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Administration |
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Laura
Ellington
Founder and Director |
Laura was born in Switzerland, grew up in England, then moved to the US, where she completed her BA in English Literature with a minor in teaching Spanish as a Second Language, from Skidmore College. She has RSA/CELTA Teaching Certification from Cambridge University, and a Post-Graduate Certificate in English-Spanish translation and linguistics from the Universidad Internacional de las Américas, Costa Rica. Her MA is in Cultural Anthropology, from the City University of New York- Hunter College. Before settling in Costa Rica, Laura lived and worked in the US, Nepal, Indonesia and France. She has participated in numerous conferences on Second Language Acquisition and Cross-Cultural Identity and Education, in Costa Rica and abroad. She is bilingual Spanish-English, and speaks French and German. In her free time she enjoys reading, Latin dance, biking and swimming at Sámara's beautiful beach.
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Adelita
Jiménez
Founder |
Adelita is a native
Costa Rican. She co-founded the
school after working for several
years as Spanish professor and later
as administrative director in a
San José language school.
After her original degree in education,
she went on to study business with
an emphasis in public relations
at the Universidad Interamericana
in Heredia. She has attended numerous
seminars in the area of business
administration and second language
acquisition.
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Victor
Estevanovich
Coordinator
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Victor
is a native Costa Rican who has
dedicated himself to teaching Spanish
and Latin culture for over 25 years.
His studies are in Spanish philology
and social sciences, taken at the
National University and the Universidad
de Costa Rica. He began as a professor
and teacher-trainer at Intercultura
in 2001, and is now the Spanish
Department Head at the Sámara
Campus. Prior to joining us, he
worked with the Peace Corps, universities
and language schools in Costa Rica,
the US and Japan. He also speaks
English and Japanese.
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Gabriela
Pérez Excursions
Coordinator and
Office Manager
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Gabriela is Costa
Rican and has worked with Intercultura
since 2004, at the Sámara
Campus. She works in student support
services and is the Excursions Coordinator.
She is known for her ready smile
and helpfulness, and enjoys interacting
with the students. She studied Eco-Tourism
at the Universidad de Costa Rica
in Liberia, where she received her
BA, and she is currently completing
a post-graduate certificate in Education.
She speaks fluent English and continues
to take advanced classes at Intercultura.
In her free time she volunteers
in community initiatives for local
children and the environment, and
likes to read, bike and play football
on the beach.
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Paola
Hernández
Student Services
Coordinator
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Paola
is Costa Rican, and a graduate of the
American Business Academy. She worked
as an Executive Secretary for several
years, and had her own business in San
José. Subsequently, she and a
partner took over the administration
of a French restaurant in Heredia, where
she spent five years meeting and interacting
with people from all around the world.
From this experience she became interested
in tourism and began working with a
French-Costa Rican tour company in sales
& operations. After several years
of sending others to the most beautiful
places in Costa Rica, she decided to
go to one herself...which is how she
came to live in Sámara and work
with Intercultura Language & Cultural
Center in 2006! She enjoys the outdoors,
sports and the beach. |
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Lucie
Angers
Student Advisor
and Marketing
Coordinator
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Lucie is originally from Quebec City, Canada, where she studied Education before changing career paths to found her own import-export company, where she learned the ins and outs of marketing and international business practices. During this time she travelled extensively North America, Asia and Latin America, and developed a love of different cultures and countries which eventually led her to Costa Rica in 2005. Lucie came to Intercultura first as a student, began working in our non-profit educational program, and then started teaching French after completing her Teaching Certification with CR TEFL. In 2008 Lucie became part of our core administrative team, as Student Advisor and Marketing Coordinator, where her business and language skills are put to good use, as is her caring and competent personality! Her hobbies include horseback-riding, surfing, writing, and dancing. She speaks fluent French, English and Spanish, and basic Indonesian. |
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Meredith Sykes
Accountant |
Meredith is from the United States and studied Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance at the University of Colorado-Boulder. After graduating in 2005 she moved to Chile, where she worked as a preschool teacher for underprivileged children while learning Spanish. Then in 2007 Meredith moved to Costa Rica where she worked as a coordinator for a volunteer organization and in real estate, before joining the Samara branch of Intercultura in early 2008 as an our Accountant. She enjoys learning about and experiencing different cultures and has had the opportunity to travel throughout parts of Kenya, India, Cambodia, and Japan. Meredith spends her free time doing out-of-doors activities including hiking, fishing and playing tennis.
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Marcelo
Arroyo
Academic Director |
Marcelo
is a Costa Rica native and has worked
with the school since 1994, first
as a Spanish professor and now as
the department head and the school's
executive director. He is in charge
of teacher training and organizing
Intercultura's ongoing professional
development series. He has a BA and
Licenciatura in Literature, Linguistics
and Education from the Universidad
Nacional Autónoma de Costa
Rica, where he went on to obtain a
MEd. in Education. He then went on
to obtain a second Master's in Teaching
Spanish as a Second Language from
the same university. He has also completed
coursework towards a PhD in linguistics,
specializing in Central American Spanish
dialects and Mayan and Chibcha indigenous
languages. He has been a speaker at
numerous conferences, nationally and
internationally, has lectured for
the Masters in Teaching Spanish as
a Foreign Language at the Universidad
Nacional and is the co-author of the
Intercultura Spanish textbooks. In
addition, Marcelo organizes Intercultura's
Cultural Events Calendar, and is himself
a performer of National Folkloric
Dance and Music. He speaks fluent
English. |
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Julio
López
Professor and
Co-Coordinator
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Julio
is a native of San José,
where he obtained his BA in Spanish
Philology from the University
of Costa Rica. He subsequently
entered the National University
of Costa Rica, where he obtained
his Post-Graduate Certificate
in Literature and Linguistics,
with emphasis in literature. He
worked as an assistant professor
at the University of Costa Rica,
and participated in the development
of several literature projects.
His experience as a teacher of
foreign language started in 1998,
and he has since worked for language
schools in San José, Heredia
and Alajuela, as well as in Boulder,
Colorado. In the US, he developed
Spanish programs as a second language
(SSP) in two primary schools,
University Hill and Colombine
Elementary School.
Julio is a very extroverted, warm
and kind person. He is very passionate
about soccer, loves to dance,
run, play ping pong, take walks
in the mountains , travel, and
sports in general. His favorite
hobbies are reading and cooking.
He is currently studying French
at Intercultura
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María Fernanda Gálvez
Head Spanish Professor
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María Fernanda,
originally from Colombia, has been
in Costa Rica since 2001 and with
Intercultura´s Sámara
Campus since 2003. She graduated
in Social Communications and Journalism,
and went on to receive a Licenciatura
in Communications and Education,
with emphasis in Spanish. In Colombia,
she focused her teaching career
on environmental and social development
projects for at-risk children. At
Intercultura, in addition to teaching
Spanish, she gives lectures on Colombia's
social and political situation,
and on sustainable development in
Costa Rica.
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Ilsen Pérez
Spanish Professor & Students Services
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Ilsen is a native of Costa Rica, and joined Intercultura's Sámara Campus in early 2004 as a Spanish Professor. Her undergraduate degree is from the Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica in Education, with teaching certification in Spanish and English. She currently assists in Student Services and teaches part-time. She speaks fluent English and is continuing her ESL studies at Intercultura. |
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Nelsy Rodríguez Spanish Professor
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Nelsy is Costa Rican and a Guanacaste native. Her Bachelor's degree is in Spanish Education from the San Jose University. In addition to Spanish Education, she has also studied accounting and computation at the Jimenez Institute. Nelsy has danced in an international folkloric dance group and has worked at Intercultura since April of 2007. She enjoys spending time at the beach, and with friends and family.. |
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nNelson Jiménezn Spanish Professor
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Nelson is a native of Guanacaste, Costa Rica, where he completed his education and received his Bachelor's degree from the National University in Nicoya in Education, with emphasis in Second Language Acquisition. Nelson studied English as part of his studies, but as a native Spanish speaker is particularly interested in his Costa Rican roots, and enjoys teaching students at Intercultura about the language and culture of Costa Rica and particularly Guanacaste, a region rich in cultural heritage. In his free time, he likes to read, play soccer, and swim. Nelson has been working at Intercultura since June of 2007. |
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Ruth Mora
Spanish Professor |
Ruth is a native of Sámara, Guanacaste. She joined Intercultura in 2008 after finishing her Profesorado in Education at the National University. Her BA is in Education with a mention in Second Language Acquisition. Ruth enjoys the beach, playing football, reading, and most of all playing guitar. She speaks English, and enjoys sharing with people and having friends from around the world. |
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Gladys Hernando
Spanish Professor
and Student Orientation
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Gladys is of Spanish origin, lived in Switzerland and then moved to France for a year before settling in Costa Rica. She studied languages and obtained her BA in Switzerland in Education and Tourism. In addition to Spanish, she speaks German, French, Italian and English. Gladys began working at Intercultura's Sámara campus at the beginning of 2007 teaching Spanish, and has also collaborated in teacher training for Costa Rica TEFL's Teacher Certification course. Gladys is by nature a very happy, open and patient person, and she enjoys teaching, communicating with her students and getting to know their different cultures. In her free time she likes to surf, read, and dance salsa. |
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Carmen Gauna
Spanish Professor
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Carmen lives in Sámara and joined Intercultura in 2004 as a Spanish professor. Her BA is in Education and Second Language Acquisition from the National University in Nicoya. She speaks fluent English, and has participated in numerous training seminars in English and Spanish as a Second Language. In her free time, Carmen enjoys being a mother, family life, reading and the beach. |
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Virgina Angulo
Spanish Professor
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Virginia is originally from San José, where she completed her undergraduate degree in Literature and Language Sciences at the National University, followed by a Licenciatura in the same field. She lived for some years in the US, where she obtained her Masters in Applied Linguistics with emphasis on Second Language Acquisition from Southern Illinois University, and subsequently taught Spanish for the foreign languages department. When she moved back to Costa Rica, she taught Spanish at the National University in Heredia, where she later became the coordinator for the Literature, Language Sciences and English Departments. She was the director of the Scholarship Fund and presented at numerous conferences with the Ministry of Education. She has published articles, texts and audio-visual materials for the teaching of children, adolescents and adults. In her free time, Virginia likes walking on the beach with her dog, fishing and enjoying life in Sámara. |
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Department of Foreign Languages
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Ashley Steyaert
English Professor
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Ashley is originally from the United States, where she earned a B.A. in the Spanish Language and specialized in Latin American Studies at the University of Oregon in 2007. During her studies she concentrated on Latin American topics and lived and studied abroad in Argentina in 2005. After completing her degree she arrived in Sámara and began working in a volunteer capacity at an area organization, and shortly after joined Intercultura. In addition to her position as the English Professor, Ashley has volunteered for the CREAR Foundation, and chaperoned for the Sámara summer Teen Program. In her spare time, Ashley enjoys dancing, walking on the beach and participating in social and cultural events at area venues..
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Karmen Salvioni
Italian
Professor |
Karmen was born and raised in Milan, Italy, where she developed her creative talents during her studies in Design. She later started her own business and personal haute couture label, and gave classes in creative development, from designing to making clothes. Karmen also studied Italian literature, and has a strong interest in cultural studies: she has travelled in Asia, Africa, Europe, and Central America, where she enjoyed learning more about foreign cultures. Karmen moved to Costa Rica in 2005, and joined Intercultura in 2007 as our Italian teacher. She speaks Italian and Spanish and places importance on her healthy life style that includes long beach walks, good food and continuing her creative endeavours. |
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Sofie Thyssen
Student Orientation & German Professor
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Sofie is originally from Belgium, where she grew up speaking Flemish, German and French. She obtained her first degree in Languages and then obtained her BA and MA in Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology at Leiden University in the Netherlands. Following graduation, she moved to England and was admitted to University College London, where she completed her MA in Material and Visual Culture. She has since lived and worked in Spain, Belgium, Argentina, and Ecuador, where she learned the indigenous language Quechua. Sofie enjoys volunteering, travelling, reading and dancing in her free time, and has taught Tango in Belgium and Ecuador. At Intercultura, she works in Multilingual Student Orientation and Special Projects, and also teaches German part-time. |
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Support
Services
& Activities |
Xinia
Caravaca Cooking Teacher
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Xinia,
renowned for her wonderful dishes,
went to Culinary School at the Instituto
Nacional de Aprenizaje, as well
as completing her studies in at
the pharmaceutical field.
She worked for 7 years as a health
technician at the Clinic in Sámara,
before joining Intercultura in 2002,
as a homestay family and cooking
teacher. She enjoys writing, spending
time with students and making new
friends. Her patience, good humour
and delicious food make her a favourite
with students.
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Karol
Leal, Latin Dance Teacher
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Karol
studied in Nicoya, and since she was
very young her favourite activity
has been dance. She participated in
the National Dance Finals, winning
first place in ballet and 6th in folkloric
dance. She was a cheerleader, leader
of the majorettes and ribbons, and
gave reggae presentations in Limón
and salsa, merengue and hip hop presentations
in Sámara, after studying in
Cartagena, Colombia. She has also
won numerous local salsa competitions,
and was invited to participate in
a National Dance School presentation
and in the national folkloric celebrations
for Guanacaste’s annexation
to Costa Rica. She has been with Intercultura
since 2005, where she enjoys teaching
and meeting new people from different
cultures. |
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Francesca Poli
Yoga
Professor
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Francesca is from Verona, Italy, but has lived in Sámara since 2006. She studied ballet and contemporary dance from a young age, and after school went on to get a degree in Art and Design, after which she worked in Interior Design for two years. In Costa Rica, she has developed her skills as an artist, and completed design projects for several area businesses. She also finished her yoga training, and began teaching Yoga in 2007 at Intercultura. In her free time, Francesca enjoys painting, surfing, walking on the beach, swimming and photography. |
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Lindsay LaVelle
Teen Program Chaperone
& Dance/Yoga Instructor
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Lindsay was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, then moved to New York City for university and ended up staying for nine years. She received her Bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts from Eugene Lang College of The New School and her Master's in Teaching from Pace University. She was a New York City Teaching Fellow and worked with children and adolescents as a Special Education teacher in the Bronx, NY before moving to Costa Rica. At Intercultura, Lindsay completed her Spanish studies before joining our staff as our Yoga teacher and the Teen Spanish Chaperone. In addition, Lindsay teaches dance to the local children of Samara as part of the non-profit CREAR program hosted at Intercultura. Lindsay is fluent English-Spanish, and in her free time enjoys traveling, dance, singing and exploring Latin American culture.. |
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Ulises
Vega Maintenance |
Ulises
is a native of Nicoya, Guanacaste, and
has been with Intercultura since 2004.
He works in maintenance and construction,
and is always willing to assist students
and staff alike with whatever project
they are working on. He has worked with
the Red Cross, studied programming at
the INA, and has traveled throughout
Costa Rica and Nicaragua. He was a nationally
ranked cyclist, and remains a mountain-biking
enthusiast and competitor in many local
competitions. He is currently studying
French at Intercultura. |
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Aurelia
Castrillo Custodial
Services |
Aurelia is a native
of Sámara, Costa Rica. She
joined the school in 2005, where
she enjoys interacting with students
and staff alike. She likes the educational
atmosphere, and makes sure the school
always looks spotless. She also
enjoys spending time in the kitchen,
cooking her famous "gallo pinto"
and making fresh fruit drinks! She
is very happy with her life, and
her smile and good humour contribute
greatly to the school's friendly
environment.
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Lázaro
Rocha Security |
Lázaro
was born near León, Nicaragua,
where he completed his studies in
carpentery and specialized in the
restauration of antique furniture.
In 2000 he moved to Costa Rica, where
he worked in hardware and construction,
and later in maintenance. He began
working with Intercultura in 2005
in maintenance and security, bringing
his great woodworking talent to the
school. Lázaro is also unique
in his ability to capture his audience
through his story-telling, and his
folkloric guitar and singing talents.
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Agustín
Jiménez Security
& Grounds |
Agustín
is Costa Rican, and has been with
Intercultura since 2005, in grounds
and security. After finishing school
he began working in agriculture and
farming, and later worked for the
Standard Fruit Company and hotel Isla
Chora. He also studied carpintery
at the Instituto Nacional de Aprendizaje.
He has been with Intercultura since
2005 in grounds and security, and
enjoys meeting new people at the school.
In his free time he gives horse-riding
tours in Sámara and to nearby
beaches such as Buena Vista and Carrillo. |
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Advisory Services |
Tyrone
Jackson
Systems
Management Consultant |
Tyrone joined Intercultura in 2002 at the Sámara Campus, first as an ESL professor and was as Administrative Coordinator, where he worked until 2008 managing the beach campus. His undergraduate studies were in Political Science, with an emphasis on Business Communications, at the University of Central Iowa. He is fluent in English and Spanish, and is studying German. In 2008, Tyrone retired from his full time position at Intercultura, and now works as our Systems Management Consultant.
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Barbara
Miller
Academic Consultant
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Barbara is originally from California, but has lived in Costa Rica since 1999, when she joined Intercultura as English Department Director. She has a double Bachelors degree in Psychology and Multicultural/Gender Studies, and two Master's, one in Educational Administration and the another in Teaching English as a Second Language. After working with Intercultura for nine years in Heredia, Barbara moved to Sámara, where she now serves as Intercultura's Academic Consultant and runs her CR TEFL Teacher Training program.
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Iván Núñez Bolaños
Accounting Auditor
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Iván Núñez Bolaños was born and lives in Alajuela. He studied International Commerce at the University of Costa Rica, and has two post-graduate qualifications, one in Public Accounting, the other in Business Administration, both from the Autonomous University of Monterrey. In his free time Iván enjoys going to the movies, the theatre and football games. His favourite team is "La Liga" in Alajuela!.
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