FHR members learn Spanish at Fairwinds Clubhouse

Clubhouse staff offers members weekly language classes

From right: Fairwinds staff member Anthony Colon and Fairwinds members Frank, Teresa, Mary and Jeff participate in weekly Spanish class.

Falmouth, MA– October 24, 2011 – Fairwinds Clubhouse, a program of Fellowship Health Resources, Inc. (FHR), recently introduced a new conversational Spanish class to its members. The clubhouse started this program in the beginning of October and the group meets every week at their new location, 155 Katharine Lee Bates Road.

Fairwinds Director Karen Troup-Galley and Culinary Unit Coordinator Anthony Colon instruct the class. Troup-Galley formerly took Spanish classes in college and Colon is bilingual, which generated their interest in this class. “We’re consistently looking for ways to challenge staff and members, and are always enthusiastic about new programs,” Troup-Galley says. “We thought that Spanish classes would be a fun way for staff and members to interact.”

The class meets every Wednesday from 10-11 a.m., but according to Troup-Galley, the learning continues well after the hour ends. Staff members hope to generate more interest and encourage participants to practice their Spanish-speaking skills outside of class. “Throughout the week, we all try to use some of the Spanish phrases that we’ve learned,” says Troup-Galley. “At our daily clubhouse meetings, we introduce a Spanish weekly phrase. This gets those who aren’t involved in the class interested in speaking Spanish.”

Clubhouse members have enjoyed learning Spanish each week. “The class is fun and gives me something to do,” says Fairwinds member Jennifer D.  “It is something new to participate in."

Audio CDs are the primary resources utilized in class right now. By hearing the Spanish vocabulary, members are able to repeat the words out loud and learn some new key phrases. Troup-Galley and Colon are working on creating a workbook of handouts from Spanish textbooks to use for study purposes.

For more information about the programs at Fairwinds Clubhouse, contact Karen Troup-Galley at 508-540-6011.