09/01/2026
Joel Dermott is a public health administrator in rural Missouri. Two or three Spanish-speaking families walk through the doors of his clinic every week. They don't speak English. And for a long time, the only way to communicate was through a phone screen.
He decided that was not enough.
Joel resumed his Spanish journey in his 60s, more than 35 years after his college professor told him to keep going. Here are seven ideas from his conversation on Conquering Spanish: Interviews with Learners.
1. A screen is not a relationship. Technology can bridge a gap, but it cannot replace being spoken to in your own language by someone who genuinely cares.
2. Speaking their language changes the entire room. Joel describes watching patients relax the moment he speaks even a little Spanish. Their shoulders drop. The nervousness fades. A few words communicate something no app ever could.
3. The biggest obstacle is the person in the mirror. Most of the barriers are self-imposed. He said all of them — too old, too tired, too busy. He started anyway.
4. Accountability is what keeps you moving. Joel has an 800-day Duolingo streak. He is not a phone person. But his coach Whitney got him started, and his competitive nature took over. A scheduled session and someone in your corner makes all the difference.
5. It is never too late. He is in his 60s. The environment matters more than the age. If the space is patient and tailored to you, you will make progress.
6. Language reveals how similar we all are. Joel is a rural Midwesterner. Whitney is a young woman in Mexico City. Two years later, he describes a genuine friendship built on shared values, curiosity, and mutual respect.
7. The moment it all made sense. New Year's Day. A stranded family in front of his house. No English. He walked down, spoke Spanish, helped them get back on the road. A little boy in the back seat turned to his mother and said: "Mama — él habla español." That was the moment.
If you have ever talked yourself out of starting, Joel's story is worth your time.
Schedule your free 55-minute trial lesson at spanish55.com
Watch the full episode on Conquering Spanish: Interviews with Learners on YouTube. Link in bio.
