle (Spanish 2 student) Hi Sr. Riegg, Thank you for all you've done! Thanks completely to you, I absolutely love Spanish. I speak it all the time at home. :) I have no idea how God will use this, but I know it will be amazing. You've given me the tools and encouragement to succeed in this language and have sparked my interest in every language. And you've always been an example of someone who is sold out for Jesus and who doesn't hold anything back. Thank you so much. ~Shelby (Spanish 4 student) "...when I went to Fresno I could understand the Spanish. About 3 days later, during lunch at Gleanings for the Hungry, a Colombian missionary visited us! And he couldn't speak a word of English...So, he stood up there and talked for about 10 minutes, his translator following close behind him. I was shocked at how much I understood. Flabbergasted, actually. :) ...And I will admit I am not a whiz at speaking, but reading and listening are significantly easier, therefore I understood at least 75% of what he said. It was amazing! Spanish is a beautiful language. Ha ha, and the funny part about the whole thing was, I'm taking a Christian Spanish class, therefore all the Christianese he was using was words I was familiar with; verses taking a secular class and not learning any of the 'religious' terms... Anyways. Thought that was cool. I finally remembered to tell you. :) Thanks for being my teacher!" Aubrey <>< |
I must admit that I had seen your advertisements at Exodus bookstore and other places and thought to myself...."why do we have to learn Spanish for the glory of God? Why can't we just learn Spanish?" Boy, was I wrong! Your class, and the way Senor Riegg teaches it, has inspired me to be a better parent, a better host parent (to my exchange student), a better teacher, and a better person overall by refocusing my efforts on where they should have been to begin with. I am inspired by the dedication of your family to this ministry! My daughter Isabella has taken Spanish in an after school program at the local public school, and also been tutored privately, as we sought ways to teach her the foreign language of her choosing. In one or two weeks in your class, she has learned more than in one year in these other programs. We talk about your class all the time, and my husband has even attended just to see what all the raves are about. Our foreign exchange student, also an avid Christian, is waiting for a Monday off from school so she can meet you. If you've ever wondered if you are reaching anybody with this ministry, you are, and I don't just mean learning Spanish! Muchas gracias! We’re enjoying the clase. "I've learned so much more in one year than with other Spanish programs in two maybe even three years, and better yet I remember it! I love the way you teach, and like the friendly class,...even the friendly competition!! Even the homework is fun!!! Overall, it's an awesome class." "Thank you so much for all the work that you've done and teaching us this year. I really enjoyed the curriculum, and I've learned more from you in Spanish then with anybody else. Thank you!" -Daniel I don't remember if I've mentioned this to you, but I'm really looking into getting a Spanish degree in college... I really enjoy Spanish. So obviously you've been doing something right. :) We are so delighted with this class, you have no idea! :) It's our privilege that she can have this wonderful high quality class. |
Hello Sr. Riegg!
Thank you for the Godly influence you were/are to me, I greatly appreciate it and it helped mold me into the person I am today. I loved how you prayed during our classes, how you used bibles verses throughout the classes, and just the way that you infused the scripture into our learning. It’s one of those things that you don’t realize how much you miss it and appreciate it until it’s gone. I also looked up to you ( and still do) as an example of what a Godly man, father, and husband should be like. I’m very thankful for that. Now that I’m in college I realize just how much of a blessing you and your classes were to me. They say that in college, you’ll either make your faith your own or you’ll disown it, there really isn’t any other options. Boy was this true. Not everyone is “attacking” me, in fact I have quite a few friends that are Christian. However, many do not believe and as my school is a state school, none of the classes are Christian/creation based. So, thank you again for all that you did and please know that it continues to impact me to this day. In Christ, Brian (former student)
Dear Sr. Riegg,
Thank you for being such an awesome teacher. During my first year of Spanish I absolutely did not want to learn another language because I felt I was being born all over again and having to start over with learning another language, but you making learning another language a fun and enjoyable experience. Now everyone I talk to, when they say they too are taking a Spanish class at another school, I test to see if they even know as much as I do and when I say from what I think is a simple sentence turns out to be an impossible sentence for them and too long and too much Spanish words for them to comprehend. Thank you for pushing us and encouraging us to learn Spanish and I am sure this 2nd year of Spanish is going to be very enjoyable! Thank you! - Brooke (Spanish 2)
Hi Sr. Riegg,
I want to thank you for teaching such fun, wholesome Spanish classes. I'm taking Spanish 101 at our community college, and even though I'm learning, one of its main functions is to remind me of your class! I miss having little conversations about the cattle, and I especially miss reading the Bible together in class. The focus of learning Spanish so we can show God's love to Spanish speakers is totally absent from my classroom; instead, we're learning it to satisfy a degree requirement. You understand the best reason to learn a new language, and you tell it to your students. I wish that were a part of my class. Thank you again, and may God bless you! - Abigail" (former student)
"Sr. and Sra. Riegg,
I just had to write and tell you how much the girls and I are enjoying the Spanish homework this week. I am just blown away at your incredible teaching techniques, wherein you make the memorization and repetition so much fun and my kids don't even realize that they are studying! We were laughing so hard at "dentista personal" and "ya soy su burrito." We also loved singing the worship songs that we know and love so well in Spanish.
Thank you for all the time, care and effort you obviously put into what you do. Our family is so very thankful for you both! - The Matheny Family"
"Hola, Sr. Reigg, I really liked this year's class! Your class has taught me so much. God bless and keep up the good work!" - Nathan (Spanish 1)
"Choosing to take the Living Waters Spanish course with Sr. Riegg could be listed as one of the best decisions I have ever made. Not only has my knowledge of Spanish great been enhanced, but more importantly, my faith and love for my Savior Jesus Christ has deepened through this course. The Christ-centeredness of the class room and each class mate inspired me to be more Christ-centered at home. The opportunity to go to Mexico with this group was the culmination of God deepening my love for Him, not to mention that my Spanish speaking ability was challenged and stretched! My confidence in who I am in the Lord grew, as did my determination to actually “. . . walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;” (Col. 1:10). On this trip, the Lord taught me how important it is to glorify God in all things. That is what this course adequately does; it gives glory to God in all things. Thank you Jesus!!!!" - Katie (Spanish 2)
"[My son] was very proud of himself getting an A (and so were we!) because he knew that he had to work hard to earn it. I was very impressed that we accidentally watched a Spanish version of a performance of Christ’s death and resurrection at Easter time this year. I don’t know if [he] told you, but we were glad he was with us because he could interpret most of what was being said!" - Tracie (Spanish 1 mom)
"I would like to say I'm thrilled with how the boys are learning. Lately I've been hearing semi conversations between them. This is more Spanish than I heard when my older boys did Rosetta Stone or when they took it at [the local community college]. And that is without us doing the five minutes a week with a native speaker. I need to get them doing that! So thank you for all your hard work I see it coming through my boys! Blessings," -Carol (mom of Spanish 1 students)
"Dear Sr. Riegg, While I don't speak Spanish, I did teach English and reading to special needs kids at all grade levels for many years. I wholly agree with you. It was my experience that having students spend time reading, increased their ability to read exponentially. It was not worksheets, or laborious drills, it was immersion in literature, discussions, reading aloud together, and reading silently, and making the reading a shared, enjoyable experience which enhanced the comprehension and reading level of each student. At the end of the year, when test scores come in, people wanted to know what we had 'done' to get such dramatic results. Many said the results were 'unheard of' especially for this population of students. The answer was pretty simple - we read! - and enjoyed, it I might add. Many students who have challenges never make it through a book. The first year we read interesting books totaling 2,500 pages - books like C. S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia for 5th and 6th graders along with a handful of other wonderful books. No wonder their reading improved. Previously most of the students had not read one complete book. Most educators would encourage the reading but not have the courage to step away from worksheets etc.
I wholly concur with your approach. It can seem a bit risky to go against the current 'methods', but it's precisely why we drive an hour to bring both our girls to your Spanish class. They have learned a great deal, they always enjoy the time in class, and feel very proud of themselves for tackling something difficult and succeeding. You are a great teacher, and we are blessed to have you serve our family by teaching Spanish. Serving the home school community should give you lots of freedom to be creative in approach and program. The fact that you use the Bible as your text is an added bonus. I have heard the girls say they are beginning to think in Spanish, they can read simple words and signs they see in airports and businesses and get quite excited that the language is unfolding for them.
Thanks for all you do. Be encouraged. Sincerely," - Jane
"Dear Mr. Riegg, My mom and I both feel like I have learned A TON of spanish over the year! It was a lot of fun, and I feel like I can carry on a conversation
in spanish pretty easily now. I have also gained a lot of vocabulary. Thanks SO much for teaching!!!" -Kelli (Spanish 1 student)
"Although my boys have talked with people in the past about the Lord, i.e., inviting them to youth group, telling them about their beliefs, asking them about theirs, etc… this was the first time they shared something so intimate about God and God’s Word. It was beautiful to watch the Holy Spirit's work unfold in that room as we were all talking, and although we were speaking with a believer; it was beautiful to see her tear up at hearing The Handful of Hope, and also sharing her translation of John 3:16. (NKJV version). She was so delightful and encouraging to my boys! I just wanted to relay my “thank you” to you and Marcy for putting LWS together. To see my boys step out of their comfort zone (even if it is at my prompting J ) has been humbling and encouraging to me! Such a blessing, thank you!"- Jennifer
"I was just thinking about you and what a blessing it was to be a part of your class. Jesus was always the focus and I appreciated that. I've had quite a few teachers through the homeschool co-op I was in, but you were the best teacher I ever had. Thank you. Thank you both for the work you do. :) God bless!" -Rachel
"By the way, Kelli loves this class. It is one of her favorite things of this year. You are a wonderfully gifted teacher. Thank you for making this class available to students like Kelli who live too far to commute to a class each week. I am so pleased." Sally
"Thank you so much for teaching me Spanish in a godly way. You have challenged me and pushed me out of my comfort zone, in a good way! You are such an incredible teacher. I could not get a better teacher for me. I look forward to next year, to see you and classmates, and of course learn more Spanish! -Jorie
"I like the time Sr. Riegg spent talking with each student, keeping us up to speed, making sure we understood the material, and giving us a chance to practice casual conversation in a relaxed environment. I liked the variation of assignments. Because the types of assignments were varied, it didn't get old. I liked the fact that I felt my Spanish greatly improve over the course of the year. We were given various tools to learn Spanish and shown methods to use those tools to their full potential." -Rachel :)
Thank you for an such a positive and godly introduction to Spanish this year. My kids really enjoyed it and learned a lot! See you in the fall:-) - Jenn (mom)
"My son learned so much this year! I appreciate that you use the Bible as the basis for teaching Spanish. He really enjoyed the homework on Education Perfect and Duolingo and he LOVES the competitions. I like that the class meets one time per week with plenty of opportunity for practice/reinforcement throughout the rest of the week." -Mary (Mom)
"What I liked most about the course: 1. Senor Riegg is an outstanding teacher who loves his job and it is apparent. Classtime is fun and interactive! 2. The use of the bible to teach Spanish 3. That he reminds the students that God can use this language to bring others to Christ." -Joy (parent)
"What I liked most about the course: As a Spanish I parent, it was great to see how flexible Sr. Riegg is introducing the language. Yes, it is an immersive experience but it moves at a pace that someone struggling can keep up. Provided they do the homework! I loved that you allowed parents to participate for no additional cost! The emphasis on learning scripture is, for me, a key selling point. In all our studies, we prioritize the Bible and this same focus in Spanish just helps put that in it's proper place. Sr. Riegg creates a fun and relaxed atmosphere. You get a lot done, learn new things and have a lot of enjoyment as well." -Matt (parent)
"What I liked most about the course: 1) It was online! 2) It wasn't just rote learning concepts, but concepts were covered that came up in our discussions. 3) We didn't just review the homework in class, we did different things during class time." -Louisa
"I really liked that it (the course) was very thorough in relearning things. I also enjoyed reading and going over the Bible in Spanish. That was pretty cool. I liked the discussion times a lot, and of course the translation vocab sessions at the end of class. I really liked too, that we weren't just learning a bunch of different types of food in Spanish like a lot of public school Spanish classes are. It also helps that our teacher is pretty dang awesome. :)" -Ellie
"What I liked most about the course: Reading a lot from the Bible for Spanish. Friendliness and enthusiasm of Sr. Riegg, which was contagious. Spanish was fun and made me want to learn. It was practical and a very engaged class, rather than learning straight from a textbook." -Hannah
"Thank you for teaching me this year!!! I had so much fun!" -Jessica
"Hola Sr. Riegg! Thank you so much for arranging for us to have our annual end of the year party at Los Dorados! I had an amazing time (not to mention filled with yummy food :)). Those certificates were pretty stellar and I loved the creativity of picking two adjectives to describe each of your students. Very nice touch! . . . Thank you Sr. Riegg! And thank you for being such an inspirational teacher and following God's heart with all your might. Blessings!" -Jeanette
"Thank you for such a wonderful Spanish class. They have learned so much—you are a gifted teacher." - Rebecca
"Hola Sr. Riegg, I just wanted to let you know that I really appreciated your class this year, you are an AMAZING teacher:)" -Graham
"Have a great summer! Thank you this year for an amazing education... I really learned a lot!!!" -Sydney
"Gracias!! I really like how you are concerned more about learning and not as much concerned about just getting answers right." -Andrew
Thank you for the Godly influence you were/are to me, I greatly appreciate it and it helped mold me into the person I am today. I loved how you prayed during our classes, how you used bibles verses throughout the classes, and just the way that you infused the scripture into our learning. It’s one of those things that you don’t realize how much you miss it and appreciate it until it’s gone. I also looked up to you ( and still do) as an example of what a Godly man, father, and husband should be like. I’m very thankful for that. Now that I’m in college I realize just how much of a blessing you and your classes were to me. They say that in college, you’ll either make your faith your own or you’ll disown it, there really isn’t any other options. Boy was this true. Not everyone is “attacking” me, in fact I have quite a few friends that are Christian. However, many do not believe and as my school is a state school, none of the classes are Christian/creation based. So, thank you again for all that you did and please know that it continues to impact me to this day. In Christ, Brian (former student)
Dear Sr. Riegg,
Thank you for being such an awesome teacher. During my first year of Spanish I absolutely did not want to learn another language because I felt I was being born all over again and having to start over with learning another language, but you making learning another language a fun and enjoyable experience. Now everyone I talk to, when they say they too are taking a Spanish class at another school, I test to see if they even know as much as I do and when I say from what I think is a simple sentence turns out to be an impossible sentence for them and too long and too much Spanish words for them to comprehend. Thank you for pushing us and encouraging us to learn Spanish and I am sure this 2nd year of Spanish is going to be very enjoyable! Thank you! - Brooke (Spanish 2)
Hi Sr. Riegg,
I want to thank you for teaching such fun, wholesome Spanish classes. I'm taking Spanish 101 at our community college, and even though I'm learning, one of its main functions is to remind me of your class! I miss having little conversations about the cattle, and I especially miss reading the Bible together in class. The focus of learning Spanish so we can show God's love to Spanish speakers is totally absent from my classroom; instead, we're learning it to satisfy a degree requirement. You understand the best reason to learn a new language, and you tell it to your students. I wish that were a part of my class. Thank you again, and may God bless you! - Abigail" (former student)
"Sr. and Sra. Riegg,
I just had to write and tell you how much the girls and I are enjoying the Spanish homework this week. I am just blown away at your incredible teaching techniques, wherein you make the memorization and repetition so much fun and my kids don't even realize that they are studying! We were laughing so hard at "dentista personal" and "ya soy su burrito." We also loved singing the worship songs that we know and love so well in Spanish.
Thank you for all the time, care and effort you obviously put into what you do. Our family is so very thankful for you both! - The Matheny Family"
"Hola, Sr. Reigg, I really liked this year's class! Your class has taught me so much. God bless and keep up the good work!" - Nathan (Spanish 1)
"Choosing to take the Living Waters Spanish course with Sr. Riegg could be listed as one of the best decisions I have ever made. Not only has my knowledge of Spanish great been enhanced, but more importantly, my faith and love for my Savior Jesus Christ has deepened through this course. The Christ-centeredness of the class room and each class mate inspired me to be more Christ-centered at home. The opportunity to go to Mexico with this group was the culmination of God deepening my love for Him, not to mention that my Spanish speaking ability was challenged and stretched! My confidence in who I am in the Lord grew, as did my determination to actually “. . . walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;” (Col. 1:10). On this trip, the Lord taught me how important it is to glorify God in all things. That is what this course adequately does; it gives glory to God in all things. Thank you Jesus!!!!" - Katie (Spanish 2)
"[My son] was very proud of himself getting an A (and so were we!) because he knew that he had to work hard to earn it. I was very impressed that we accidentally watched a Spanish version of a performance of Christ’s death and resurrection at Easter time this year. I don’t know if [he] told you, but we were glad he was with us because he could interpret most of what was being said!" - Tracie (Spanish 1 mom)
"I would like to say I'm thrilled with how the boys are learning. Lately I've been hearing semi conversations between them. This is more Spanish than I heard when my older boys did Rosetta Stone or when they took it at [the local community college]. And that is without us doing the five minutes a week with a native speaker. I need to get them doing that! So thank you for all your hard work I see it coming through my boys! Blessings," -Carol (mom of Spanish 1 students)
"Dear Sr. Riegg, While I don't speak Spanish, I did teach English and reading to special needs kids at all grade levels for many years. I wholly agree with you. It was my experience that having students spend time reading, increased their ability to read exponentially. It was not worksheets, or laborious drills, it was immersion in literature, discussions, reading aloud together, and reading silently, and making the reading a shared, enjoyable experience which enhanced the comprehension and reading level of each student. At the end of the year, when test scores come in, people wanted to know what we had 'done' to get such dramatic results. Many said the results were 'unheard of' especially for this population of students. The answer was pretty simple - we read! - and enjoyed, it I might add. Many students who have challenges never make it through a book. The first year we read interesting books totaling 2,500 pages - books like C. S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia for 5th and 6th graders along with a handful of other wonderful books. No wonder their reading improved. Previously most of the students had not read one complete book. Most educators would encourage the reading but not have the courage to step away from worksheets etc.
I wholly concur with your approach. It can seem a bit risky to go against the current 'methods', but it's precisely why we drive an hour to bring both our girls to your Spanish class. They have learned a great deal, they always enjoy the time in class, and feel very proud of themselves for tackling something difficult and succeeding. You are a great teacher, and we are blessed to have you serve our family by teaching Spanish. Serving the home school community should give you lots of freedom to be creative in approach and program. The fact that you use the Bible as your text is an added bonus. I have heard the girls say they are beginning to think in Spanish, they can read simple words and signs they see in airports and businesses and get quite excited that the language is unfolding for them.
Thanks for all you do. Be encouraged. Sincerely," - Jane
"Dear Mr. Riegg, My mom and I both feel like I have learned A TON of spanish over the year! It was a lot of fun, and I feel like I can carry on a conversation
in spanish pretty easily now. I have also gained a lot of vocabulary. Thanks SO much for teaching!!!" -Kelli (Spanish 1 student)
"Although my boys have talked with people in the past about the Lord, i.e., inviting them to youth group, telling them about their beliefs, asking them about theirs, etc… this was the first time they shared something so intimate about God and God’s Word. It was beautiful to watch the Holy Spirit's work unfold in that room as we were all talking, and although we were speaking with a believer; it was beautiful to see her tear up at hearing The Handful of Hope, and also sharing her translation of John 3:16. (NKJV version). She was so delightful and encouraging to my boys! I just wanted to relay my “thank you” to you and Marcy for putting LWS together. To see my boys step out of their comfort zone (even if it is at my prompting J ) has been humbling and encouraging to me! Such a blessing, thank you!"- Jennifer
"I was just thinking about you and what a blessing it was to be a part of your class. Jesus was always the focus and I appreciated that. I've had quite a few teachers through the homeschool co-op I was in, but you were the best teacher I ever had. Thank you. Thank you both for the work you do. :) God bless!" -Rachel
"By the way, Kelli loves this class. It is one of her favorite things of this year. You are a wonderfully gifted teacher. Thank you for making this class available to students like Kelli who live too far to commute to a class each week. I am so pleased." Sally
"Thank you so much for teaching me Spanish in a godly way. You have challenged me and pushed me out of my comfort zone, in a good way! You are such an incredible teacher. I could not get a better teacher for me. I look forward to next year, to see you and classmates, and of course learn more Spanish! -Jorie
"I like the time Sr. Riegg spent talking with each student, keeping us up to speed, making sure we understood the material, and giving us a chance to practice casual conversation in a relaxed environment. I liked the variation of assignments. Because the types of assignments were varied, it didn't get old. I liked the fact that I felt my Spanish greatly improve over the course of the year. We were given various tools to learn Spanish and shown methods to use those tools to their full potential." -Rachel :)
Thank you for an such a positive and godly introduction to Spanish this year. My kids really enjoyed it and learned a lot! See you in the fall:-) - Jenn (mom)
"My son learned so much this year! I appreciate that you use the Bible as the basis for teaching Spanish. He really enjoyed the homework on Education Perfect and Duolingo and he LOVES the competitions. I like that the class meets one time per week with plenty of opportunity for practice/reinforcement throughout the rest of the week." -Mary (Mom)
"What I liked most about the course: 1. Senor Riegg is an outstanding teacher who loves his job and it is apparent. Classtime is fun and interactive! 2. The use of the bible to teach Spanish 3. That he reminds the students that God can use this language to bring others to Christ." -Joy (parent)
"What I liked most about the course: As a Spanish I parent, it was great to see how flexible Sr. Riegg is introducing the language. Yes, it is an immersive experience but it moves at a pace that someone struggling can keep up. Provided they do the homework! I loved that you allowed parents to participate for no additional cost! The emphasis on learning scripture is, for me, a key selling point. In all our studies, we prioritize the Bible and this same focus in Spanish just helps put that in it's proper place. Sr. Riegg creates a fun and relaxed atmosphere. You get a lot done, learn new things and have a lot of enjoyment as well." -Matt (parent)
"What I liked most about the course: 1) It was online! 2) It wasn't just rote learning concepts, but concepts were covered that came up in our discussions. 3) We didn't just review the homework in class, we did different things during class time." -Louisa
"I really liked that it (the course) was very thorough in relearning things. I also enjoyed reading and going over the Bible in Spanish. That was pretty cool. I liked the discussion times a lot, and of course the translation vocab sessions at the end of class. I really liked too, that we weren't just learning a bunch of different types of food in Spanish like a lot of public school Spanish classes are. It also helps that our teacher is pretty dang awesome. :)" -Ellie
"What I liked most about the course: Reading a lot from the Bible for Spanish. Friendliness and enthusiasm of Sr. Riegg, which was contagious. Spanish was fun and made me want to learn. It was practical and a very engaged class, rather than learning straight from a textbook." -Hannah
"Thank you for teaching me this year!!! I had so much fun!" -Jessica
"Hola Sr. Riegg! Thank you so much for arranging for us to have our annual end of the year party at Los Dorados! I had an amazing time (not to mention filled with yummy food :)). Those certificates were pretty stellar and I loved the creativity of picking two adjectives to describe each of your students. Very nice touch! . . . Thank you Sr. Riegg! And thank you for being such an inspirational teacher and following God's heart with all your might. Blessings!" -Jeanette
"Thank you for such a wonderful Spanish class. They have learned so much—you are a gifted teacher." - Rebecca
"Hola Sr. Riegg, I just wanted to let you know that I really appreciated your class this year, you are an AMAZING teacher:)" -Graham
"Have a great summer! Thank you this year for an amazing education... I really learned a lot!!!" -Sydney
"Gracias!! I really like how you are concerned more about learning and not as much concerned about just getting answers right." -Andrew
"We studied Spanish for two years before taking your class, and even had a native speaker visit us and work with us, but we have learned more in six months in your class than in the two years before."
Carol - Mom of 4 Spanish students
"Had the amazing opportunity to talk with some Mexicans tonight at the gym entirely in Spanish. It was fabulous.... I had seen them a few times there before, so I figured, what the heck, I may as well go an see if they're willing to talk with me. So I said, "Hey! How are you doing? You speak Spanish, no? Would you mind helping me practice a little?" Very graciously, he said he would speak with me, and we talked together all in Spanish for about 15 minutes. :) Fue fabuloso. Hablamos de que trabajo el hace, donde estudio espanol, de donde vengo, de donde viene, que deporte hace su hijo, que voy a hacer para trabajo en el futuro, cuantas veces por semana que vengo al gimnasio, y muchas cosas mas.... And he said that anytime that we saw each other at the gym again, he would talk with me and help me practice. :) Yay! Totally turned my mayonnaise day into more like a pizza and dark-chocolate day :)"
Tim - 2nd year student
"I really appreciate our Spanish class. We have some very Christ-like people in the group, and you have done a wonderful job conducting learning in an atmosphere of kindness and having fun, all with Christ as our center. What a blessing. I think God led us to your class."
Cherry (mom)
"Thank you so much - Garrett absolutely loves Spanish."
-Shannon (mom)
"We are so thankful to the Lord for the guidance and direction you are giving for learning how to speak Spanish. We are grateful for any instruction and appreciate the time and effort you have put into the class...Thanks again. Emily is really enjoying the class."
-Maggie
"We are truly enjoying the knowledge and the experience of the class. Thank you for sharing the talent of the language with the boys."
-Gwen
"Thanks for the good work you do in class. It is a blessing to have you teaching Joshua. The class is very interesting and I really appreciate the fact that you incorporate our faith in Christ into the subject material."
-Jack
"I have nothing but appreciation for the humble, loving attitude with which the two of you approach the teaching of this class. My husband and I do not speak a second language and do not wish to send our children to public high school in order to learn one. At Level I, I see you getting the students to speak Spanish, as a 1-2 year would in the home setting (more or less :) )... May God continue to bless your efforts."
-Lorena
"Your hard work is having wonderful results! Gina says that Spanish words & phrases are 'getting stuck' in her head - I think that's just what we want to hear! The whole class seems to be catching on and having fun. Thanks so much for your efforts!"
-Annette
"hola senor.teacher como se llamo usted :) rhiannan p.s i love spanish"
-Rhiannan
"Adam and Amy are watching the Finding Nemo movie is Spanish. It's a crack up and they're laughing and laughing! Great idea, Brad! He said he's actually following it."
-Deana
"We are so thankful to all the Rieggs for the hard work you've dedicated to this curriculum & your students!... I think the fact that Living Waters is not just another grammar-based program is what makes your curriculum unique. You are building students who will be able to think and speak in Spanish, which gives them a tool that can be put to use right away in real life... I think you're on the right track!"
-Annette
"You requested feedback on the ...new curriculum, so here is your feedback ...We really liked it! Your humor made us laugh and really enjoy Spanish!...It was great to be able to understand jokes in another language... Thank you for putting together this new curriculum. We are already having fun with it on Week 1!"
-Cherry
"This is a great way to teach and to learn Spanish. The students learn so much this way."
-Jan
"I love the [Spanish] slides so much! They really help me to learn."
-Sabrina
"Thank you so much for all the effort you put into our class and curriculum. Gina & I are thoroughly enjoying it. We look forward to more fun, learning and laughter as your students...really jump into this new style of class! We really appreciate you!"
-Annette and Gina
"I really like the slides. It helps me so much to hear and see and hear and see over and over. I remember the words without studying flashcards, and I have a better grasp of the meaning without translating into English to find it. It's going very well!"
-Tami
Carol - Mom of 4 Spanish students
"Had the amazing opportunity to talk with some Mexicans tonight at the gym entirely in Spanish. It was fabulous.... I had seen them a few times there before, so I figured, what the heck, I may as well go an see if they're willing to talk with me. So I said, "Hey! How are you doing? You speak Spanish, no? Would you mind helping me practice a little?" Very graciously, he said he would speak with me, and we talked together all in Spanish for about 15 minutes. :) Fue fabuloso. Hablamos de que trabajo el hace, donde estudio espanol, de donde vengo, de donde viene, que deporte hace su hijo, que voy a hacer para trabajo en el futuro, cuantas veces por semana que vengo al gimnasio, y muchas cosas mas.... And he said that anytime that we saw each other at the gym again, he would talk with me and help me practice. :) Yay! Totally turned my mayonnaise day into more like a pizza and dark-chocolate day :)"
Tim - 2nd year student
"I really appreciate our Spanish class. We have some very Christ-like people in the group, and you have done a wonderful job conducting learning in an atmosphere of kindness and having fun, all with Christ as our center. What a blessing. I think God led us to your class."
Cherry (mom)
"Thank you so much - Garrett absolutely loves Spanish."
-Shannon (mom)
"We are so thankful to the Lord for the guidance and direction you are giving for learning how to speak Spanish. We are grateful for any instruction and appreciate the time and effort you have put into the class...Thanks again. Emily is really enjoying the class."
-Maggie
"We are truly enjoying the knowledge and the experience of the class. Thank you for sharing the talent of the language with the boys."
-Gwen
"Thanks for the good work you do in class. It is a blessing to have you teaching Joshua. The class is very interesting and I really appreciate the fact that you incorporate our faith in Christ into the subject material."
-Jack
"I have nothing but appreciation for the humble, loving attitude with which the two of you approach the teaching of this class. My husband and I do not speak a second language and do not wish to send our children to public high school in order to learn one. At Level I, I see you getting the students to speak Spanish, as a 1-2 year would in the home setting (more or less :) )... May God continue to bless your efforts."
-Lorena
"Your hard work is having wonderful results! Gina says that Spanish words & phrases are 'getting stuck' in her head - I think that's just what we want to hear! The whole class seems to be catching on and having fun. Thanks so much for your efforts!"
-Annette
"hola senor.teacher como se llamo usted :) rhiannan p.s i love spanish"
-Rhiannan
"Adam and Amy are watching the Finding Nemo movie is Spanish. It's a crack up and they're laughing and laughing! Great idea, Brad! He said he's actually following it."
-Deana
"We are so thankful to all the Rieggs for the hard work you've dedicated to this curriculum & your students!... I think the fact that Living Waters is not just another grammar-based program is what makes your curriculum unique. You are building students who will be able to think and speak in Spanish, which gives them a tool that can be put to use right away in real life... I think you're on the right track!"
-Annette
"You requested feedback on the ...new curriculum, so here is your feedback ...We really liked it! Your humor made us laugh and really enjoy Spanish!...It was great to be able to understand jokes in another language... Thank you for putting together this new curriculum. We are already having fun with it on Week 1!"
-Cherry
"This is a great way to teach and to learn Spanish. The students learn so much this way."
-Jan
"I love the [Spanish] slides so much! They really help me to learn."
-Sabrina
"Thank you so much for all the effort you put into our class and curriculum. Gina & I are thoroughly enjoying it. We look forward to more fun, learning and laughter as your students...really jump into this new style of class! We really appreciate you!"
-Annette and Gina
"I really like the slides. It helps me so much to hear and see and hear and see over and over. I remember the words without studying flashcards, and I have a better grasp of the meaning without translating into English to find it. It's going very well!"
-Tami
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Hannah Fraser Living Waters Spanish PO Box 744 Canby, OR 97013 Questions? Call: 503-715-7227 |