The people behind the learning
Meet Our Spanish Teachers
Get to know the educators who make Spanish engaging, encouraging and meaningful for children, teens and adults.
A Supportive Teaching Team
Teachers Who Help Spanish Come Alive
The Spanish Schoolhouse teaching team creates active learning experiences that help students listen, speak, participate and grow in confidence. Lessons combine language development with cultural discovery and practical communication.
Our educators support in-person programs for children and teens in the Greater Toronto Area, along with live online Spanish classes for adults worldwide.
Experienced Language Educators
Fluent, Proficient and Qualified Spanish Teachers
Classes are led by fluent and proficient language teachers. Our teachers are native Spanish speakers and hold degrees in education, Masters in Applied Linguistics, DELE diplomas and Early Childhood Education diplomas.
- ✓Native Spanish speakers
- ✓Education degrees
- ✓Masters in Applied Linguistics
- ✓DELE diplomas
- ✓Early Childhood Education diplomas
Our Team
Get to Know Our Teachers
Select any profile to learn more about the people guiding our students.
Diana Ruiz holds a Bachelor in Education from the Nacional Pedagogical University of Bogota. A Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, and a Foreign Language teaching Certificate. She has worked as an elementary school teacher in various rural schools in Colombia where being a nurturing individual has been a great asset to her students. With over 18 years teaching children and adults in her home land and in Canada, Diana can adapt to various teaching situations and plans her activities to meet the needs of all her students. Her interactive lessons and educational crafts are well loved by all her students. Diana includes music and movement in her classes to better engage her students.
Lizdaribeth is Venezuelan, she was born in a beautiful city called Caracas where She did all her musical, pedagogical, and philosophical studies. She is Viola performer, moreover Lizdaribeth have two bachelor’s degree: The first one in Philosophy, and the second one in Musical Pedagogy where She have obtained the Summa Cum Laude mention.
Lizdaribeth love to teach! Professionally, She has worked with babies, children, and adults. She was music teacher in the maternal Step by Step; furthermore, She was philosophy teacher in her university (UCSAR), being teacher of threes specifically subjects: Bioethics, Aesthetic, and Philosophy of History. In Canada, Lizdaribeth worked with the Sistema as viola, violin and cello teacher in Perth-Andover, New Brunswick. Currently, She lives in Ontario and she has become Zümbini’s certified instructor (Program for babies).
Torrealba considers that the education is especially important in our society. She believe in an artistic education where the children can enjoy and learn through the music, dance, literature, and other arts; in fact, She has wrote an article titled: El Arte en la Educación Inicial. Lizdaribeth loves to write essays, poetry, short stories, and other literary genres in Spanish. She has published her writings in Venezuela, Spain, and Germany academic research journals. Currently, Torrealba is doing a Master’s degree in Art: Aesthetic Mention in Universidad Pedagógica Experimental Libertador – Venezuela.
Diego’s journey began in the charming city of Valladolid, Spain, where he was born and raised. Today, he calls the city of Toronto his home. His passion for language and teaching ignited while studying English at the University of Valladolid, where he immersed himself in courses on teaching methodology organized by Instituto Cervantes.
Diego’s teaching odyssey took him to Japan, where he shared his passion for the Spanish language for an entire year. In Toronto, he continued sharing his expertise at both George Brown College and the Hansa Language Centre.
Among his students, Diego has been known for creating engaging practice materials. His lessons are thoughtfully designed, presenting knowledge in a logical and captivating sequence. He integrates Spanish culture into the learning process, making it an indispensable and enriching part of the educational experience.
Eduardo hails from the vibrant country of Colombia. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Bilingual Education, focused on Spanish and English. He has extensive experience teaching children in both rural and urban elementary and middle schools in Colombia, he has also taught English as a Foreign Language (EFL) to children and adults in Colombia and served as a Spanish academic writing instructor for students in middle and high school.
Eduardo is skilled in creating immersive learning environments, using techniques such as Task-Based Learning, Communicative approaches, and Gamification to enhance engagement. He adapts his teaching methods to accommodate diverse learning styles into his classroom based on students' goals, fostering a supportive and interactive atmosphere. Eduardo ensures that learning Spanish is both enjoyable and effective.
Born in Venezuela, Félix has also lived in the United States and is now located in Toronto, Ontario. Bilingualism (English and Spanish) has always been a part of his life. He has studied Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language at Glendon College through the Hispanic Studies Department. He will graduate with an Honour’s Bachelor Degree in French Studies and will pursue the Bachelor of Education at York University.
Completely passionate about the languages he has taught in English, French, and of course Spanish. He began working in education in 2014. He was the Program Coordinator at the Dovercourt Boys and Girls Club, an Assistant Supervisor at the YMCA After-school Program, and is currently working in the Salon Francophone at York University as a Language Monitor. He also completed an internship in Chambéry, France as part of the EMILE program. He taught a variety of subjects to children from the ages of 4 to 10 in both English and French.
Andrea holds a Bachelor's in Modern Languages from the Pontificia Javeriana University of Bogota- Colombia. A master's degree in Teaching Spanish as a Second Language from Seville University- Spain. She has worked as a Spanish language teacher with children and adults in Schools in Bogotá Colombia and online. With over 7 years of teaching different ages, levels, and backgrounds, Andrea can adapt to various teaching situations and create activities for any type of student. Her communicative approach strategy, helps students to use the language from the first moment they are learning Spanish.
Originally from Spain and now in Canada for 15 years, Cristina is an English–Spanish Accredited Interpreter (Humber College) and a Spanish Instructor. She designs engaging beginner to advance lessons for children and adults. She brings a warm, inclusive teaching style to every class, adapting material for diverse learners, building confidence in a clear, professional register, and encouraging real-world communication. Cristina holds an M.A. in Political Science (Complutense University of Madrid), teacher certification in History & Geography, and specialized training through MCIS. She is First Aid/CPR certified. Languages: Spanish (native), English (fluent), French (intermediate).
Bachelor’s Degree in Education with specializations in Preschool, Elementary Education, and Educational Management from Universidad Metropolitana in Caracas, Venezuela.
She has over 18 years of experience as a teacher in private and bilingual schools, where she served as a lead teacher, providing academic and holistic education to children aged 4 to 12.
Additionally, she worked as a private tutor for children and teenagers, specializing in organizing, leveling, and strengthening students' abilities and skills.
In the field of Educational Management, she served as the Coordinator of Extension Courses at Universidad Simón Bolívar in Caracas, Venezuela, contributing her expertise in academic and administrative management.
Currently, she continues to pursue her passion as a Spanish teacher, applying her knowledge and skills to facilitate the integral learning process of Spanish as a second language for both children and adults, focusing on delivering a meaningful and comprehensive educational experience.
Rosana Alancay is a dedicated Special Education Teacher from Argentina, with 17 years of experience specializing in the education of children with disabilities. She has worked extensively in both public and private schools, focusing on school inclusion. Committed to continuous professional development, Rosana consistently updates her knowledge to stay at the forefront of educational practices. Her creativity and ability to transform learning into a playful and engaging experience make her a standout in the classroom, fostering meaningful connections and making a lasting impact on her students.
Irene is a Spanish teacher originally from the south of Spain. She studied at the University of Seville, where she earned a Master’s degree in Education. After getting married, her husband’s work led her to reinvent her professional path and begin a journey of living and working in different countries around the world. During this time, she discovered how much she truly enjoys teaching and how meaningful it is to help others learn a new language. This experience helped her grow both professionally and personally and inspired her to specialize in teaching Spanish. Irene believes that fun and movement are key elements in the learning process and is passionate about creating a dynamic, engaging, and supportive classroom where students feel confident to communicate and learn.
Jeff Bradbury was born in Canada and spent 21 years living in Argentina, where he worked for an NGO and immersed himself fully in the Spanish language and culture. During his time there, he earned his Teacher of English as a Foreign Language Certificate and gained over six years of teaching experience, developing a strong foundation in language instruction and cross-cultural communication.
Jeff also holds a certificate in interpretation and brings decades of experience as a violinist and music teacher, giving him a unique, creative approach to education. His deep understanding of grammar—both in English and Spanish—allows him to clearly explain concepts and support students as they navigate the challenges of learning a second language.
With a passion for teaching and a strong command of Spanish acquired through real-life immersion, Jeff is dedicated to helping students at The Spanish Schoolhouse build confidence and achieve their language-learning goals. He is currently completing his Bachelor's degree in Music Education.
Paula was born in Argentina and has proudly called Canada home for the past 23 years. She is a passionate Spanish teacher with many years of experience working with young children. For the past five years, she has worked in early childhood education, supporting children's learning and development in caring, creative, and nurturing environments.
Paula holds a Bachelor's Degree in Art, which inspires her teaching approach. She believes that children learn best through creativity, music, movement, storytelling, and play, creating meaningful experiences that foster curiosity, confidence, and a lifelong love of learning.
In addition to teaching, Paula is an accomplished visual artist and photographer who continues to create and exhibit her artwork. She believes that art and education naturally complement one another, encouraging imagination, self-expression, and creativity in every child.
Paula is passionate about preserving the Spanish language and celebrating the richness of Hispanic cultures. She strives to help children develop a meaningful connection with the language while building the confidence to communicate naturally and joyfully. Her goal is to inspire every student to embrace the beauty of bilingualism in a fun, engaging, and supportive environment.
Originally from Colombia, David is an educator with extensive experience in teaching, particularly in the field of visual arts. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Film and TV Direction and Production, as well as a Master's degree in Audiovisual Scriptwriting. Over the years, he has taught adolescents and adults, which has allowed him to develop a creative and dynamic approach that he now applies to his Spanish classes.
David's teaching style integrates visual resources, artistic activities, and innovative methods, creating an interactive environment where students can learn and express themselves effectively. He focuses on making Spanish learning a fun and meaningful experience, fostering both language proficiency and creativity.
Fiorella Liza Quispe is a Spanish as a Foreign Language (ELE) teacher from Peru. She holds a Master’s degree in Advanced Spanish Language Studies from the University of Granada in Spain and a Bachelor’s degree in Translation and Interpretation.
Fiorella has experience teaching Spanish to students of different ages and nationalities, using a communicative approach that integrates both language and culture. She is also accredited by the Instituto Cervantes as an official DELE examiner (A1–C2) and is a certified SIELE preparation instructor.
In addition, Fiorella volunteers with the Spanish Red Cross in Granada, where she teaches Spanish to migrants and supports language integration programs. She speaks Spanish (native), English, and intermediate Portuguese, and has basic knowledge of Chinese and French.
In her classes, Fiorella aims to create a dynamic and supportive learning environment that helps students build confidence communicating in Spanish.
Norman Orrego is a Spanish as a Foreign Language (ELE) teacher from Colombia with extensive academic training and more than three decades of language-teaching experience. He holds a Master’s Degree in IT for Language Teaching from Antonio Nariño University in Medellín, Colombia, a Bachelor’s Degree in Language Teaching from the University of Antioquia, Colombia, and a TESOL/TEFL Certificate from ALI in Montreal, Canada.
Norman brings 33 years of experience teaching Spanish to students of all ages, from young children to adults, and from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. His teaching approach is communicative and conversational, encouraging students to use Spanish naturally and confidently while discovering the rich cultures of Spain and Latin America.
In addition to teaching Spanish, Norman has been teaching English and French in Canada for 21 years. His multilingual background gives him a valuable understanding of the language-learning process and allows him to recognize and support the different challenges students may experience when learning a new language.
Norman is also an experienced interpreter and translator, working with agencies across Canada and the United States. A native Spanish speaker, he is fluent in English and French and has a basic knowledge of Portuguese.
In his classes, Norman creates dynamic and interactive learning experiences using practical, real-life situations that encourage conversation and active participation. His goal is to create a supportive environment where students feel comfortable speaking Spanish, build confidence, and develop the skills they need to communicate effectively.
Norman is passionate about helping his students enjoy the learning process while making meaningful and lasting progress in Spanish.
Romina C. Palenzona is an experienced language educator originally from Argentina and currently based in Toronto, Canada. She holds a degree in English Language Teaching, a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology, and a TESOL certificate from Arizona State University.
With over 20 years of teaching experience, Romina has worked with children, teenagers, university students, and adults in Argentina, Peru, and Canada. As a native Spanish speaker, she brings not only her linguistic expertise but also a rich appreciation of Hispanic culture to every lesson.
Her teaching approach is communicative, supportive, and learner-centered, with a strong emphasis on helping students build confidence and communicate naturally in Spanish. She enjoys creating a warm, encouraging learning environment and carefully adapts each lesson to her students' age, interests, learning style, and personal goals.
Romina is passionate about inspiring a love of languages and helping her students develop the skills and confidence to communicate successfully in real-life situations.
Yenifer is originally from Colombia and holds a background in Industrial Engineering. Throughout her professional and personal journey, she has developed a strong passion for childhood education and supporting children in the process of learning Spanish. She has worked in educational and extracurricular activities focused on children’s development, using meaningful learning, emotional support, and positive communication as key approaches.
She is known for creating safe, creative, and engaging environments where children can explore, express themselves, and learn naturally and joyfully. Her teaching approach is based on respect, inclusion, and adapting to each child’s individual learning style, promoting interest in the Spanish language while encouraging social and cognitive development.
Alexis Suarez holds a Master of Arts in Spanish and he teaches all levels of adult classes in The Spanish Schoolhouse since 2012. Mr. Suárez also collaborated with the school in developing and redesigning the new Course Outline for the adult courses. He is Spaniard and had more than twenty years of experience in teaching Spanish as Second Language in different institutions like Centennial College (Toronto) and Instituto Cervantes of Manila(Philippines). Instituto Cervantes, with more than 90 centers in 43 different countries around the world, was founded by the Government of Spain to promote the teaching, use and study of the Spanish language and to contribute to the advancement of Spanish, Hispanic and Latin American cultures throughout the world. Mr. Suárez has been also a member of the Panel Examiners for D.E.L.E. (Diploma in Spanish as Foreign Language). The Diplomas DELE are official qualifications certifying the degree of competence and mastery of Spanish, granted by Instituto Cervantes on behalf of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport of Spain. He had also participated in several conferences and workshops in methodologies in Spanish as Second Language in Spain.
Our Teaching Approach
What Students Can Expect
Encouraging Guidance
A welcoming environment helps learners participate, ask questions and try new language skills.
Active Learning
Conversation, projects and purposeful activities make students part of the learning process.
Level-Appropriate Support
Instruction accounts for each group’s age, proficiency, experience and learning objectives.
Cultural Connection
Students build language skills while developing a broader understanding of Spanish-speaking cultures.
Find Your Program
Learn With Our Team
Greater Toronto Area
Children and Teens
Explore engaging in-person Spanish programs designed for young learners.
Children’s Classes→Available Worldwide
Online Adult Classes
Join live online Spanish instruction from wherever you live.
Adult Classes→Common Questions
About Our Spanish Teachers
Who teaches at The Spanish Schoolhouse?
Our teaching team supports children, teens and adults through engaging Spanish instruction designed for different ages, levels and learning goals. Select a teacher profile above to learn more.
Do teachers work with complete beginners?
Yes. Programs support students beginning Spanish for the first time as well as learners developing skills from previous study.
Can adults outside Canada learn with your teachers?
Yes. Live online adult Spanish classes are available worldwide.
How can I ask which program is right for me?
Use the website chat button to speak with our team about levels, schedules and program options.
Questions About Our Programs?
Chat With The Spanish Schoolhouse Team
We can help you understand class options, levels, locations and online learning.
