“Studying on my own was easy to do passively. In-person lessons make it impossible to hide behind fear or doubt. That accountability—someone right there, waiting for you to respond—is exactly what I needed to push past the hesitation and just go for it.”
— Brynn Pedrick, Spanish Student
Our Interview with Brynn
Brynn (right) with her Spanish teacher, Dayra, at Speak!
At Speak! Language Center, we love seeing how language learning becomes part of our students’ lives beyond the classroom. For many, it’s about more than memorizing vocabulary. It’s about building confidence, connecting with people across cultures, and discovering new ways of experiencing the world.
In this Student Spotlight, we introduce Brynn, a communications professional at a Charlottesville nonprofit focused on the intersection of science and contemplative wisdom. With a love for travel and cultural immersion, Brynn had long hoped to feel more confident speaking Spanish during her trips abroad.
After experimenting with language apps on her own, Brynn realized she needed something more interactive and personal. Working with Speak! instructor Dayra, she’s been building real conversational skills and discovering the joy (and occasional humility) that comes with learning to communicate in another language.
Hola Brynn- tell us a little bit about yourself by way of introduction.
I'm Brynn—I am in communications for a nonprofit in Charlottesville focused on the intersection of science and contemplative wisdom. Outside of work, I love to travel and immerse myself in new cultures. Trips to Panama, Chile, and Guatemala were a few of my favorites, and one of my biggest goals is to feel genuinely confident speaking Spanish the next time I find myself in a Spanish-speaking country.
What inspired you to start learning Spanish? What motivated you to move from self-study to personalized private lessons?
Learning Spanish has been on my list for years. I'd dabbled with apps here and there, but nothing ever really stuck. I eventually had to admit that going it alone wasn't giving me the accountability or structure that I know works well for me. I wanted someone who could meet me where I was, give me real feedback, and help me use the language rather than just accumulate vocabulary I'd never say out loud..
You mentioned wanting to apply what you’ve learned to building conversational confidence. How has that experience been so far?
It's been humbling and exciting at the same time. There's something really different about having to produce words in real time versus recognizing them on a screen. I'm still building, but I've already noticed myself listening differently—catching words in songs, on TV, in passing conversations—and that feels like a genuine shift.
What do you enjoy most about your lessons with Dayra?
Dayra brings such good energy to every class—she's lively, thoughtful, and genuinely passionate about figuring out what teaching styles actually click. It never feels like a one-size-fits-all lesson. She pays attention to how I learn, and that makes a huge difference.
How has learning in person affected your confidence or ability to speak?
Studying on my own was easy to do passively. In-person lessons make it impossible to hide behind fear or doubt. That accountability—someone right there, waiting for you to respond—is exactly what I needed to push past the hesitation and just go for it.
Have you noticed any “aha” moments since starting your lessons?
One of my favorite ways to practice is watching kids' movies and shows in Spanish—the vocabulary is accessible, and the dialogue moves at a pace I can usually follow. In the last few months, I've been able to watch some of my favorites—like Pocahontas and Coco—entirely in Spanish and really track what's happening. It sounds small, but it feels like a big deal. It's proof that something is actually sticking.
What makes the Speak! experience different ?
The personalization. I'm not moving through a prescribed curriculum at someone else's pace, the lessons are shaped around my life, my goals, and the gaps that are specific to me. That's hard to replicate with an app or a group class. Plus, as someone who works mostly from home, it's so nice to build a community in person that is also excited to speak Spanish.
DAYRA on BRYNN:
Not only is she a great student, but she is also an amazing person - so nice, fun, and open-minded. I love her motivation to learn Spanish because they are genuine in her search for better, deeper, and more genuine human connections. Her interest in traveling and being able to actually make friendships along the way is something that I really admire, and it's contagious. She always has great energy, and she is hungry to learn and speak the language more and more. She is responsible and works very hard to achieve her goals. I love that about her, and (maybe this is too personal for the spotlight), but she has also become my friend.
