Study Abroad Programs Blog

Meet the School: Quebec City's Director of Studies

Last week, we interviewed Quebec City's School Director, Viviane Brassard. This week, we're meeting Nathalie Tremblay, the Director of Studies at our partner Quebec City French school. Here is what she had to say!

What is your background?
I am over 40 years old and the single parent of a 10-year old boy. I have 2 bachelor degrees as well as some post-grad courses in Teaching French as a Second Language. I obtained my CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults) in 2001.

Meet the School: Quebec City's School Director

Meet Viviane Brassard, Director at AmeriSpan's new Quebec City French school. Viviane is proof that AmeriSpan is committed to finding the best staff, as we switched our partner school to follow her!

 What is your background?
I'm 61 years old and live in center Quebec City. I have 2 daughters and 6 lovely grandchildren (yes.. 6!) aged from 2 months to 6 years old.
 

One experience I want to share with you: In 2008, Quebec City celebrated its 400th anniversary. One outside concert was organised on the Plaines d’Abrahams. Sir Paul MacCartney was the performer. He wanted to address himself to Quebec's people in French so, I, myself, was asked to be his teacher and the person who adapted his French lyrics. I'll never forget this wonderful experience.  

Meet the School: Playa del Carmen's Academic Coordinator

Meet Alfonso Nájera Sánchez, Academic Coordinator and a Spanish Instructor at AmeriSpan's Playa del Carmen Spanish school

What is your background?
41 year old, Degree in Spanish, Resident of Playa del Carmen since 1999

Which languages have you studied?
English

Meet the School: Playa del Carmen's Reservations, Information, and Front Desk

Meet Katherine Neumann, Reservations, Information and Front Desk at AmeriSpan's Playa del Carmen Spanish school

What is your background?
I am a 29 year old Canadian who has been living in Mexico on and off for 10 years (as a permanent Resident for the past 6 years). I have a BA in Spanish. 

Do you travel often?
As often as I can! I love nothing more than visiting somewhere new.

Meet the School: Alajuela School Staff

Meet Yamileth Sequeira and Rosy Garcia, staff members at AmeriSpan's Alajuela Spanish school in Costa Rica, as they provide short descriptions of their involvement at the school.

Yamileth Sequeira, Host Family Program Coordinator:

“I am 53 year old and I live in Alajuela, Costa Rica. I have worked at ICLC ecological campus – The Costa Rican Culture and Language Institute in the past 16 years and as a Host Family Program Coordinator I have enjoyed meeting lots of Costa Rican families that love to receive visitors from other countries. The biggest satisfaction of my work is to make sure that both, the host family and the foreign visitor, complete a successful cultural experience. It is gratifying to receive constant comments of participants that tell me that the opportunity to live with a Costa Rican family was unforgettable”

 

Meet the School: Buenos Aires' Head of Studies/Volunteer Coordinator

Meet Barbara Franconi, Head of Studies and Volunteer Coordinator at AmeriSpan's Buenos Aires Spanish school (Budget-Friendly)

What is your background?
I am thirty years old. During my childhood, I lived in southern Argentina have been living in Buenos Aires since I was a teenager. My family consists of my 3 brothers, an adorable nephew and my friends. 

Do you travel abroad often?
Yes, in recent years I have traveled to various countries in Europe and Latin America. I started to travel abroad in my teens when I traveled to the USA.

Meet the School: Shanghai's Director of Development

Meet Aaron Duff, Director of Development at AmeriSpan's Shanghai Chinese School

What is your background?
I’m a 29 year old Australian who has married into a Chinese family. I have lived in China on and off since 2003 in the city of Shanghai and a small town of 2 million on the north Korean border called Dandong. I also have 2 young children who have a much better Chinese accent than me.

 
Do you travel abroad often?
Not too often, but I travel around China a lot as there is so many different things to see, foods to try and cultures to experience.

Meet the School: Guanajuato's Head of Studies

Meet Pedro Martin Rodriguez Valladares, Head of Studies at AmeriSpan's Guanajuato Spanish school

What is your background?
I live in Guanajuato, I am 42 years old, and I have a degree in Academic Psychology.

Do you travel abroad often?
At least twice a year.

Meet the School: Beijing's Academic Director

Meet Jerry Jia, Academic Director of AmeriSpan's Beijing Chinese school.

What is your background?
I am 25 years old, and I graduated from Beijing Foreign Studies University, currently I live in Beijing.

Meet the School: Quito's Student Coordinator

Meet Sofia Valdivieso, Student Coordinator of AmeriSpan's Quito Spanish school (Budget-Friendly)

What is your background?
I’m 32 years old, have a Commercial Engineering degree, and have been working at the school for 4 years. I live with my partner and we are expecting our first baby.

Do you travel abroad often?
I used to, I’ve been to Europe, USA, Peru, Argentina, Uruguay.

Meet the School: Madrid's Head of Studies

Meet María José Gelabert, Head of Studies at AmeriSpan's Madrid Spanish school (Budget-Friendly).

What is your background?
After experimenting in different fields without satisfaction, one day due to circumstances of life, I was teaching Spanish in Milan. Three years later, I was studying Italian Philology at the Complutense University and again by chance before finishing my studies, I was subbing for a week at a language school teaching Spanish. A week lasted for ten years there until, the need for a change made me to move to ENFOREX to work for a summer. So far twelve summers (and autumns, winters and springs). In ENFOREX have gone where I participated in the production of manuals in Spanish and taught in different and sometimes complex specific courses. Again as the history repeated by chance, I was subbing as academic coordinator for four months which has been for seven years.