"Q: What languages do you speak?

A: Spanish, English, and some French, German and Italian.

Q: Where did you learn to speak the language you teach?

A: I learned Spanish in Madrid, Spain, as a Rotary exchange student. I spent nearly a year living with the most wonderful Spanish host parents who welcomed me into their family and treated me like their own daughter.

Q: Why did you decide to teach Spanish?

A: Learning a new language really does open doors for the rest of your life, and the sooner you learn, the better. I've taught high school, university students, adults, and preschool children.

Q: How long have you been teaching?

A: My first teaching experience was as an English teacher in Madrid, Spain, in 1999. I have an Ohio teaching license for Spanish (preschool-grade 12) and teach part-time at a public school in the Dayton area. I also teach private classes through WyzAnt. Over the years, I have taught in public and private schools, at Wright State University and Ohio State University, and private classes for adult learners.

Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself.

A: I'm married with an elementary-school-age daughter, and we live in Yellow Springs. I was a Rotary exchange student in Madrid, and after my exchange year, I returned to Madrid to teach English. That was my introduction to teaching, and I absolutely loved it!

After I came back to Ohio, I earned a B.A. in Modern Languages (Spanish, French, German, and Italian). I earned my M.A. in Hispanic Linguistics at The Ohio State University with a specialization in psycholinguistics (language acquisition).

I still immerse myself in Spanish every day by watching Spanish TV programs, listening to Spanish radio stations and music, and reading Spanish-language newspapers and novels." less...