Meet Our Luminaries
With expertise in over 100 languages, our luminaries are experienced educators and native speakers dedicated to helping you succeed.
Cynthia
Spanish Instructor
I was born in California and raised in El Salvador. Spanish is my first language and my culture. I came back to the United States at fifteen and spent the next fifteen years in California building a career in education. I have an MA in Hispanic Linguistics from the University of California, Riverside. I started as a Spanish professor at the Defense Language Institute, where I trained military personnel to reach near-native proficiency in an intensive, fully immersive program. Since then I have designed bilingual curriculum for U.S. government agencies, adapted materials for young learners, and coordinated a citywide literacy initiative that brought bilingual resources to families facing language and economic barriers.
What I enjoy most about teaching is helping people connect with learning in a way that feels meaningful to them. My classes are interactive, practical, and built around real communication and culture, so students can use Spanish with confidence from the start. Moving between two countries and educational systems taught me to listen carefully, adapt quickly, and build trust with learners from different backgrounds.
Dorothy
German Instructor
I was born in Argentina and moved to Germany when I was five. I received my formal education in Germany, including studies at Freiburg University. Having taught German, English and ESL for many years on the East Coast, I have gained experience in a variety of venues, including the US Government, private industry, academia and public schools. I hold an MA from the University of Massachusetts in Germanic Languages and Linguistics.
I love learning languages and have knowledge of Spanish, French and Russian. Presently, I am discovering Yiddish. In my free time, I enjoy yoga, walking, the visual and performing arts, and spending time with my family.
My teaching approach focuses on practical strategies including emphasizing authentic communication, fostering a positive emotional state, promoting students' awareness of becoming more independent learners and using varied methods like cooperative learning and technology.
Helena
Polish Instructor
I graduated from Jagiellonian University in Krakow with B.A in teaching English and completed my postgraduate studies in teaching Polish as a foreign language. Since emigrating to US in 2012, I have been actively pursuing any opportunity to teach Polish to foreigners. I worked with private clients and university students at UT of Austin.
Since 2020 I have been teaching Polish online. I believe that the key to creating language successfully is simplicity, repetition, and use of Polish in class even at the beginner level. Languages and linguistics have always been my passion. Outside of English, I studied Italian, Spanish, German and Japanese. I enjoy reading, cooking and being outdoors. Lately, I have discovered my love for submarine movies.
Huda
Arabic Instructor
I have been working as a professional linguist and Arabic instructor for over 13 years, including assignments with government agencies and the FBI. My background combines deep linguistic expertise with a true passion for teaching. I find great joy in helping students connect with the Arabic language—not just to speak it, but to understand the culture, rhythm, and beauty behind it. I also enjoy developing creative teaching materials that make learning both practical and inspiring.
On a personal note, I love sharing stories about my culture, exploring and learning more about another cultures and exploring new cuisines.
Iva
Serbian & Russian Instructor
I'm a native Serbian speaker who spent part of my early life in Russia, where I was immersed in the language, culture, and educational system. Later, I moved to the United States, where I gained experience working in the educational system and developed a deeper understanding of how people learn and communicate across cultures.
By education, I'm a special educator for deaf and hard-of-hearing students, and I've always been passionate about how humans acquire language. I've also taught advanced Russian and studied German and Norwegian, which has helped me see language learning from many perspectives.
I love creating lessons that are interactive, meaningful, and connected to real life. My goal is to help students feel confident using Serbian in everyday situations while also discovering the beauty of its culture and expression.
Ivan
Russian Instructor
I am a native Russian speaker with a Master's degree in Russian Philology and Education and more than 10 years of experience as a teacher of Russian language and culture. I have taught at such distinguished U.S. institutions as DLIFLC, Concordia College LTC, The Ohio State University, Colgate University, Lewis University, and Oklahoma City University, where I have gained significant experience in preparing my students for the OPI, DLPT, and RFL (TRKI) exams.
As a language teacher, I strive to combine theory and practice for my students to understand and gradually acquire a living modern language. Furthermore, I have experience in creating individually tailored curricula for students with specific needs (military, government, business, legal, travel, etc.)
Rebeca
Spanish Instructor
I am a native Spanish speaker with more than 15 years of experience in language instruction, curriculum development, and academic leadership. I have a Master's in Education from Framingham University and a Bachelor's in Business Administration from Hampton University. I am also certified as an Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) tester and as a Diagnostic Assessment Specialist. I have taught Spanish at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, at Indiana University's Hamilton Lugar School, and for the 7th Special Forces Group, where I worked with military linguists on proficiency-based, immersive courses. I have also taught at universities in Bolivia and Curaçao, and I have served as a department head and dean.
Living and working in Latin America and the Caribbean gave me a deep understanding of the cultures behind the language. I bring that into the classroom through authentic materials, real communication, and regional and cultural knowledge, because I believe students learn Spanish best when they use it in meaningful situations. My goal is to help each student build confidence and reach their proficiency goals.
Romana
Czech & Slovak Instructor
I'm a native Czech speaker with a strong knowledge of Slovak and English. I grew up in the Czech Republic, where I experienced the local education system and cultural for over 20 years before moving to the U.S., where I also became familiar with the American education system and culture. Even though I earned top grades in English back home, I realized after moving that I couldn't truly use the language until I started learning it through real-life situations. That experience shaped how I teach and learn — focusing on practical lessons that highlight real communication, culture, and everyday language.
I love helping my students connect with Czech or Slovak in a natural and enjoyable way, and seeing their confidence grow from the very first lessons. My classes are interactive, authentic, and designed to make learning both effective and fun.
Outside of teaching, I'm also a fitness coach and instructor. I love learning new things, exploring different languages and cultures, traveling, and staying active. I believe that learning a language opens minds, builds confidence, and creates meaningful connections — and with good teaching and real-life language practice, anyone can learn.
Ximei
Mandarin & Cantonese Instructor
I am a native Mandarin speaker with proficiency in both Cantonese and English. I lived in China for over thirty years, graduated from a normal university in China with a major in English, and taught English at the junior high school level. I also founded an English training school, gaining solid experience in language teaching.
After relocating to the United States, I continued my studies at the university level and went on to teach Chinese in public schools, integrating cross-cultural teaching experiences into language instruction. My professional background and extensive teaching experience have shaped my teaching philosophy. I emphasize relaxed and interactive teaching methods, combine language instruction with cultural immersion, and help students build confidence in their language learning. My courses are highly interactive and closely connected to real-life contexts, designed to make learning both effective and enjoyable.
In addition to teaching Mandarin and Cantonese, I have self-studied beginner-level Spanish and Japanese. I love traveling and firmly believe that being able to communicate in local languages while traveling is a highly meaningful experience. The joy of cross-cultural communication continues to inspire my ongoing language learning journey.