About Me

I grew up in a household where three different languages were spoken. My family is very expressive and artistic. At a very young age I started painting in my great grandmother's studio which led me to go to art school 15 years later. My parents decided to send me to study in Puerto Rico. I think it was the very best decision they took at that time. I had applied to many colleges and was really hoping to go to New York, Miami or Canada. When they took the executive decision to send me to San Juan, I spoke very little Spanish, and was not very content. Within one year of living there and being completely immersed in the culture setting, all my classes were in Spanish, the basic daily life, I was fluent, and was extremely happy . I decided to do my thesis work in Puerto Rico. After 6 years of studying in Spanish, mine was as good as any other classmates who had been speaking Spanish their whole lives. I think learning languages are very important for building self esteem, learning about different cultures, traveling. Learning a language makes one more independent and opens minds and possibilities! I have taught different types of classes. I have a Major in Fine Arts, so I've led a lot of art classes, workshops, and developed programs for small non profits. French is my first spoken language and I have also had the opportunity to teach it to various age groups. Some group classes, but mostly one on one. I am a new mother, and am already speaking both English and French to my 16 month old. I plan on introducing Spanish when he is 3 years old. I think the best time to teach a language is when kids are young. I always try to make it fun for them. I never want my classes to feel like an imposition or work. I strongly believe that if it feels like that to them, their brain will automatically block it and it will be very hard to implement anything. During my one on ones, I like to do activities. As mundane as they may seem, I can make it seem exciting by doing it differently, even going outside and playing a game. I like to break up routines. There are many ways of teaching, and I think with a correct balance and structure, the child or teenager stays interested and develops the curiosity to learn more and apply it. I try to make each class different and adapt to whom I am teaching to. I am a very big fan of promoting confidence, openness and happiness. My students laugh a lot, they know that there is always a safe place for mistakes. I am presently developing a program where I want to teach French through Art. My experience for the past 10 years has really helped and shaped the teacher I am today. My future personal goal is to create this program and be able to have it thought all over the US.

Education & Certifications

Q&A with Vanessa

Tutoring Subjects