Teachers

Meet Our teachers

Ana Martin Castaño
Coordinator, Adult Teacher

I hold a Master’s degree in English Studies from the University of Salamanca, Spain, and completed postgraduate studies in Spanish in my hometown of Gijón, Asturias. My passion for teaching languages began at 15 when I started helping fellow students with their English and Spanish. Over time, I realized that my true calling was sharing my language skills and culture with others. With over 25 years of experience as a translator and adult educator, I’ve had the opportunity to work with a diverse range of students. I lived in Madrid for eight years, where I taught language courses to professionals in the automotive industry before relocating to Vancouver in 2008. I have been actively involved with the Parents for Spanish Language Association (PSLA) since 2010, teaching both children and adults, and I became the School Coordinator in 2015. Additionally, I taught at International House Vancouver for five years and currently offer private lessons, group sessions, and corporate training with clients like Metro Vancouver, Lundin Mining and SRK Consulting. When I’m not teaching, you can find me exploring Vancouver’s vibrant food scene, walking my dog Costa, volunteering at film festivals, or enjoying swimming and Zumba classes.

Marisel Aravena Poblete
Teacher for children aged 4-7.5

I'm from Santiago, Chile, and I hold a Master's degree in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language from the University of Seville, Spain. In addition, I have a Bachelor's Degree as a primary school teacher from the Santo Tomas University in Santiago de Chile. Teaching is my passion, and I have been involved in it for over 10 years. Being a teacher means learning from my students. They have a whole new world to show us, one that we as adults often forget exists. I worked as a primary school teacher for several years in Chile before I emigrated to Canada last spring. I currently work at another Spanish centre and I am excited to join the PSLA family. When I am not teaching, I like to spend time with my friends and cook with them, discover new places in the city, explore new music, and learn about different cultures

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Clara Garcia
Teacher assistant for children aged 4-7.5

I was born in Chiapas, Mexico, where I earned a degree in Communication Sciences. Since 2019, I’ve been living in Burnaby with my husband and our seven-year-old son. My passion for working with children began during my teenage years, but it was after my son was born that I truly realized this was my calling. In 2022, my love for teaching led me to volunteer with the Parents for Spanish Language Association (PSLA). I later enrolled in the “Pathways to Childcare Careers” course offered by the Pacific Immigrant Resources Society (PIRS), which inspired me to pursue a certification in Early Childhood Education (ECE). I completed my ECE certification this year, gaining valuable experience working in various daycares along the way. Working with children is deeply rewarding. I love learning from them and seeing the world through their eyes. It’s a mutual exchange—while they learn from me, I learn just as much from them. In my free time, I enjoy spending quality time with my family, exploring new places, dancing, and doing arts and crafts with my son.

Hugo Perez Flores
Teacher for children aged 7.5-10.5

Hello! My name is Hugo, and I am from Vigo, a beautiful city in Galicia, Spain, surrounded by the sea and mountains. Growing up, I developed a strong connection to nature and a curiosity for learning. I studied Industrial Engineering at the University of Vigo from 2003 to 2009 and worked in Portugal for several years. However, I soon realized that my true passion was education and helping others learn languages. In 2016, I began my training as a Spanish as a Foreign Language (ELE) teacher. I earned certifications, including one from Tía Tula (Salamanca, Spain) in 2017, and furthered my studies at the Cervantes Institute in Lisbon in 2018. My teaching journey began in Brazil, where I volunteered in schools while traveling the country by bicycle. This experience confirmed my love for teaching, and I continued working with schools in Vigo upon returning to Spain. Languages have always been a passion of mine. I am fluent in Spanish and Galician, and I speak Portuguese at a native level. I also have advanced proficiency in English and am currently studying French, with a strong intermediate-high level. This personal journey with languages helps me connect with my students and understand their learning process better. Over the years, I have participated in various ELE courses and workshops to improve my methods and adapt to different learning styles. I have now accumulated more than 2,000 hours of teaching experience, working with students of all ages and nationalities. Since 2020, I have been teaching online, allowing me to connect with learners worldwide. Now based in Vancouver, I continue to teach with enthusiasm and dedication, creating lessons that are engaging and meaningful. Outside of teaching, I enjoy cycling, exploring nature, and sharing my passion for learning with others.

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Johanna Lefno
Teacher for children aged 10.5-16

My name is Johanna Lefno, and I was born in southern Chile. As a teenager, I moved to Calgary to attend school, learn English, and experience life in Canada. At the time, I had no English skills, so I enrolled in ESL classes along with other high school subjects. Within two months, I became fluent in English and was able to complete school successfully. I decided to stay over the summer to gain work experience before returning to Chile to be with my family and continue my studies. Inspired by the excellent teachers I had in Calgary, I initially pursued a degree in English education at the University of Los Lagos in my hometown. However, I was unable to finish and shifted to studying translation and interpretation. Later, I moved back to Canada, this time to Edmonton, where I got married, started a family, and worked part-time in retail while raising my children. After the passing of my husband, I returned to Chile with my two children for family support. There, I worked at an English school, helping students develop and improve their grammar, vocabulary, reading, writing, and speaking skills. To increase my income, I also worked as a translator and interpreter for several companies. Despite the challenges, my passion for teaching English as a second language remained strong. In 2020, I began teaching high school students online. That same year, my children and I moved to Vancouver. For the past three years, I have been working as a Spanish teacher at a Spanish Centre. I truly enjoy helping students improve their language skills. Learning a new language offers countless cognitive benefits, brings happiness, opens social opportunities, and improves career prospects. I look forward to helping your children continue learning and improving their Spanish as a second language.