Spanish Students Interview a Singer

Lidia Hunter

Recently I completed a Spanish course of four weeks for beginners. For our last class I invited the classical singer, Colleen Becton.  She was my first student of Spanish in New York City almost four years ago. My intention was to encourage students to speak Spanish with confidence, and they did it. Colleen was interviewed by the students, and they wrote a collective history. 

I'm still surprised by the quality of questions, because four weeks before they were studying the alphabet. I thought the exercise would last 30 minutes, but they kept asking questions and taking notes, and I had to extend the exercise. Outside the classroom, it was great to listen to a student when she said to Colleen, "Thanks, you made me feel that I speak Spanish". I am very proud to share with all of you the results of this  interview:

By: Erin Albritton, Matt Debnar, Sarah, Krishnan, Janet Mackin, Naeema Marium, Daniel O´Melia, Charlotte Scharff, Erik Talbert, Noyan Tanc, Jason Yung.

"Colleen Becton es una cantante de ópera.  Colleen es muy atenta, elegante como una reina.  En una palabra, ella se describe como "Esperanza."  ¡Hay muchas posibilidades!  El próximo concierto de ella es en la primavera.

Su madre es de Trinidad y Tobago, cerca de Venezuela, pero vive en Nueva York.  Su padre es de Barbados y es la mejor influencia de su vida.

El mas extraño lugar donde ella canta es en el Palacio de Marruecos para el rey y la reina.  En Nueva York, a ella le gusta ir a la Biblioteca Morgan.

Ella fue estudiante de Lidia.  Ella vive en Brooklyn.  Hay siete personas en su familia, sus padres, dos hermanas y dos hermanos.  Tiene dos mascotas, un perro y un gato.  

Colleen habla español y francés, pero su idioma nativo es inglés.  Ella estudió español por seis meses muy fuerte, cinco días cada semana.  Ella mira programas en español para niños, telenovelas, y programas de comida.

Colleen estudia música toda su vida.  Ella aprende a cantar en Nueva York con muchas personas, en México con la maestra de Placido Domingo, y con una maestra que se llama Debra Byrd. 

Canta en España, Indonesia, República Dominicana y México.  Escucha música siempre, pero practica solamente cuatro horas por semana

En Nueva York, su restaurante favorito es Alcalá, pero le gusta ir a Brasil. Cuando no canta, a ella le gusta cocinar, escribir, mirar American Idol en la televisión y pensar el futuro".

Colleen Becton is an opera singer. Colleen is very attentive, elegant as a queen. In a word, she describes herself as "Hope". There are many possibilities! Her next concert is in the spring.

Her mother is from Trinidad and Tobago, near Venezuela, but Colleen lives in New York. Her father is from Barbados and is the best influence in her life.

The weirdest place she sings is in the Palace of Morocco to the king and queen. In New York, she likes to visit the Morgan Library.

She was Lidia´ student. She lives in Brooklyn. There are seven people in her family, her parents, two sisters and two brothers. She has two pets, a dog and a cat.

Colleen speaks Spanish and French, but their native language is English. She studied Spanish for six months very strong, five days a week. She watches Spanish programs for children, soap operas and food programs.

Colleen studied music all her life. She learned to sing in New York with many people. In Mexico she learned with the teacher of Placido Domingo, and with a teacher named Debra Byrd.

She sings in Spain, Indonesia, Dominican Republic and Mexico. She listens to music always, but practice only four hours per week.

In New York, her favorite restaurant is Alcala, but she likes to go to Brazil. When not singing, she likes cooking, writing, watching American Idol on TV, and think about the future.

Colleen Becton: "It was a pleasure to share this evening with Lidia and her Spanish students. I was really surprised to know that they had learned the language in four weeks. They were very brave to  question me about my singing and my life. Congratulations to everyone in the class and to the teacher for a job well done".