Christie Juarez

Christie’s journey to Spanish fluency began with her mission in Boston. With no prior experience, she learned the language at the Missionary Training Center (MTC) and found Boston to be an excellent place to practice, gaining significant exposure to Spanish in daily interactions.

After her mission, she actively sought opportunities to strengthen her skills. Her interest in immigration law led her to volunteer with NOMAS Legal, a pro bono immigration law firm, where she conducted client interviews in Spanish. This experience was instrumental in expanding her vocabulary beyond religious topics. Later, marrying a native Spanish speaker further deepened her immersion, as conversations with his family—who speak only Spanish—became a regular part of her life. Her current job at a law firm with many Spanish-speaking clients provides her with constant opportunities to use the language in a professional setting.

In addition to real-world practice, her Spanish major at BYU played a crucial role in refining her skills. She appreciated learning from professors, many of whom are native speakers or highly fluent, and found that university courses helped her master advanced grammar and formal Spanish. This complemented the slang and cultural nuances she picked up from her husband’s family. An advanced Spanish course, taken just before her Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI), significantly expanded her vocabulary—proving especially useful when discussing complex topics during the interview.

Christie’s motivation to learn Spanish has been fueled by her desire to help those who struggle to communicate in English. She finds it incredibly rewarding to bridge that gap and make a difference in people’s lives. A key factor in her success has been embracing mistakes, a mindset she developed during her mission. Learning to be comfortable with making errors and laughing them off helped her progress, as she found that most people were patient and supportive.

When it comes to improving Spanish, she emphasizes the importance of speaking with native speakers as much as possible. Structured classes helped her build vocabulary, especially for unfamiliar topics, and she encourages learners not to be afraid to ask about words they don’t know. To improve listening skills, she recommends exposure to different accents and practicing comprehension in a variety of contexts.

For those preparing for the OPI, Christie offers practical advice: remember that the evaluators aren’t trying to trick you—they’re simply assessing your current level. She recommends approaching the test as a natural conversation, knowing that they will meet you where you are. Speaking with native speakers beforehand is also crucial for attuning your ear to different accents.

Looking back, Christie attributes her success to two key factors: not being afraid to make mistakes and taking every opportunity to speak Spanish, even when the other person also spoke English. Her journey is a testament to the power of immersion, persistence, and a willingness to learn through experience.