Learn English / Spanish Through the Arts

L.E.S.T.A. - Learn English/Spanish Through the Arts is a non-profit, bilingual Theatre Arts organization, EIN #11-3799479 founded by Cyndi Turtledove, MFA, in 2007 after teaching and directing Theatre, Music, Dance, Crafts, ESL and Spanish in Mexico for 18 years. Created in order to serve the Washington County and Portland Metro area communities, with a focus on low income and underserved populations, the MISSION of LESTA is to bring Hispanics and Anglos (non-Hispanics) together, integrating language levels, ages and cultures in our culturally diverse Oregon.

L.E.S.T.A. provides BILINGUAL MUSICAL THEATRE Classes, Shows, Workshops and Demonstrations to schools, businesses, churches, rec centers, hospitals, homes and other community organizations helping Anglos and other non-Spanish speaking students of all ages to learn Spanish and helping Latinos to learn or improve their English and/or remember their Spanish -- by having fun using Theatre and Arts techniques.

The 2010 BILINGUAL MUSICAL THEATRE SUMMER CAMPS at the WALTERS CULTURAL ARTS CENTER are supported by a grant from the HILLSBORO ARTS & CULTURE COUNCIL (HACC) enabling us to offer Scholarships to low income families. See the EVENTS PAGE for details.

Our new Partnership with the City of Hillsboro WALTERS CULTURAL ARTS CENTER provides LESTA with a wonderful theatre space in which to teach and perform our Bilingual Musical Theatre, as well as with great p.r. listings in their beautiful Art Center Summer and Fall Catalog - out now. Also we are listed in the super City of Hillsboro Parks & Recreation Summer Catalog.

CLASSES and shows have the following GOALS: To share cultures. To improve English and Spanish Speaking, Listening and Reading. (There is less Writing in the BMT programs, but some special programs with Bilingual Writing are available.) To learn the disciplines of Theatre, including Acting, Singing, Dance, Crafts and Active Games in both languages. To raise self-esteem. To develop team-work. To integrate ages. To make new friends.

As a Touring Arts Organization, LESTA can come to your school, business, hospital

church, recreation center, or other community location to develop specialized Cultural and

Language programs using the Arts to teach what you want to learn, or to promote what you

want to promote in both languages. Traditional tutoring in ESL and/or Spanish is also available.

BASIC SPANISH CONVERSATION CLASSES focus on your BUSINESS, OCCUPATION or whatever

you need to speak about.

We also specialize in training Teachers to use the Arts in Education, so LESTA can bring TEACHER TRAINING WORKSHOPS wherever they are desired. These are based on Cyndi

Turtledove's Book: "ACTION GAMES...101 Fun Ways to Practice English/Spanish" published by

Editorial Delti in MEXICO D.F. 1993, 1996, 1998 and 2004.

For more information contact us via phone at 503.617.6986 or send us an email at

cyndi@lesta.net

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