¡HABLEMOS ESPAÑOL!
Speak Spanish Now!
Are you traveling to Latin America? Do you do business with Spanish-speaking people abroad or in your own company? Do you need to improve your school grades? Or do you simply seek to improve your Spanish skills for personal reasons?
Whether you need a short survival course or improve your conversational or grammar skills, a professional, degreed, experienced, and native instructor is ready to assist you!
¡Hola! My name is Elsa. Since 1989, I have taught U.S., Canadian and European students of all ages (mostly adults), of all levels and from all walks of life. My career started as a Spanish Program Coordinator 1988 in my beloved homeland, Costa Rica, at the Forester Instituto Internacional, where I was in charge of giving placement tests to our new students, and of supervising students' classes and language needs.
My teaching style combines interactive conversation with grammar learning, along with understanding of the Spanish culture and its variations between Latin American and Iberian Spanish. I am very patient and make classes interesting, fun, engaging and enriching.
Skills:
- Natural communication skills and a true desire to ensure student success.
- Be able to assess and connect with student's personal needs and abilities.
- Establish and maintain effective and harmonious relationships.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Elementary and High Schools attended:
- Escuela Católica Activa
- Lincoln School (All English)
- Colegio Nuestra Señora del Pilar
- Colegio Bilingüe San Judas Tadeo
Degrees earned:
- Bachelor's Degree in Spanish Philology (University of Costa Rica)
- Master's Degree in Spanish (Texas A&M University)
Teaching and Coordinating Experience In The Dallas/North Texas area and Costa Rica:
- Texas A&M-Commerce Summer 2004
- Richland College 1996-1998
- SMU (Southern Methodist University) 1995-1998
- Center of English Language 1995
- Private Tutoring 1992-1994
- Forester Instituto Internacional (Accredited to Several Higher Education Schools in the U.S.) 1988-1991
I currently run my own business as a Spanish tutor and a translator in Dallas, Texas, where I reside since 1994. My students are mostly CEOs and business owners, who have daily contact with Spanish-speaking people. I've taught two private groups: One at Triton Oil Company from 1999-2003, and another at Perkins School of Theology-SMU for a few months in 2000. From 2005-2014, I was in charge of translating all CareNow Clinics medical and administrative documents into Spanish.
PERSONAL BACKGROUND
I was born in San José, Costa Rica to Costa Rican parents; the oldest of four. I attended bilingual, American and Catholic schools. I am a Christian who loves people. Very passionate about animals and our environment. I also find great joy in volunteering and helping others. Being kind, polite, respectful and considerate to all living beings is how my parents raised me to be. To view pictures of me, click on My Photos at the top of the page.
So, ready to start or have any questions? Just send text me or send your e-mail to elsitasm@yahoo.com
¡Nos vemos pronto! (See you soon!)
Helpful Daily Expressions
- Me llamo Daniela Hernández./ My name is Danielle Hernández.
- Mucho gusto./ Pleased to meet you.
- ¿A qué se dedica? / What do you do for a living?
- Soy escritora./ I am a writer.
-¿Dónde vive?/ Where do you live?
- Vivo en Nueva York./ I live in New York.
-¿Qué le gusta comer? / What do you like to eat?
- Me gusta comer arroz./ I like to eat rice.
- ¿Cuánto cuesta la revista?/ How much is the magazine?
- Hasta luego. Que pase un buen día./ Bye. Have a nice day.
- Que Dios te/lo/la bendiga. / May God bless you.
Days of The Week Months of The Year
lunes-Monday enero-January
martes-Tuesday febrero-February
miércoles- Wednesday marzo-March
jueves-Thursday abril-April
viernes-Friday mayo-May
sábado-Saturday junio-June
domingo-Sunday julio-July
agosto-August
se(p)tiembre-September
octubre-October
noviembre-November
diciembre-December
Days and months are not capitalized unless starting a title or a sentence.
Latin American General Customs
It is not unusual to see women kiss cheek to cheek when meeting for the first time. Men shake hands, or you may see them shaking hands as they pat each other's back if acquainted or related. Women and men also shake hands if it is their first time meeting. After that first time, men and women may kiss cheek to cheek.
Older people are addressed with usted, not tú or vos, especially by guests or strangers. Don or doña is used right before a first name to show respect: don Guillermo, don Ramón, doña Rosita, doña Marta.
The diminutive -ito or -ita is commonly attached to children's proper names: Carlitos, Anita. You may hear it too mainly when referring to older ladies as a sign of endearment. Sarita and Teresita are the most common ones. Just listen to how acquaintances and friends address older people.
Nicknames are common in Latin American society: Chepe/Pepe for José, Chico/Paco for Francisco, Memo for Guillermo, Chayo for Rosario, Lola/Lolita for Dolores. It is not disrespectful to use them with elders, as long as you say don or doña before.
Señor and señora are placed before the last name: el señor Jiménez, la señora Padilla. El or la is used in all cases except when addressing or calling a person: Señor Jiménez, venga (come), por favor.
All Latinos carry 2 last names. The first one is the father´s and the second is the mother´s: María Muñoz Coto. No hyphenation. When a single lady marries, her kids will adopt her father´s last name as their second and so forth in next generations. Therefore, the title junior is not necessary. The second last name will show if it is the father or the son since it will most likely be different.
Manners are very important. Things are handed, never thrown. Women are offered a seat if men are sitting and no other seats are available. While walking down the street, men walk on the outside of the sidewalk.
Keep eye contact, gently and genuinely, especially while conversing. Dropping the eyes is foreign and may show lack of interest. Smiling shows openness and willingness of heart. Staring is not unusual or offensive, unless at a married woman, especially in the presence of her husband. As always, discernment is your best tool.
Important: Free beverage refills do not apply in the Latin American countries.
Costa Rican Facts and Tips
- Costa Rica is not an island. It is located between Nicaragua on the north and Panama on the south.
- Since the army was abolished in 1948 by José (Pepe) Figueres Ferrer, the country has devoted its
efforts to better health, education and social well-being.
- Carlos Alvarado is the current President of Costa Rica.
- Costa Rica is 1st among the Americas in terms of the 2010 Environmental Performance Index.
- Spanish is the official language.
- The colón is the official currency.
- Costa Ricans are self-called Ticos, since we use the diminutive ending -tico so often (poquitico,
momentico).
- This country also possesses the greatest density of species in the world.
- The weather in San José is spring-like all year round. It varies slightly when going up to the
mountains, on the cool side.
- Although toalla is the common word for towel, Costa Ricans say paño. You may get into an
embarrasing situation if you use toalla.
- Las Marías are cab odometers.
Useful Language Websites
www.rae.es (Diccionario de la Real Academia Española)
www.wordreference.com (diccionario inglés/francés/portugués-español)
www.elcastellano.org (consultas)
www.wikipedia.org (online encyclopedia)
¡Buena suerte! 
Other useful websites
www.allgive.com Web search engine which donates money to Kittico, a non-profit for feral and homeless kitties neutering organization, every time you search.
www.dogpile.com Web search engine that donates money to animals organizations. It includes Google.
www.theanimalrescuesite.com Your mere clicking on the purple button donates money to animal shelters. Sending free e-cards does the same too.
www.crosswalk.com Search Bible verses and other Christian topics.
www.iihs.org Find out how safe is your vehicle according to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety.
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Updated on October 1st., 2011.