Spanish lessons offered as summer fun

Patty Keene of McCook, Nebraska, front, plans her second annual summer-time Spanish class at the historic Carnegie Library in downtown McCook starting Tuesday, June 19. Patty and class coordinator Linda Hedges have scheduled sessions on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m., through July 31. (Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette)

McCOOK, Nebraska -- No hay tareas. No hay pruebas. No hay estrés.

Chilean native Patty Keene of McCook, Nebraska, makes these promises -- no homework ... no tests ... no stress -- when she invites those who want to learn Spanish to her second annual summer session Spanish classes at the historic Carnegie Library in downtown McCook.

"Vengan por la diversion," Patty says. "Come for the fun."

Patty and her friend and class coordinator Linda Hedges feel the classes are a great summer-fun opportunity for parents and/or grandparents to spend time with their youngsters.

"There are so many summer activities that adults take their children to -- swimming lessons, ball practice, summer camp -- and they can't stay," Patty said. "They can share these lessons."

Patty plans a tour of the Carnegie Library and Museum of the High Plains during the first of the seven lessons. Then her "lesson plans" include fun activities such as songs, tongue twisters in Spanish, short rhymes and poems, drawing lessons and children's counting rhymes like "eenie meanie minie mo."

"We will play, and learn, and sometimes learn without even knowing it," she said, with a playful grin.

Patty will teach some conversational Spanish, and everyone will be able to say, "Hello. My name is " and "My address is " and "I am years old" and "My hobby is __ ."

The "class project" will be to write a short story in English and Spanish, Patty said, filling in the blanks -- "Once upon a time ... "

With another grin, Patty promises again -- no homework, no tests and no stress.

Patty and Linda encourage parents, or grandparents, or aunts or uncles to gather up their youngsters for the classes. "Everyone has an inner child," Patty said. "This will be great fun for the adults."

The seven sessions, on Tuesdays from June 19 through July 31, will cost $70 per adult and $30 per child over seven years old. The $100 fee will be collected at the first session or during pre-registration.

As she did in 2011, Patty donates the class fees to the non-profit High Plains Historical Society, whose board oversees the Carnegie Library and the Museum of the High Plains and allows the use of the Carnegie for her lessons.

Class size is limited, so those interested are encouraged to contact Patty, (308) 345-2862, or Linda Hedges (308) 340-1000, who is a board member of the historical society, as soon as possible to reserve class space and to register.