# Community-Empowering Language Lessons Speak Shop Enables 1-1 Spanish Tutoring Over Skype By Rebecca Byers | Published 2013-04-30 | Social Good Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/speak-shop References: [neighborhoodnotes](http://www.neighborhoodnotes.com/news/2011/02/portland_business_incubators_launching_solutions_to_local_and_global_challenges/) & [speakshop.org](http://www.speakshop.org/) Speak Shop is an award-winning social venture based in Portland, Oregon co-founded by Cindy Cooper, who now runs Portland State University's Social Innovation Incubator, and her husband in 2004. Speak Shop connects students from all over the world with [Spanish-language tutors](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/speakup1) in Guatemala at affordable prices, while providing an alternate income and path out of poverty for the tutors. Since 2005, Speak Shop has enabled over 35,000 lessons taught [over Skype](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/livechatting), generating an estimated $350,000 for Spanish tutors in Guatemala. Speak Shop is an innovative model for connecting those from underserved regions with the world market, while empowering them as micro-entrepreneurs and providing the opportunity to elevate themselves from poverty to prosperity. **Contact Information** Speak Shop [website](http://www.speakshop.org/) Speak Shop on [Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/The.Speak.Shop) Speak Shop on [Twitter](http://twitter.com/speakshop) ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.2/10 - Popularity: 9% | Activity: 49% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Social Good](https://www.trendhunter.com/socialgood) > [Social Business](https://www.trendhunter.com/socialbusiness) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Remote Tutoring:** The trend of remote tutoring provides opportunities for connecting students with tutors from around the world. - **Socially Responsible Ventures:** The trend of socially responsible ventures offers opportunities for businesses to make a positive impact on underserved communities, like Speak Shop's model of empowering tutors in Guatemala. - **Language Learning Platforms:** The trend of language learning platforms presents opportunities for innovative companies to provide affordable and accessible language education, such as Speak Shop's 1-1 Spanish tutoring over Skype. ### Where This Applies - **Education:** The education industry can adopt remote tutoring platforms and language learning platforms to enhance learning opportunities for students. - **Social Impact:** The social impact industry can explore socially responsible ventures like Speak Shop to create income-generating opportunities for underserved communities. - **Online Services:** The online services industry can develop innovative platforms for language learning, similar to Speak Shop's model of connecting students with qualified tutors. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Spoken AI Language Coaches](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/babbel-speak.md) - [AI Language Tutors](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/speakpal.md) - [Chat-Based Language Lessons](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/spanish-tutoring-session.md) - [Bite-Sized English Lessons](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lolo-chat.md) - [Personalized Language Learning](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/custom-spanish.md) - [Immersive Language-Learning Tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/english-learning.md) - [Conversational Fluency Tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lingopeel.md) - [Personalized Language Education Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/talkpal.md) - [Language Learning Tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/best-language-learning-system.md)