Certified
Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language
Specialization course with ELE Internacional. Certificate issued by Universidad Europea Miguel de Cervantes.
About your teacher
¡Hola! I'm Andrea.
I'm a native Spanish speaker from Quito, Ecuador, and I've lived in Camas, Washington for years now. I've been teaching Spanish for over eight years, to young children and to adults who swore they were too old to start.
I studied architecture at Universidad Internacional SEK in Quito, later trained in language instruction and early childhood education, and completed a specialization in teaching Spanish as a foreign language. I also teach Spanish and art at Clark College in Vancouver. I'm an artist, which is why there's usually a drawing, a song, or a recipe somewhere in my lessons.
Training and where I teach
Clark College
Spanish and art classes
Andrea teaches Spanish and art at Clark College, the community college in Vancouver, Washington, alongside her own classes.
See the announcement on Instagram →Background
Architecture, then teaching
A degree in architecture from Universidad Internacional SEK in Quito, followed by training in language instruction and early childhood education, and more than eight years teaching Spanish to kids and adults.
How I teach
You talk from the first class
Grammar matters, but you learn it by using it. Every class has conversation in it, at whatever level you're at — and I keep groups small so nobody can hide.
Culture is part of the language
Art, food, music, and the history behind the words. You'll leave knowing something about Latin America, not just how to conjugate.
Patience is the method
You will make mistakes, out loud, in front of people. That's the point. My job is to make that feel safe enough that you keep going.
Quiteños are known for clear, moderately paced Spanish. If you've struggled to follow fast speakers, you'll find my classes easier to keep up with — on purpose.
What students say
Twelve reviews from adult students, couples, and parents.
"I am 68 years old and have not been in any kind of learning situation in 40 years and I love taking Spanish lessons from Andrea. She is a skilled instructor and explains the grammar and structure of the Spanish language extremely well. In 5 months I knew no Spanish at all and now I can communicate in Spanish and read and pronounce it quite well. I would have never believed it."
"If you're wanting to learn or improve in Spanish, I could not recommend Andrea enough. I took Spanish I, II, and III in the public school system here and I'll say I've learned so much more contemporary Spanish than I did in those 4 years. Andrea will get you speaking like a native. 10/10"
"As an advanced learner, I have found these lessons to be extremely helpful. Andrea is very personable, patient, and willing to tailor her lessons to a level and pace that I am comfortable with. I interact with native Spanish speakers regularly at work, and I have already seen remarkable gains. Andrea is the best Spanish professor I have ever had."
"I have been trying to learn Spanish on my own for a few years. Taking lessons with Andrea is great for my speaking and comprehension! Even though I make a zillion grammar mistakes, she is always kind and patient and makes me feel like I am making progress. We use a curriculum, but our pace is flexible."
"I have been taking Spanish lessons with Andrea for three months and am enjoying it so much! Andrea provides a personalized approach and weaves art, culture, and history into the lessons, so I am learning about Latin American culture as well as improving my Spanish."
"I was nervous learning something new, but Andrea has made this such a fun and meaningful experience for me. She is a great Spanish teacher, so kind and patient, and does her best to make classes relevant for you. I look forward to classes with Andrea every day!"
"Andrea is remarkable! Her teaching style is participatory, and she shows extraordinary patience and compassion. She appreciates the value of your time and is dedicated to providing targeted support to ensure your proficiency in Spanish."
"Andrea is very helpful and patient. My wife and I wanted to find a native speaker to help with conversation and learn about her country and customs."
"Learning Spanish in a fun setting. Andrea is kind and patient."
"My 12 year old daughter has been taking Spanish classes with Andrea for about 8 months. Andrea is a great communicator, is passionate and fun. She follows an organized curriculum and is very patient with her students."
"Andrea is a helpful, beneficial resource for anyone looking to learn and/or improve their Spanish! She is so welcoming and encouraging — an excellent teacher and an excellent person!"
"Andrea is so warm, friendly, and great with children! I would recommend her as a teacher!"
Also by Andrea
Colorín Colorado… ¡La comida lista ha quedado!
A children's book about healthy eating, written from my experience as a mother. In Spanish, and a good first read-aloud for families learning together.
About the book →Ready to start?
Conversation and group blocks are forming now. Or ask about one-on-one private lessons.