"Hi, I'm Chris! My journey with the Spanish language began in childhood, learning Spanish from my Salvadoran babysitter who is like a grandmother to me. My participation in a K-8 Spanish bilingual program enhanced this early exposure to language and helped me learn to read and write in Spanish. My formal education continued with attaining the State of Oregon Spanish Seal of Biliteracy in high school which I earned through the AP Spanish and Language exam and an ACTFL Advanced-Mid Spanish certification that I earned through a verbal test with the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages in 2024.

Recently, I graduated Summa cum laude with a Bachelor's degree in Spanish Studies as well as Political Science from Santa Clara University. In my Junior year of college, I facilitated in-class discussion twice a week as a teacher's assistant in an upper-division Spanish class, working with groups of 2-3 students (ages 18-21). I also held group reflection sessions outside of class where I guided discussions on course content and helped with questions. Aside from my experience as a teacher's assistant, I completed an internship in Chiapas, Mexico last summer (2023) and studied abroad in Ecuador for 4 months in the Fall of 2023. In Ecuador, I interned at an eco-forest school where I often worked with elementary-aged kids (8-14) as a soccer coach and as an assistant for arts and crafts workshops.

My teaching approach is tailored to each student's needs and age. A lesson could entail anything from real-life scenarios like role-playing a grocery store transaction to discussions of current Spanish-language media. Post-lesson, I like to leave students with material they can practice on their own, depending on time availability. I want to make sure my students enjoy our lessons so I greatly appreciate feedback from both parents and students on how I can make things work for them. Please reach out with any questions or to schedule a free consultation!" less...