Have you started learning Spanish before but did not continue? Perhaps you took several years of Spanish in high school or you’ve done two thousand hours of DuoLingo and are ready for a change! This course will use Destinos, an enjoyable online learning telenovela. The videos, textbook and workbooks are free. You’ll have several weeks before the first class to meet important characters in our story and brush up on basic nouns and verbs used in the first 6 episodes. You should also refresh your memory of the present tense of ser and regular verbs. Then we can jump into LLI 1 B level. By starting at lesson 6, this Spanish 1B class should get you ready for Spanish 2A in the fall. To see Destinos online now, go to  https://www.learner.org/series/destinos-an-introduction-to-spanish/  

After your registration, the instructor will send detailed information about how to get all the materials you’ll need and recommendations for using them. This class will also use some short beginning level videos from Dreaming Spanish, online at YouTube, for additional listening comprehension activity. Our ever-popular instructor taught Spanish at St. Edward’s University for many years. Bring $1 for course handouts. Note: This class is not recommended as your first exposure to learning Spanish. Limit 18.

Jann Randle
1:00—3:00 P.M. Wednesday, Starts Feb. 18
Lamar Senior Activity Center, South Room
2874 Shoal Crest Avenue (78705)  

Ready to have fun and sharpen your Spanish? Come join us for eight weeks of lively learning, and lots of “¡sí, puedo!” moments. This course continues where Spanish 2A left off. If you already know some basic vocabulary, can pronounce Spanish, and have met the present tense, the imperfect, and the tricky duo ser vs. estar, you should fit in! In this class, we will:

• Review what you know (and make it feel easy!)

• Add the past tense verb forms to your toolbox

• Practice when to use pretérito vs. imperfecto—with helpful tips and practices

• Speak with table partners, play learning games, and stay engaged.

And of course . . . we’ll keep following the wonderfully vintage and delightfully dramatic world of Destinos! The story, characters, and little bits of culture make it the perfect backdrop for building vocabulary and having something fun to talk about in Spanish.

Bring a binder to corral your handouts, and $4 for copies for the course on day one. If you are new to Destinos, view the videos of chapters 1 through 16 before the start of course.  ¡Espero verlos pronto! Note: No class on April 1; class extends one week to April 15. Limit 20

Verónica Putney
1:00—3:00 P.M. Wednesday, Starts Feb. 18
Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Rm. 205
3525 Bee Caves Road (78746)

This course is for students with a good grasp of Italian grammar. They can read with ease and formulate sentences on a variety of subjects. By the European standard, it is a B1-B2 level class. No book is required, as we will use online video sources and handouts in class. Please bring $4 to the first meeting for handouts. Limit 20.

Tina Polo
1:00—3:00 P.M. Wednesday, Starts Feb. 18
Triumphant Love Lutheran Church, Upper Room
9508 Great Hills Trail (78759)

Whether you are new to watercolors or a practicing watercolorist, join us. Basic instruction will be provided for beginners. Any kind of drawing experience will be helpful. But if you have had some prior watercolor instruction and you feel comfortable painting on your own, then you can explore any subject matter with watercolors while you benefit from the experience of others. You will need to have your own brushes, watercolor paints, and watercolor paper. Our main focus is to enjoy the process of creativity together. Note: Before class starts, an email will go out with full supply list. Limit 20.

Cherry Taylor
1:00—3:00 P.M. Wednesday, Starts Feb. 18
United Christian Church
3500 W. Parmer Lane (78727)

Historian of world cultures Thomas Berry in the 1980s called for an integration of scientific understanding of the physical universe with the humanities, arguing that an understanding of who and what we are in relation to the cosmos should guide our behavior and beliefs. This course provides a sampling of current knowledge of the cosmos—components, history, processes, our solar system, the Earth, development of life on Earth, other major Earth events, and human history. A large order! Come see why this course and its popular instructor receive rave reviews. Participants will consider how this knowledge should shape our behavior and beliefs, or not. We will have Power Point presentations, a movie, and discussions. Please bring $2 to the first meeting to cover course handouts. Limit 30.

Peter Boone, PhD
1:00—3:00 P.M. Wednesday, Starts Feb. 18
Westover Hills Church of Christ, Room 201
8332 Mesa Drive (78759)

Instructor Jay Bond has always liked taking things apart and has gradually learned how to reassemble them successfully. In addition to work experience in a hardware store, home improvement center, machine shop, and 10 years as a bicycle mechanic, he lived in a 1950s-era house for more than 30 years, successfully tackling a wide variety of repairs and improvements involving carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, and more. Course topics include:

• Safe use of basic tools, manual and power

• Assembling and installing things—hanging pictures, mirrors and blinds, installing a bi-fold door, replacing a door lockset

• Basic plumbing—water supply and cutoff valves, toilets, drains, installing faucets

• Basic electrical issues—circuit breakers, outlets, lamps

• Carpentry—quality repairs, reinforcements, using clamps

• Exterior, lawn and garden tools, and repairs

Get ready to make and share your own list of prospective projects or “honey-do” tasks. Limit 20.

Jay Bond
2:00—4:00 P.M. Wednesday, Starts Feb. 18
The Church at Highland Park, Burchette Room
5206 Balcones Drive (78731)