Distance Learning

Vista Higher Learning Launches Platform for Online Spanish Ed

• By Joshua Bolkan
• 02/17/15

Vista Higher Learning has launched Portales, an interactive online program for learning and teaching college-level Spanish.

Portales is delivered via Vista's learning management system, which is designed specifically for language learning, and offers a variety of resources, including:

• Curated content;
• A variety of pre-made curricula;
• The ability to use video or audio for online office hours;
• The ability to customize content with inline teacher notes;
• Interactive vocabulary and grammar tutorials;
• Chat activities, including pre-recorded conversations with native speakers and live partner chats for more advanced students; and
• Progress tracking.

"Each course within the Portales curriculum presents content in a variety of ways to meet students' diverse learning styles — animated tutorials, audio and video content, dynamic presentations and frequent self-checks — interlaced with humor to keep students attentive, interested and involved," according to a news release. "Additionally, through ample practice and assessment activities, students track their progress and master the speaking, writing and comprehension skills necessary for language proficiency. Educators can tailor any Portales program to emphasize themes or topics that reflect course work, add personalized activities and notes, or adjust the time necessary to administer the course."

"Teaching Spanish online can be daunting," said Dan Darrow, Spanish instructor at the University of Alaska, in a prepared statement. "But Portales eases much of that burden."

More information is available at vistahigherlearning.com.