SPANISH CLASSES, MADE IN LOS ANGELES.

Hola - Me llamo Karen. Mucho gusto. I was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina to Armenian parents and immigrated to Los Angeles when I was 10 years old. I’ve been speaking Spanish and Armenian all my life. I graduated from California State University, Northridge with a B.A. in Journalism and Spanish-Language Journalism. There, I was a staff writer for CSUN’s Spanish-language online publication, El Nuevo Sol and wrote stories about the Latino community in Los Angeles. I’m currently a part-time freelance journalist and copywriter. The greatest advantage I’ve attained living in Los Angeles for over 15 years is the ability to switch Spanish dialects. I can easily go from speaking in Rioplatense/Castilian Spanish to Latin American Spanish and this has helped me communicate with people from all over Central and South America! As a former ESL student, I know that learning a new language takes time, effort, and practice. I believe active learning is important, especially for those trying to learn a new language. Being an active learning student will help you pick up the language faster and with ease. I’m excited to hear you speak and write in Spanish. ¡Nos vemos pronto!

Hola, my name is Cynthia. I was born in Mexico City. I moved to Los Angeles 7 years ago. I graduated from the National Institute of Human Communication with a degree in Human Communication Therapy. While living in mexico, I worked in primary schools teaching as well as rehabilitation clinics for children and adults with speech, hearing and learning problems. I enjoy teaching and I love to share my language and culture with students. I like to prepare interactive classes and different personalized materials for each student.

Hola! My name is Isabel, I was born in Valencia, Spain.  I have  BA Degree in Communication and a AA Degree in Dramatic Arts.   I worked as a Language Teacher in Spain for many years, teaching both English and Spanish and I really love languages!  I moved to Los Angeles 4 years ago and I really love to share my language and my culture with my students. See you soon! Os veo pronto!

Hola! me llamo Patricia. I was born in Bogota, Colombia and lived in England for seven years. There I learned English and studied advanced levels in sociology, psychology and political history. When I returned to Colombia, I continued to study languages (English and French) at the Universidad of Antioquia and later went on to become an ESL teacher. I have extensive experience teaching both English and Spanish in a variety of settings, including bi-national centers, private schools, vocational institutions and a college. All these experiences teaching and working with students with all different skill levels, has led me to believe that advanced learning is achieved by tailoring lessons to student’s needs, working with engaging material and building student's self-confidence. I am passionate about learning languages, travelling and getting to know people from different backgrounds. I find teaching to be a very fulfilling career and look forward to working with you.

¡Hola, mi nombre es Renata! I was born in Mexico City and grew up in a bi cultural family where Mexican and American cultures fascinated me with the interaction of words and the diffusion of ideas. Hence, I am fluent in both English and Spanish. I have a B.A. in Marketing and have always been passionate about teaching and helping people.I have been teaching Spanish for over 10 years. In Mexico, I enjoyed teaching English as a Second Language to people of all ages. I love helping students learn Spanish and try to make the classes interesting, tailored to their needs and interests. I believe that making the experience of learning a new language something fun and meaningful, is the key to truly understanding the language and embracing it as your own. When you create a strong connection with a new language, you are opening your mind to new and exciting possibilities that will surely bring about memorable adventures. I am really looking forward to meeting you and starting this new adventure together! ¡Nos vemos pronto!

Hola, mi nombre es Jorge. I am originally from Peru and I came to the States 6 years ago to study Music. In Lima, I received a bachelor in Letters and taught Spanish for several years. I believe that one on one classes and regular conversation are the best way to become fluent. I’m happy to be accommodating and tailor my sessions your level and interests, and to create a pace that suits your learning process. I have a passion for music, arts, philosophy, literature and I love sharing the richness of my culture. Let’s have a good time learning this language!

Hola. Mi nombre es Fernando. Born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina, I also lived in Amsterdam for a few years before I came to Los Angeles. I have a B. A. in Journalism, and I am also an award-winning writer, teacher, translator and photographer. For many years I taught Spanish in Buenos Aires, and since 2007 I have been teaching Spanish in Los Angeles. I love all aspects of Spanish language and Hispanic culture, and my goal is to help you enjoy them as much as I do.

Hola me llamo Danny. ¿Qué tal? I was born and raised in Madrid, Spain by an American mother and a Spanish father. After a 3 year stop in Barcelona, I spent my senior year of high school in Mendocino, California. I then returned to Madrid to proceed with my schooling. I have a BA Degree in Communication and an AA degree in Dramatic Arts. While In college, I taught English. I've been living in Los Angeles for the past 5 years, and have been teaching Spanish ever since. Besides teaching, my interests revolve around: Film and tv, guitar, and personal-development.

¡Hola! Me llamo Karla. I’m originally from Mexico City, Mexico. I’m a professional research scholar with a bachelor’s degree in Archaeology. In addition to my native Spanish, I’m also fluent in English, with an advanced certificate from the University of Cambridge’s English Language Assessment. I’ve been providing academic tutoring for students in both Mexico and the United States for three years. This has included both group and one-on-one tutoring in multiple subjects and most recently, Spanish to primary and middle school students in Long Beach. In these sessions, I take extra care to create student–centered lesson plans that address each student´s particular language-learning goals. As an archaeologist, I have a deep knowledge of not only Mexican, but also Central and South American history, and I enjoy spicing up my lessons by talking about culture, foodways, caló (slang) and the history of Latin America. As a recent arrival to Southern California, I’m excited about contributing my professional expertise to promoting a love of language and greater cultural understanding in my adopted community.

Hola, me llamo Javier Fernández, de España. For me the Spanish language with its idiomatic expressions, peculiar pronunciation and hispanic culture is totally normal because I was born in Córdoba, a region situated in the south of Spain. With Spanish as my native and original language I have helped other people for years to learn and improve my own language. Also I have been working as a writer, editor, translator in and to my native tongue. From 2009 I have been living in Dominican Republic, learning the culture and trying to help them as a teacher, working in their writing, oral expression and comphrension, and reading. With this experience and loving teaching, I decided to also teach online using a platform created just for online teaching, with a lot of success and advantages for the learner. I love teaching my Spanish from Spain and I am ready to share my native knowledge with people who appreciate the most widely spoken language in the world.

¡Hola! My name is Zulivet and I was born and raised in Puerto Rico, otherwise known as The Island of Enchantment. I graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Puerto Rico with a BA in Audiovisual Communications and a Minor in Theatre. I lived in Los Angeles from 2007 to 2015, and then moved to New York. One of the things I love the most about both cities is that almost everywhere I go there's someone who either speaks or understands Spanish. I find that there's always something new to learn and discover about Hispanic culture because it is so rich and diverse! The best part about teaching Spanish is that it gives me the opportunity to take that journey of discovery with my students!

Hi! My name is Maria, I was born and raised in the beautiful city of Montreal. French & Spanish are both my “First language”. Growing up I loved languages and by 6th grade I was trilingual. I’m curious by nature and wanted to discover the world and its beautiful cultures so I decided to travel as much as I could and moved to Guatemala, the land of my ancestors, for 6 months and was able to teach English and French in an Academy. Then I went to Spain to study for a year while doing my Bachelor in Psychology & Sociology. I graduated from the Université de Montreal and relocated to this beautiful city after marrying the man of my dreams (sigh). I’m able to translate for all three languages in different settings, big or small groups, I also have experience teaching young children, teens, adults and now... Puppies! I can’t wait to meet you and start our journey together! A bientôt! Hasta Pronto!

Hi! My name is Karla. I was born and raised in Southern California and I have been fluent in Spanish and English all my life. I have a B.A. in International Affairs from the University of California, Riverside. During undergrad, I tutored at local elementary schools. I also received a M.A. in Economic and Social Policy while also living in Florence, Italy. Since then, I have recognized the importance of an immersive language learning experience that includes music, film and other media, which I hope to provide for students. This immersive experience will be helpful in facilitating understanding of cultural and linguistic nuances so as to better connect and enjoy a new language. I hope that my classes demonstrate the beauty of Spanish language and culture!

Qué tal chicos, cómo están! My name is Axel and I am from Bogotá, Colombia. I have been living in LA for more than 20 years and during that time have helped many students of all ages learn, not just Spanish but also key aspects of Hispanic and Latin American cultures essential to better understand and appreciate the language. I graduated with a B.A in Spanish and Linguistics from UCLA, an institution I continue to be a part of. I also speak French and Portuguese which provides me with a unique understanding of how these romance languages work and relate to each other. No matter your needs (academics, business, travel, short or long term) I love what I do and enjoy sharing this passion with folks ready to unravel a new world while reaching their goals.

¡Q'hubo! ¡Me llamo Andrea! I was born in the high plateau of the beautiful Andes Mountains in Bogotá, Colombia. I have a BA in Psychology and English from the University of Connecticut and I have also attended The Southern California School of Interpreting. I am an intuitive and dynamic instructor who feels it is important to cater to the idiosyncrasies of each individual and stylize the lessons according to each student’s' learning style. I am very passionate about the performing arts and enjoy a creative approach to teaching language such as through music, literature and role-playing according to need. ¡Nos vemos en clase pronto!

Hi! My name is Valeria, I was born in Monterrey, Mexico and lived in Mexico City for 4 years as well. When I was 14 years old, my family and I moved to Spain, where we lived for 12 years before I moved to Los Angeles. I worked as a Language Teacher in Barcelona for many years, teaching both English and Spanish. I started a Master’s Degree in Linguistics before moving to LA, I really love languages! I also love traveling, I lived in Sweden for a year as part of my Graduate Degree in Media and Communication, that I had started in Barcelona. I really love Spanish, I feel that it’s a language full of life and it brings me joy to teach it!

Hola, soy Azucena. I was born in Madrid, Spain. I have a Law degree and a Proficiency in English from Cambridge University. I've taught English in Spain privately and in schools and Spanish in London and now Los Angeles with Castilian Spanish or Latin American Spanish. I feel two things help my teachings: first I worked in a Dislexia Centre where I came to understand the different ways people learn, second I passed the Proficiency on my own. I came across my own difficulties in understanding English so I looked for the differences between the two languages to help me and now I reverse the process so my student can understand Spanish. I'm studying the American accent and i'm using the same process to help my students with their Spanish accent. I believe learning is about fun and the confidence. Those are what I try to provide!

Hola, mi nombre es Cecilia and I am from Guadalajara, Mexico. I got my Elementary Teacher Credential in my country, and I worked at the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara as a Spanish teacher for several years. Since I came to the United States, I have been working with preschool children and different adult education programs because teaching is my passion. I am always looking for new opportunities to share my knowledge with others, especially my culture and language. Spanish is a very nice and interesting language. If you are thinking about learning a new language I encourage you to learn Spanish.

Hola! I am Laura. I was born and raised in Barcelona, Spain, and grew up being bilingual. That’s why I soon understood how useful and enriching is learning and speaking more than one language. I graduated in Journalism from Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, and when I became a journalist I enjoyed using both of my languages, Spanish and Catalan, to deliver information and entertainment. I have a passion for languages and now, as a teacher, I encourage my students to not only learn a new language but to discover all cultural aspects that come with that learning. My approach to learning Spanish is fully organic. You will listen, practice, listen, practice but you will mostly talk, talk, talk…Everyone can learn a new language, so give you and me a chance and you will. Sooner than you think…

Hello, my name is Rafael Amado Deras, born and raised in Guatemala. I have a B.A. in Communication, a MS in Political Sciences and a post grade on Investigative Journalism and I love teaching Spanish! I started teaching when I was 18, as a volunteer at a YMCA in Guatemala. Since then, I have taught many different subjects and at many different levels. I was a university level teacher in my country teaching Mass Media technology. Im a backpacker/hiker by nature, as well as a photographer who has done freelance work for the Los Angeles Times, Getty Images and National Geographic. I have taught Spanish in Los Angeles, Dallas and Austin. As a teacher, my main goal is that my students learn the best way possible in a relaxed, fun and comfortable environment. I'm definitely not satisfied until the student is satisfied.

¡Hola, soy Elizabeth! I was born in Venezuela and grew up in Colombia. I have a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Law from the University Santa Maria, Caracas Venezuela. When I moved to the United States, I went back to school and attended The Southern California School of Interpreting. I have a BA in Spanish from California State University, Long Beach. During my undergrad I have had much experience in teaching adults and tutoring children from local elementary and high schools. Presently, I have a MA in Spanish from California State University, Fullerton. I have always been passionate about teaching and helping people. I enjoy teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language to people of all ages. I love helping students learn Spanish and I am very passionate about trying to make the classes fun, easy, and flexible, while tailored to your needs and interests. I believe that learning a new language is the key to truly uniting us all, as well as unlocking and opening many doors to a better, more successful life. I am really looking forward to meeting you and getting the adventure of learning a foreign language started. ¡Espero tener clases contigo pronto!

Hi there! I’m passionate about foreign languages, and I want to share my experience and knowledge with my students! Originally from Paris, France, I had the chance to live in several countries including Argentina and Mexico (I currently live in Guadalajara, Mexico). I studied an MBA both in France and in Argentina and, I also trained large teams in big American companies such as Apple, Ford Motor Company or Groupon which allows me today to be very rigorous in my work. On the other hand, I have supported several students and helped them to improve their level of French and Spanish, according to their expectations and personal projects. Finally, I am also a student: I take Italian and Arabic private lessons because my dream would be to be fluent in at least 5 languages! For all these reasons I will be fully able to understand your needs, your difficulties and I would be happy to help you to achieve your expectations. I know that learning a language takes a lot of time and effort and sometimes it can discourage students. My job will be to make the lessons interesting, fun and structured in order to keep your motivation intact and make you achieve your dream of being fluent in one of these two languages!!! During the sessions we will have some fun and challenging tasks to help us reach your goal of speaking a new foreign language. We are going to work, play, learn hard and have fun in the process. I have high expectations for all of my students and I am committed to assisting them with the expectations required of the course! The format of our class will be highly structured and will provide students with the flexibility to choose amongst various projects and topics. In addition to regular projects and homework, I will be expecting all work assigned in class to be completed at home. Lastly, I love swimming, photography, aviation (I am about to get my PPL) and I am a huge fan of Roger Federer! I also enjoy travelling and eating French pastries! I look forward to meeting you soon!

I am a proud advocate of multiculturality. My ancestry and family history have strong intercultural roots (French, Spanish, Italian and Mexican). I remember my grandparents reading me different stories in three different languages and different places: French, Spanish and Italian. The first words I heard were in French from my mom, but my dad always insisted on teaching me both Spanish and Italian to somehow rival my mom culturally, so I did not lose track of my other backgrounds. When I was only 9 months old, my parents and I moved to France. I grew up in a beautiful city, the capital of France's Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region: Lyon. My dad’s job involved moving throughout France, Spain, Belgium, and Italy. Moving to northwestern Mexico (Chihuahua and Baja California) because my father inherited a ranch and a vineyard, did not represent a cultural shock but meeting instead the other part of me I was never able to discover while in Europe. I, thus, embrace cultural diversity, and would always love to bridge cultures through my job as a language tutor along with my mission as an internationalist whose flag is diversity, inclusion, and tolerance. So far, I have two majors: International Relations and French Language and Culture. Also, I am close to graduating with a BA in Italian Teaching, and one more in English Language Teaching. I simultaneously studied two of them and started college at age 16. I am currently writing the thesis of a master’s degree in International Cooperation at the University of Bologna, ranked oldest in the Western hemisphere, among the most prestigious in the world. I began tutoring French, Italian, Spanish and ESL when I was 16 years old. I have taught all these languages for about nine years, and I do not feel like stopping ever in my life. Every time I teach them, I become a cultural ambassador of the countries where they are spoken, which is a huge amount of land in the world. I love spending time surfing, jogging, hiking and occasionally trekking. I also enjoy cooking, listening to music and walking my three beautiful dogs by the beach. I would not tag myself in terms of leisure activities, as I could go from playing some video games, to watching a nice movie while having ice cream, or spending a Saturday rainy afternoon with friends at an art gallery or a music concert. I do not believe in a single teaching methodology. As a recent graduate of a BA in French language, I learned that combining teaching techniques and methodologies results in a more personalized teaching style, always aiming to tailor my teaching to the needs of my students. Notwithstanding, the communicative approach is a solid base of my practice. I was a language learner too. When I was learning English and German in Europe I really appreciated when I had a teacher who made me speak. So, I’ll make you speak. Finally, I highly recommend using “Alter Ego” and “Tendances” for French, “Chiaro” and “Caffè Italia” for Italian, “Aula Internacional”, “Nuevo Español en Marcha”, and “Gramática de Uso del Español” for Spanish and “Top Notch” for English. I take language tutoring seriously.

Kareen is a native French Speaker from the Ivory Coast. She moved to Charlotte, at the age of 14 with her family. She went on to earn Undergraduate Degrees in Spanish and International Studies with a Concentration in European Studies as well as a Graduate Degrees in Public Administration from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Kareen is very passionate about the languages she knows and teaches. In addition to French and Spanish, Kareen also speaks Abbey, one of over sixty different languages spoken in her native country, and which she enjoys speaking when visiting with family back in Ivory Coast. Kareen also speaks German, which she has studied since her early teenage years and she also spent two summers studying German at Colón Language Institute in Hamburg, Germany. In addition to teaching at the Language Academy of the Carolinas, Kareen also works as a Freelance Translator / Interpreter for several local organizations and government institutions. Kareen currently resides in Harrisburg, NC with her Guatemalan Husband, and her three children.

Hola! I am Mercedes. I was born in Argentina and I was lucky to be able to travel, live and study in many different countries of Latin America (Chile, Uruguay, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama and Mexico), as well as 6 years in US for my PhD studies in Ecology. All these adventures allowed me to experience and learn the diversity and richness of Spanish language and culture beyond the borders of my own country. Currently I am living in an small old town in northeastern Segovia, Spain where I got to learn the particulars of Castillan Spanish. Teaching is one of my passions. In the last 10 years, I centred on teaching Spanish to kids, teens and adults. In my classes I create a relaxed and fun environment where students can gain confidence working step by step towards their goals. As we move along our meetings, I asses the student engagement and progress, critical thinking, creativity and curiosity and use this to shape and plan future meetings, adjust contents, speed, type of materials to use to keep the meetings interesting yet challenging. Homework and practice tasks are geared to use vocabulary and grammar structures in context and in practical ways (e.g., making videos, short interviews, social media posts, writing short stories, etc). Each person has unique ways of learning and acquiring knowledge, thus I start from the student´s goals, create micro-steps in the form of Can-Dostatements, and use variety of authentic materials like music, videos, documentaries, series, articles, literature pieces, etc. (rather than using a textbook) to include all three modes of communication (interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational). Grammar is incorporated in context and presented in small incremental steps so that is not overwhealming and that helps to use it with confidence. I am also a textile artist working with batik and many other dyeing techniques. In my studio I love to experiment with dyes to create unique and unexpected textures and images on fabric. Also, as I live in rural Segovia right at the edge of a gorgeous natural area, I like to go hiking, birwatching or just hang out by the Riaza river under the cool shade of the poplars. I look forward to meeting you and embark in the spanish learning adventure!

¡Hola, hola! Mi nombre es Angeles. I was born in Mexico City and grew up in the beautiful Puebla de los Angeles. I am bilingual and fluent in French. I am a highly skilled dynamic and dedicated language expert with over 25 years of experience teaching and tutoring Spanish across all levels. I have an MEd in bilingual education with a sound understanding of language acquisition techniques. From having a casual conversation to acquiring a more specific vocabulary for professional reasons, I will design a class that suits your needs. With me, you will not only get confidence speaking a new language but also absorb the culture that comes with the learning.

Hola, I’m a native Spanish speaker from Bogotá, Colombia. I was exposed to different languages growing up and have always been fascinated by understanding the psychology of learning a second language. I have a graduate degree in psychology and work from a strengths-based approach to support and motivate students in Spanish. I always strive to make learning a new language meaningful, fun, and comfortable. When teaching Spanish, I enjoy integrating personal interests, discussing different traditions, using art, as well as promoting cultural awareness.