I learned Spanish as a second language myself, and that shapes how I teach. I have studied Spanish for 12 years, starting in American school classrooms and then building fluency by going beyond them. I earned my BA in Spanish at the University of Washington, studied Spanish linguistics at the University of Seville, completed a summer program at the University of Buenos Aires, and lived in Alicante, Spain from 2024 to 2025. Living abroad is where my ear, accent, and confidence took shape. I...
I learned Spanish as a second language myself, and that shapes how I teach. I have studied Spanish for 12 years, starting in American school classrooms and then building fluency by going beyond them. I earned my BA in Spanish at the University of Washington, studied Spanish linguistics at the University of Seville, completed a summer program at the University of Buenos Aires, and lived in Alicante, Spain from 2024 to 2025. Living abroad is where my ear, accent, and confidence took shape. I also studied Spanish dialects and cultural studies, so I can help students hear how the language shifts from region to region and understand cultural nuances.
In Alicante I taught English to students ages 3 to 13, which gave me a close view of language learning from the other side of the desk and taught me how to keep lessons engaging across very different ages. I now tutor Spanish privately in Austin, working one on one and in small groups with students ages 6 to 56. Because I have made the climb from school Spanish to natural speech myself, I know where learners get stuck and how to support them in moving forward.
My lessons are built around the student. I start by learning how you learn best, whether that is through conversation, reading, writing, or listening, and what you need Spanish for, such as a class, an exam, a trip, or time with family. If something is not clicking in class, I explain it another way and build fresh materials around it. I create my own activities, tailored to how you learn, so practice stays engaging and the concept can finally stick.
Learning Spanish has opened more doors for me than I could have predicted, from friendships and travel to my career, and I am passionate about helping others open the same ones. I am currently pursuing my Master of Social Work at UT Austin, which has deepened my skills in listening and meeting each learner where they are. Students leave each session able to communicate something new, and with confidence.
