Speak Shop Announces 2007 Online Spanish Tutor of the Year

Mayra Juarez Recognized for Exceptional Service in Live Webcam Tutoring

Beaverton, OR ---February 28, 2008--- Speak Shop, http://www.speakshop.com, a pioneer in fair trade online language tutoring via webcam, is pleased to announce Mayra Juarez as 2007 Tutor of the Year.

Through Speak Shop, tutors like Mayra set up and operate a micro language tutoring business. Speak Shop customers nominated their favorite Spanish tutors for the award.
Based in Antigua, Guatemala, Mayra started teaching Spanish online at Speak Shop in 2006. In just one year, she is already regularly teaching 70 hours per month online. Developing a strong clientele hinges on teaching performance and a transparent system of lesson feedback ratings. Not only did Mayra have high feedback ratings, but she also received the most student nominations this year. "I realize that the students' opinions and comments count, and it is a big responsibility. It commits us to continuing to provide the best of us for the benefit of all who belong to the Speak Shop community," she says.

Having taught Spanish since 1988, Mayra was already a highly experienced and successful instructor before teaching online. Marrying her teaching ability with cutting edge technology, however, brought new challenges. "In the beginning I feared I would not know what to do with the technology," says Mayra, "but through practice and help from other tutors, I have learned new skills and am very pleased with my progress."

Speak Shop founders Clay and Cindy Cooper work with each tutor individually to prepare them for online tutoring. "Mayra's progress has been phenomenal, and her students rave about her patience and sense of humor," says Clay. The opportunity to teach online provides a better living for Spanish teachers in places like Guatemala where local teaching jobs are low-paying and seasonal. "It's been very rewarding to see Mayra take her on ground teaching expertise to a world market of students," says Cindy.

Mayra looks forward to her future teaching online, "It seems to me that there is a very promising horizon. The number of students is increasing, and there is a wish and effort to do everything the best possible. Being part of this program is giving me a lot of satisfaction."

About Speak Shop
Speak Shop was founded in 2004 to increase access to cross-cultural foreign language education and to generate economic opportunity for people in developing countries. People around the world use Speak Shop to take live Spanish lessons by videoconferencing online. For more details visit http://www.speakshop.com.

Media Contact:
Cindy Cooper
267-295-2862
cindy (at) speakshop . com
www.speakshop.com