About
BCN LIP (Language Immersion Programs) Language School is an academy founded by school director Sofia Pariente Buzón in 2008. Our name demonstrates the philosophy that we wish to impart, that our programs are based on real life learning in useful contexts.
Our Staff
Director
Born in Barcelona in 1974, Sofia Pariente Buzón traveled to the United States at the age of 17 to finish high school, and received a BA in English and Spanish Philology from the University of Barcelona in 1997. In 1998, she received a postgraduate degree in Postcolonial Literatures. And in 2001, she completed a course in Spanish as a foreign language for teachers at the International House. Since 2002, she has worked as an educator in different centers in Barcelona, and in 2008 founded BCNLIP. She has been the director and a teacher at the school since its inception.
If there is one unique difference between BCNLIP and other schools, it is that we treat our students in a very personal and real way. As director, I like to get to know all of the students personally and help them with everything they need. For this reason, I do my best to spend the majority of my time at our school meeting their needs and ensuring their satisfaction at all times. For me, among all of the duties involved in management, caring for the students is the most important part.
Management team

Carlos Puga

Biography
Born in Mexico City, 1982. I have a degree in Finance from the Technology University of Mexico and a Cambridge International Business Diploma (in Spanish) from BEEI Barcelona. I have a Diploma in practical accounting adapted to NPGC from the Financial Studies Centre in Barcelona.
My experience as an acountant has been very varied and I have been able to work in different companies with various profiles. The most enlightening period was during the time following the 2008 crisis when my work required a lot of management and precision in the valuation of all financial information. One of my favourite phrases is a quote by Robert Kiyoshaki “Our most important asset is our mind”.

Maria Selezneva

Biography
Bachelor’s degree in Sinology from the University of Chita, Russia in 2007. She lived 4 years in Harbin, where she worked as a translator while completing her Master. She started her career as a teacher in 2012 and since 2013 has formed part of the BCN LIP team.
Language is culture. I feel like a bridge connecting people. I like to help people bring the cultures of different countries alive. The nicest thing about being a teacher is to see the sincere smiles of children in the faces of adults, when they make a correct sentence in the language they are studying.

Irada Gardashova

Biography
Born in 1982 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Bachelor’s degree in English and Spanish Philology from the Pedagogical University of Saint Petersburg. Certified in Slavic Philology. She has been teaching since 2003. For 3 years, she taught Spanish as a foreign language at Estatal University of Saint Petersburg. Since 2006, she has worked at different language schools in Barcelona and since 2011 has been a part of the BCN LIP team, teaching Spanish for Russians and Russian.
I enjoy the interaction with the people and I have a true interest in them. The majority of our students are foreigners and for this reason I strive to have the most updated information related to new immigration laws of the Foreign Consulates. I do my best to convey trust and confidence, providing the necessary information and help when it is time to select a group or level and my background as a philologist helps me greatly with this.
The goal of my classes is to teach a “living” language and not the outdated constructions that are not used in the current version. Interesting, dynamic classes and a creative comfortable environment form part of the motivation for a student

Viktoriia Uskova

Biography
Born in 1989 in St.Petersburg, Russia. She has a master degree in Public Relations and a bachelor degree in Linguistics. She has been working in Marketing and Public Relations since 2008. She has formed part of BCNLIP´s team in 2017.

Alejandro Danilo Saenz

Biography
Licenciado en Geografía, Diplomado en Geografía Humana, Máster en Ciencias Sociales, especialidad Geografía Cultural; Curso práctico de formación de Profesor de ELE (International House); Postgrado de Profesor de ELE. Más de 7 años como profesor de ELE, más de 4 años como profesor de Geografía, coautor de los libros “Todas las voces”, vol. I (B2) y vol. II (A1-A2), sobre cultura española y latinoamericana para estudiantes de español.
La enseñanza es un intercambio de experiencias, un constante aprendizaje tanto del alumno como del profesor.

Mariana Tostes

Biography
De Río de Janeiro, Brazil al mundo, ha vivido en Estados Unidos, Argentina e Italia. Se graduó en Derecho por la Univesidad Federal Fluminense en 2016 y es miembro del Colegio de Abogados de Brasil. Tiene un Máster en Derechos Humanos y Democracia por la Università degli Studi di Padova y llegó a Barcelona en 2019 por una beca para estudiar un Máster en Relaciones Internacionales en la Universitat Pompeu Fabra. Tiene experiencia de trabajo en ONGs y de investigación sobre migración, refugiados y control de fronteras, principalmente en Europa y América Latina, con publicaciones en el European Consortium for Political Research. Le apasionan los idiomas y conocer nuevas culturas.
Nunca estarás seguro de lo que vendrá, sólo de que será fascinante.

Lidia Zhukova

Biography
Lidia studied Tourism and Hotel Management doing one exchange year in Cyprus. She worked mostly in Event Management and Business Education in Moscow since 2014. She moved to Barcelona in 2019 and joined BCNLIP team last year.
Let’s experience communication without borders and make bridges between people!

Olga Mandzhieva

Biography
She was born in Elista (Russia) in 1993. At age 16 she went to South Korea (Seoul) to study Korean at Korea University. She graduated from Kyunghee University from Post Modern Music College where she studied modern singing. In 2018 she moved to Barcelona and studied Spanish at BCNLIP. He speaks Russian, English, Korean, and Spanish.
After so many years living abroad and meeting people from many countries, I understood that languages greatly affect our way of thinking and mentality. That is why knowledge of several languages helps us better understand each other not only verbally, but also spiritually.

Mohamed Chbab

Biography
Born in 1993 in Tangier Morocco, graduated in physical and energy sciences in Tetouan 2015. Higher degree in Guide, information and tourist assistance in Madrid / Starsburg 2017, followed by the higher degree in Management of tourist accommodation in 2019 in Madrid. He has always been passionate about being a teacher, teaching, explaining and helping students, that is why I have worked for years as Frances’s teacher. Speaking four languages (Arabic, French, Spanish and English), for him, communicating with students helps them to achieve their objectives easily. For Mohamed, learning a language is opening a new door on another culture and its experiences.
I have grown up in a different city, but fighting every day I have been able to fulfill my dreams, travel, and change my life. Yes, I have been able, you can also, step by step the impossible is achieved

Soufiane Knidel

Biography
Born in 1997, in Tetouan-Morocco. He has come to Spain to continue his higher degree studies in Hospitality and Tourism. He has started with BCNLIP as an agent, bringing students from the countries of the Arab world, to later become part of the school team.
Keeping in mind to reach the top, with very clear ideas, in this world no one fights alone.

Daniil Onishchenko

Biography
I graduated from the University of Saimaa, Finland, with a major in Tourism and Hotel Management. Later, I received my second TEFL degree in Teaching English as a Foreign Language. I have been working as an English teacher for 7 years and prepared my students for the Cambridge exams.
I worked as a marketing manager for an English school in the Philippines and for 2 years in China as an English teacher.
I ran a private language school in St. Petersburg and opened a successful online department there during COVID-19, which helped the school maintain its operations.
If you want to reach your goals, take at least 1 step in that direction every day. Discipline, focus, positive attitude and gratitude towards everything around you is a key to becoming a happy and prosperous person.

Polina Kovaleva

Biography
She was born in Moscow and in 2009 after graduating from the Russian State University of Physical Culture and Sport, he went to live in the Dominican Republic where he fell in love with Spanish and its Caribbean version. In 2020, he moved to Barcelona to begin his master’s studies at the UB.
What surprises and fascinates me the most about the Spanish language is that it is very diverse, it is like speaking many languages in one. Speaking Spanish you have access to the culture and traditions of so many countries, that at least half the world opens up to you. There is nothing more fun than guessing what country a person is from by listening to their accent and lexicon.

Nikita Tikhoniuk

Biography
Decidió mudarse de Moscú a Barcelona justo en el mejor momento, es decir, un mes antes de que se nos viniese encima la pandemia y la burocracia estuviese a un paso del colapso total. “Esa inesperada experiencia me confirmó que si tienes ganas y perseveras, las cosas pueden salir como quieres”. Antes había trabajado como productor creativo y gerente de marketing digital, de relaciones públicas y de proyectos especiales para varias marcas internacionales como LVMH, Adidas, Van Cleef & Arpels y Condé Nast. Tiene una formación que podría calificarse fósil: en 2011 se diplomó en teología en la Universidad Estatal Lingüística de Moscú, y desde entonces aprovecha sus conocimientos lingüísticos y culturales en las actividades profesionales donde toma parte.
Por cierto, no, Nikita no es un nombre de mujer. Es griego y un poco más antiguo que aquella película.

Aleksandr Zaitsev

Biography
I was born in 1967 in Russia, and I graduated as a mechanical engineer at St. Petersburg Technical University. I have extensive experience in engineering and management. In 2019, I came to Barcelona to learn Spanish at the BCNLIP school from level zero. And now I became a part of the work team. I really like the school, the team, and the principal.
I believe that our lives are shaped by the studies we receive and the experience we accumulate!
Our teachers
All of our teachers meet the following academic requirements:
Academic requirements
- University degree in a humanities or language field, preferably Hispanic philology
- Having completed an ELE course, or a language teaching course
- Minimum of 2 years experience as a language teacher
- Having mastered a foreign language
- Publications related to teaching are valued
- Interest in continued training is valued
Personal requirements
- Dedication to teaching.
- Responsibility and punctuality.
- Motivation capacity.
- Interest in other cultures.
Spanish Teachers
In order to provide our students with quality education, updated curriculum, and to enable learning in a way that is dynamic and interactive, our teaching team meets monthly to discuss the latest developments and coordinate the different school activities. Each teacher has an important role in this process:

María Carmen Domingo Bernal

Biography
Born in 1973. Attended primary and secondary school at the Liceo Frances. Bachelor’s degree in Hispanic Philology from the University of Barcelona. She worked as a Spanish teacher in businesses and schools in Bolonia, Italy for 8 years. She has been teaching Spanish since 1998.
To teach is to learn, and I learn more every day.

María Velázquez Prados

Biography
Born in Granada, 1983. She has a degree in History of Art, a Masters degree in Cultural Management and completed postgraduate studies in Urban History. She retrained as a Spanish language teacher in 2010 when she discovered her passion for teaching Spanish, seeing it as a perfect opportunity to spread knowledge of Spanish culture. After completing her training to teach Spanish as a foreign language, she started working in Brighton (England) and later moved to Barcelona.
I’m interested in language teaching as a pretext to knowing a culture through its most valuable object: the word.

Andres Mercado

Biography
He has a degree in Philosophy and Science of Education, Spanish language teacher training from Calamo & Cran, a Masters degree in Spanish language teaching for Secondary School Education and is also an actor. He teaches Language and Literature at secondary school level. He has eight years of experience as a sports instructor and a music and theatre teacher and experience teaching children with learning difficulties. Another area of relevant experience is in the editorial sector. He has created content and worked as a reader, writing reports for publications.
I like to encourage and strengthen students abilities working towards specific objectives. I like to bring out the best in every student and turn learning into something enjoyable and rewarding.

Cesar Rojo

Biography
César Rojo holds a PhD in Linguistics Communication and Multilingual Mediation (Pompeu Fabra University-UPF), a Master’s Degree in Linguistics and Technological Applications (UPF) and a Bachelor’s degree in Hispanic Language and Literature (University of Veracruz-UV, Mexico). In addition to being a researcher in Linguistics, he has worked as palaeographer, proofreader, translator (English-Spanish), journalist and radio producer. He has published articles and reports in several magazines and newspapers in Mexico and Spain. He has taught Spanish as a second language in Mexico and recently in BCNLIP School in Barcelona.
Learning another language develops cognitive system, broadens memory, comprehension and enriches the cultural codes of a person

Elena García Lorca

Biography
Born in Granada. Holds a degree in Hispanic philology from the University of Granada. After working with different NGOs giving Spanish classes to immigrants, she realized that her passion was teaching Spanish to foreigners. Holds a Master in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language in the University of Granada, and has worked as a Spanish teacher since 2013. In addition to BCNLIP, where she has worked since March 2016, she has worked in Enfórex Barcelona.
I love my work, where every day is a new experience. We use language as a pretext to embark on a continuous journey discovering different cultures.

Carlos Alberto Garzón

Biography
Born in Colombia in 1979. He graduated as a librarian in 2004 at the University of Antioquia, and worked in the Ministry of Culture of his country as a trainer for the development of reading and writing strategies for children and young people. Then he studied literature: Hispanic Philology and specialized in the editing and correction of written texts. In 2015 he completed a diploma in Creative Writing at Caro y Cuervo Institute in Bogotá, and is currently studying the Master’s Degree in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language in Professional Fields at the University of Barcelona.
To learn a language is to break a mental border, it is a way of making ourselves universal.

Valeria Dimaté Campos

Biography
Valeria graduated from the Literature Department at the National University of Colombia, where she got a master’s degree in Creative Writing. She has worked since 2007 in Bogotá, on the Colombian Pacific Coast and now in Barcelona as a teacher of reading and writing for children, youth and adults in libraries, schools, parks, marketplaces, prisons and hospitals. She is currently finishing the Master’s Degree in Advanced Studies in Spanish and Latin American Literature, and is doing a research in autobiographical and literary writing.
Learning and teaching a language which is a daily experience connected not only with a language: it is connected with relationships, solidarity, empathy and intelligence. It is amazing how teaching a language can be at the same time a cognitive exercise and open you mind to new worlds.

Miguel Cano Díaz

Biography
A Galician of 1986 vintage. Formed as a Translator and Conference Interpreter (Degree in Translation and Interpretating, Masters in Conference Interpreting) and a Spanish as a Foreign Language teacher almost by chance. He found his way by going the USA for 4 months for an Assistantship at Luna University and ended up doing a Master’s in Hispanic Literature and Pedagogy there, giving classes for 2 terms. He then came to Barcelona to do a Masters in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language and has stayed here since.
Teaching your own language is something magical because while you’re sharing something very intimate, you’re learning a lot about it seeing it through different eyes, your learner’s eyes.

Carlos Hernández Martín

Biography
Nació en Barcelona en 1983. Interesado por las letras desde temprana edad, comienza a escribir a los trece años, hecho que le lleva a estudiar lengua y literatura, y a licenciarse en filología hispánica en la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB). Su pasión por la música y la comunicación le ofrecen una temporada en la radio, en un programa de música. Su afán creativo le guía por el camino de la producción y la traducción poética. Su interés por la enseñanza le coloca en el camino de la docencia de lenguas, tras su paso por International House, donde se certifica como profesor de ELE, para trabajar en academias de idiomas y empresas.
Considero que la lengua es el instrumento más veraz, cruel y diplomático que existe, porque refleja la realidad de la persona, y por tanto, de su entorno íntimo y del país o lugar al que pertenece: es el artificio más natural del que dispone la humanidad. Enseñarla requiere tanta curiosidad como respeto, además de amor por la docencia, que es una forma de generosidad, en la que todas las personas implicadas siempre pueden aprender.

Ferrán Martinez

Biography
Ferran Andreu, a native of Barcelona. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations, Marketing and Management from the Queen’s University of Belfast, United Kingdom and a Master’s degree in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language from the University of Barcelona. Throughout his 14 years of professional experience abroad as an ELE teacher, he has collaborated with countless centers, including the following: the Cervantes Institute in Budapest, where he was an intern, the Cervantes Institute in Vienna, the IMC FH Krems, Austrian university and the CEU University of Budapest. In all these years, in addition to professional experiences, he has taken a large number of specific courses to maintain and improve his professional level, today he continues to learn in order to teach better.
I dedicate myself to this by vocation, I love my work. Learning a foreign language is opening a window to a new culture. Every language has more or less its logic, my job is to explain it to my students, the bad thing is that there are exceptions …

Karina Fernandes

Biography
She has a degree in History from the University of Barcelona (UB) and an official Master’s degree in Construction and Representation of Cultural Identities, in the department of philology, linguistics, and literature of the University of Barcelona (UB). For many years he worked as a journalist specializing in the recovery of historical memory at MEMORA (Serveis Funeraris de Barcelona).
I sincerely think that there is nothing more healthy and enriching than learning a new language because it opens your mind and helps you to empathize with others, with human beings who speak, live, and feel differently. For all of this, being an ELE teacher is an exciting experience that fills me in every possible way.

Nenad Paunović

Biography
A certified Spanish and Catalan teacher. As for his academic career, he holds a degree in Spanish Philology and has completed two master’s degrees related to the teaching of Spanish and pedagogy. In addition to the Master in Spanish Language and Literature, he holds another Master’s degree in Training of Teachers of Spanish as a Foreign Language from the University of Barcelona. He grew up in a trilingual environment, since from an early age he communicated with his family members in his three languages: Spanish, Catalan, and Serbian. This linguistic and cultural diversity has influenced and defined his professional career. He is passionate about linguistics and is fluent in 7 languages. Regarding his professional experience, he has extensive experience of 6 years, both nationally and internationally, in the field of Spanish Language Teaching.
Based on my own perspective and personality, I consider it essential that teachers take an active, communicative and dynamic role in the classroom. I would highlight as a major achievement that my students in all the contexts in which I have worked have positively affected my involvement and dedication in the classroom, as well as the fact that I am multilingual which, without a doubt, is an advantage that facilitates the teaching-learning process.

Diego Rodríguez

Biography
Diego was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He grew up and lived in Barcelona from a very young age. He has a degree in Political Science and Administration from the Autonomous University of Barcelona and the Paris Institute of Political Studies
(Sciences-Po). He has completed a Master’s degree in Literature, Art, and Thought at the Pompeu Fabra University of Barcelona (UPF). Since 2017 he has been studying a double doctorate in Humanities and Philosophy, at UPF and at the University of Paris 8 in France. Since he finished his secondary studies, he has given private classes in Spanish, French, and Catalan. He has also been working as a translator and proofreader for over twenty years in editorial work. Learning and teaching languages are two of his great passions. In addition to French, he has also studied English, Italian, and, more recently, German. He has attended different trainings on teaching Spanish as a foreign language in Barcelona, at International House, and at the Official School of Languages. He has also completed a training course for Spanish teachers at the Instituto Cervantes in Lisbon. She has been working at BCN Lip since November 2019.
To be able, above all, to treat what is alive as something alive. That is what for me, in essence, transmitting my mother tongue to students. To teach carefully, of course, the anatomy of the language, its grammar, the firm structure on which it sits. But only to, from there, better access its mutable, practical, and communicative dimension, that allows the student to understand and use language or words as a fabulous tool for immersion in culture.

Judith Benítez Ávila

Biography
He graduated in Arabic Studies from the University of Barcelona and later did a Master’s in Spanish as a Foreign Language. Since 2009 she has been linked to the world of education, she began to work as a teacher and monitor of school reinforcement activities in different educational centers. In 2013 she underwent her first experience as a Spanish teacher in Granada. Between 2017 and 2020 she was a Spanish teacher in Morocco.
When we really learn a language, something changes in us and we are able to empathize with its speakers and broaden our understanding of cultural aspects that we might not previously have been able to understand.

Elena Jrisoulas Lafuente

Biography
Elena was born in Barcelona and graduated in Hispanic Literature at the University of Barcelona. She has worked as a teacher of Spanish and Catalan in different schools across the city, some of them dedicated exclusively to the field of business. She also works as a translator and interpreter of modern Greek in the Courts of Barcelona.
Speak a new language and discover the world anew!

Ángel Alfonso Poza

Biography
Angel graduated in Sociology from the University of Barcelona. Following his graduation, he traveled to Japan to study Japanese at Ritsumeikan Universities and Kyoto University of Foreign Studies. Since 2006 he has combined Spanish teaching with Language learning in Barcelona, Japan, and Poland.. In 2016 he completed a Master’s in Peace and Social Conflict at the University of Otago, in New Zealand. He later completed his Doctorate in Japan.. In both cases, his studies have focused on the relationship between language and culture.
With new languages, you discover new worlds and cultures, not only on the outside but also within yourself. Languages are a process of discovery, a journey that allows us to grow and dream.

Rafa Aguilar

Biography
Rafa is from Córdoba and is obsessed with blogs, websites, YouTube channels, podcasts and all kinds of online Spanish learning materials. Rafa certified as an ELE teacher at International House in 2012 and holds a degree in Visual Communication from Northbrook College in England. Since 2012 he has worked as a Spanish teacher for companies such as the Centro Nacional de Supercomputacion, American Express, or AXA. He has been a teacher at Bcnlip since 2018.
The most important thing is the student, and learning to speak from the first minute. The classroom is the best place to make mistakes, to practice the language a lot, to explore, and to motivate you to continue learning. As a Spanish teacher, my job is not just to teach you grammar or help you speak better, my job is to help you fall in love with learning Spanish.

Nerea Yera

Biography
She graduated in Spanish Language and Literature at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, where she also completed a master’s degree in Spanish Language, Hispanic Literature, and Spanish for Foreigners. Over the course of her master’s degree, she worked as an ELE teacher via an internship at the École Normale Supérieure de Lyon, where she discovered her vocation for teaching Spanish. Now a resident of Barcelona for 6 years and counting, she has worked as an ELE teacher in a summer camp and later in different Spanish academies in Barcelona. She is currently a teacher at BCNLIP and is pursuing her doctoral studies at the University of Girona, where she is researching colonial epic poetry in courtesan circles.
Teaching and learning a language is also about creating a bond between people, it is a bridge that unites you with different cultures, ideologies and different experiences, where teacher and student teach and learn at the same time. Being an ELE teacher is something exciting, it is an approach to a new world.

Juan Carlos Villar

Biography
Graduated in Geography and History, he also obtained the Certificate of Pedagogical Aptitude. His interest in teaching languages led him to take the Master of Spanish for Foreigners and various courses related to teaching Spanish.
Russophile and Hispanic in equal parts, from an early age he became interested in Russian literature and as a result, he studied Russian language at the Pushkin Institute in Moscow.
On a professional level, he has worked as a tenured professor at the Federal University of Kazan and in academies and schools in Barcelona.
Speaking a second language allows us to develop a broader view of the world, and this is the ultimate passport to the discovery of other cultures and realities.

Marta Martínez Corpas

Biography
Since she was little she has always had a fascination for languages. This fascination led her to study Translation and Interpreting at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, where she discovered the beauty of Russian culture and language. In 2017 he received the TRK-III diploma from the University of Saint Petersburg. Despite obtaining the General Translation diploma at International House in 2018, he has always dedicated his professional life to teaching languages such as English, Russian and, especially, Spanish both in academies, public schools, and companies.
Teaching is pure magic. It is incredible how in a classroom borders and prejudices break down and a common goal is created: to learn and improve a language. I am passionate about being able to practice a profession that allows building bridges between hundreds of cultures.

Lluis Pérez

Biography
Born in Barcelona, he graduated in history from the UB university, having already started his career in teaching second languages during his studies. Passionate about history, culture, and teaching, he pursued these aspects, researching and writing.
After two years residing in Madrid, during which he continued teaching foreign languages, he returned to Barcelona, beginning his career at BCNLIP, while completing his master’s degree ELE.
To learn and teach a language, we must have fun, be interested, and get excited. For this, we must use all the tools at our disposal, history, culture, humor … To undertake a journey beyond the classroom and textbooks.

Mohammad Kangarani

Biography
He studied Romance Philology, Philosophy and graduated in Theory of Literature and Comparative Literature at the UAB. He continued his training at the University of Salamanca in Languages and Cultures of the Ancient Near East. He has been a Spanish teacher for almost 10 years, a job that began as a distraction to escape the endless days of the library.
Learning a language is looking at the world with new eyes, it is knowing the expressive possibilities that allow us to understand more and better the reality that surrounds us and of which we are a part of.

Viviana Da Costa Da Silva

Biography
Se was born in Caracas and has lived in Venezuela, Portugal and since 2012 in Spain. Throughout that journey, she discovered that teaching her mother tongue and sharing different cultures is her passion. In 2020 she decided to officially train as a Spanish teacher and studied a Master’s Degree in Teaching Spanish for Foreigners at the Francisco de Vitoria University. She is also certified as a DELE examiner for A1, A2 and B1, B2 level students at the Instituto Cervantes.
Learning a second language allows you to understand the world from a different perspective.

Silvia Bedmar Pérez

Biography
She has a diploma in Social Work and a degree in Social and Cultural Anthropology. She began teaching Spanish in different non-governmental organizations and, finally, decided to take the Master’s Degree in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language to become a professional in this discipline that she admires so much. Currently, this is her main activity together with the investigation of orality in different cultures and historical periods.
Learning and teaching a new language allows us to open the doors to understanding between different ways of seeing and thinking, cultural exchange and the expansion of new ways of thinking. My task is to provide the necessary tools to make this happen.

Silvina Garrido Hermann

Biography
She graduated Journalism from the National University of La Plata (Argentina), where she also obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Social Communication. In Spain, she received the title of Professor of Spanish for Foreigners at the Antonio de Nebrija University, where she is currently completing the Master’s Degree in Didactics of Spanish as a Foreign Language. Silvia is a DELE Accredited Examiner from the Cervantes Institute in Marrakech, a Teacher for Vocational Training for Occupation and an Announcer. She has worked since 2000 as a teacher of Corporate Communication, Communication Skills, Journalism, Speech, Literacy, Spanish as a Foreign Language and Mindfulness, and as a writer, editor, journalist and broadcaster. Passionate about Spanish and Latin American literature and, also, interested in personal growth and poetry, she has published a book where she brings both together. She is currently researching literacy, immigration and multiculturalism in Spain, in order to prepare her ELE Master’s Thesis.
Being a Spanish teacher includes, in addition to continuous training, many skills from other professions: entertainer, educator, actress, teacher, tour guide…speaker…designer, trainer, writer…, as Forges’ humorous cartoon says -based on an idea Lourdes Miquel and text by Nieves Alarcón-. For this reason, I enjoy this wonderful activity, by facilitating this teaching-learning process where the following are fundamentally present: language, social service, animation, culture and ICT.

Julia Rearte Gil

Biography
Born in Argentina, she graduated as a university degree teacher in Spanish and Literature. Since 2011 he began teaching Spanish for foreigners realizing that it was what he liked the most. She has lived and worked in Argentina, Australia, Uruguay, France and now in Spain. She enjoys challenges, which is why she is passionate about her work since bringing her language closer to other people is one of the personal satisfaction that most fulfills her.
The class is a perfect time to walk together with the student, not only in the learning process but also in the immersion experience.

Saúl Chaza Ibáñez

Biography
Saúl graduated in Humanities in Seville and completed a master’s degree in Comparative Literature at the Autònoma de Barcelona. In addition to being a Spanish teacher, he is an editorial editor and teaches storytelling at IED. He has published several books of poetry and is a music lover.
Learning a new language is like changing our perception or traveling to another dimension: it changes us and brings us closer to others

María José Figueroa

Biography
María José Figueroa was born in Santiago de Chile but at the age of 18 she moved to Madrid to study Hispanic Philology and Theory of Literature and Comparative Literature at the Complutense University of Madrid. After working as a private teacher of language and literature and taking an ELE course, she decided to take the Master in Spanish as a Second Language at the same university in 2015. When she finished it, she worked as a volunteer in an NGO giving Spanish classes to refugees. Interested in Asian culture, in 2017 she moved to China where she worked as a Spanish teacher at the Hebei University of Foreign Studies, and at the Guangdong University of Finance. In Guangzhou, in addition to her work at the university, she worked at a school giving private lessons to children and teenagers and as a DELE examiner in Hong Kong. In 2020 he returned to Spain and settled in Barcelona. During confinement, he continued to work online and in August 2021 María José joined BCNLIP.
For me, teaching Spanish is like taking a trip around the world with no destination or return. You don’t know what will happen or who you will meet but every day you will learn something new. It is a journey of self-knowledge, reflection and personal maturity. When you teach something you are leaving a part of yourself and enriching another. Through language and body expression we can learn so many things that go beyond the exchange of words, such as customs, traditions and culture. It is in this exchange between teacher and student where we can open our minds and learn a little more about the world here and there and about ourselves. A trip you never want to return from.

Camilo Vergara

Biography
He has a Doctorate of Philosophy from the Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro where he specialized in language and communication, investigating the linguistic mechanisms that allow us to express emotions and attitudes through language. He has a Master’s degree in Logic and Metaphysics from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and has experience teaching language in Spain, Chile and Brazil. He is currently a member of academic research groups in Europe and Brazil.
The only way to understand a society and its culture in depth is by learning its language, because its treasures and mysteries are codified in it.

Fabián Lousto Giovio

Biography
He was born in 1967, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He graduated in Psychology in 1993, from the Universidad del Salvador in Buenos Aires and continued his studies in Philosophy. He specialized in pathologies derived from Child Abuse, Sexual Abuse, and Gender Violence, actively working with educational centers. He continued his postgraduate studies in Intercultural Management and Communication, Civilization, and Culture, areas of research in which he worked during his years as a director for the Universidad del Salvador and after the creation of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees with the University of Passau, Germany, as well as with other European universities. For years, he alternated between clinical psychology, his teaching career, and university management. At the beginning of the 2000s, he focused his studies on Intercultural Issues and Mediation. In 2005 he moved to Barcelona. He is currently pursuing his doctorate in Philosophy at the University of Barcelona (UB) and is the Director of the Educational Project and Mediation at Bcnlip.
Words can protect us and be absence, care for us, lull us, and be our home. The home we haven’t had or have lost, the one we yearn for. Good words always embrace us.

Esteban

Biography
A graduate in Hispanic Language and Literature and a Professor of Spanish and Communication from the Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaiso. He holds a Master’s degree in Spanish as a Foreign Language in professional contexts from the University of Barcelona. He has been part of research groups related to inclusive education and grammatical development in the first stage of schooling. He has worked as a Spanish teacher in different contexts: secondary schools, educational projects for adults, and higher education.
A lover of music and cinema, as well as languages and cultural diversity. He defines himself as a restless and curious person: he is always open to learning from the cultural encounters that occur in the classroom.
Learning is not a process that only lands in the will and duty of the student. We are all ambassadors of our own culture and reality, therefore, there is always something to teach and the teacher, because of their complex profession and their commitment to teaching, always has to learn something from their students.
Esteban
Biography
Licenciado en Lengua y Literatura hispánica y Profesor de Castellano y Comunicación por la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso. Es Máster en Español como Lengua Extranjera en ámbitos profesionales por la Universitat de Barcelona. Ha sido parte de grupos de investigación ligados a la educación inclusiva y al desarrollo gramatical en la primera etapa escolar. Se ha desempeñado como profesor de español en diferentes contextos: escuelas secundarias, proyectos educativos para adultos y en la educación superior.
Amante de la música y el cine, como también de las lenguas y de la diversidad cultural. Se define como una persona inquieta y curiosa: siempre está abierto a aprender de los encuentros culturales que ocurren en el aula.
El aprendizaje no es un proceso que solo aterriza en la voluntad y en el deber del estudiante. Todos somos embajadores de nuestra propia cultura y realidad, por lo tanto, siempre hay algo que enseñar y el profesor, por su complejo oficio y su compromiso con la enseñanza, siempre tiene que aprender algo de sus estudiantes.

Marlène

Biography
Hello! I’m Marlène. I’m 30 years old and I’m a teacher at Bcnlip. My biography is quite international. I was born in Zurich (Switzerland) where my parents met. My father is Argentine and my mother is German. That’s why my childhood was defined by many trips and several moves. I lived in Germany until I was 5 years old and then we moved to Barcelona, where I grew up until I was 18. Then I started traveling and studying. Now, after more than 10 years, countless experiences, and several dreams fulfilled, I returned to my favorite city in the world, Barcelona.
Here, I’ve become part of the BCNLip team, which makes me very happy. I love the philosophy of the school, which not only focuses on teaching languages but also genuinely wants there to be a cultural and emotional exchange among the people who cross its hallways. Personally, I love being a teacher. I speak 5 languages and this has always opened doors in my personal life. I’m convinced that knowing how to communicate is the key to a happy and dignified life. I want to help other people to be happy and to never stop learning myself.

Miguel Ángel

Biography
I am Miguel Ángel. I was born in Santiago, Chile in the 1980s. In those years, I was passionate about soccer and world flags. I was always very curious about what the people who lived in those countries were like. Later, I became interested in literature and languages and studied to become a Spanish teacher. After finishing my career, thanks to a scholarship, I was able to come to Barcelona to do a master’s and a doctorate, and I fell in love with this city. More than 10 years have passed and I’m still here, fulfilling one of my dreams (meeting people from many different countries) and pursuing my other passions: dance, music, and sports.

Alejandra

Biography
I was born, raised, and educated in Uruguay. I graduated as a style editor, and received a degree in Linguistics from the University of the Republic. I have worked with teenagers as a high school teacher in my country and with adults as a Spanish teacher for foreigners. I am passionate about grammar and its teaching, but I also enjoy studying other languages. I moved to Barcelona, where I currently live, to further my academic and professional career.

Xavi

Biography
Born in Barcelona in 1985, he graduated in English Philology from UB, lived in Germany for a while, and then moved to Madrid to study for a degree in German Philology at UCM. He has a Certificate of Pedagogical Aptitude (CAP) and has worked for many years as a teacher of English, German, Spanish, Catalan, and literature in secondary school and high school. He now works at Bcnlip as an ELE (Spanish as a Foreign Language) and Catalan teacher. He has specific ELE training (International House course) and courses from the Cervantes Institute. He has a strong passion for literature and therefore continues to study for a master’s degree in literature at the university. Letters and teaching are his great passion.
I believe in the power and beauty of words. Learning a language has immeasurable value. It means opening a door to the world to broaden our view of reality.

Mónica López

Biography
I was born in Buenos Aires in 1967. I am a teacher, have degrees in Advertising and Psychology, and am an author of children’s and young adult literature. I joined McCann Erickson after winning a scholarship. I have taught in public primary and secondary schools and was in charge of the Writing, Speaking, and Reading Workshop for English and Physical Education teachers at CIEDA (Dante Alighieri Educational Innovation Center). I have published stories, novels, plays, and poetry with various publishers such as Del Naranjo, Az editores, Longseller, La Brujita de Papel, Quipu, Salim, Uranito, as well as school publishers such as Santillana, Kapelusz, Tinta Fresca, Az editores and Ediba. I was part of the team for “Reading and Writing in 6th Grade” for Tinta Fresca publisher. I received a special mention in a Children’s and Young Adult Literature Contest from Sigmar Publishing with the novel “A Concert, Two Vampires, and a Night of Sighs” and was a finalist in the adaptation contest of a work by Adela Basch to script for Paka Paka. I currently live in Barcelona, work as a Spanish teacher, psychologist and continue to publish. To know more, click here.

Fanny

Biography
Hello, my name is Fanny and I have returned to Barcelona, my city, after 13 years abroad working as a Spanish teacher for foreigners. I studied Hispanic Philology at the University of Barcelona. I have grown as a teacher in London, Greece, and Mallorca. I am an official examiner of the DELE B1-B2, and I can also highlight my latest certificate in Mediation, which has provided me with even more tools for life and teaching.
Yes, I learned Greek, it’s a language that I feel in my stomach, just like Italian which I carry more in my heart. My English is located in my ears because with it I realized the importance of music in language acquisition. Then it’s also important to learn by doing. It’s essential to create a synergy among people so that they set aside their shyness and give their best in trust. Generating a relaxed and respectful atmosphere is super important. That’s why I like my work at BcnLip because it promotes meeting, both in-person and remote, activities, and workshops to study a language that is not just a matter of grammar and structures but of empathy, experience, and solidarity.

Cristina

Biography
My name is Cristina and I was born and raised in Spain. I have always felt a calling for teaching, especially languages, from a very young age with my chalkboard and my imaginary students to now with my real students. I leaned towards teaching English and that’s why I now hold a degree in English studies and primary education. Amazingly, in 2018, I had the opportunity to work and live at an international school in the UK as a language assistant and Spanish teacher until the pandemic hit in 2021. It was a rewarding and wonderful experience, and it was there that I fell in love with teaching Spanish. When I returned to Barcelona, I sought out places where I could continue teaching Spanish. Bcnlip came into my life like a breath of destiny where I now work doing what I love most. Amidst all this language learning, I also graduated in administration, as I love learning new things that can contribute to my teaching style.
“Learning is like a tower, it must be built step by step.” Lev Vygotsky
Lev Vygotsky

Juan Martinho

Biography
I am Juan Martinho, born in Argentina and raised in Europe where I studied to be a Spanish ELE teacher. I have been working in education for over 10 years, teaching my native language and sharing our culture with my students to facilitate their integration with dedication and closeness. I like my students to find in their teacher a reference who gives them information about the place they have arrived at and provides them with the information to achieve their goal of speaking Spanish, surpassing all levels and providing them with tools for their life development in the country!

Alejandro Otero Paz

Biography
I was born in Havana, Cuba, in 1978. I studied Hispanic Philology at the University of Havana and graduated with a thesis on the early prose of Jorge Luis Borges. In Cuba, I was a professor and worked at the Cuban Institute of Cinematographic Art and Industry. I left the island in 2005, when I was twenty-seven. I lived for just over four years in Bolivia, where I worked as a professor of Universal Literature and Oral and Written Communication at the Private University of Bolivia. In 2010, I moved to Barcelona, where I currently live, with a nearly three-year stint in Miami. I completed a Master’s degree in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language from the University of Barcelona and the Pompeu Fabra University, and I work as a translator and Spanish teacher for foreigners. In 2022, I published Danubio, my first novel.
I really enjoy working with people from all over the world and learning new things about different countries and cultures every day. I believe this job is a great opportunity to travel without leaving your city and to constantly broaden your horizons.

Clara

Biography
¡Hola! Soy Clara y soy de Argentina, estudié Traducción y desde que vivo en Barcelona, me dedico a la enseñanza. En mis clases me gusta brindar un espacio de confianza y dinamismo para que el alumno encuentre las herramientas necesarias para soltarse y comunicarse de manera adecuada.
Lo que más disfruto de enseñar es conocer gente nueva y aprender sobre las diferentes culturas y maneras de ver la vida. Suena cliché, pero creo que es cierto que los alumnos nos brindan más a nosotros que lo que nosotros les damos a ellos.

Natalia

Biography
Licenciada en Filología Eslava y especialista en la enseñanza de lenguas extranjeras, traducción y corrección de textos. Trabajé en el Insituto Cervantes de Belgrado, en las Universidades estatales de Sant Petersburgo, de Novi Sad y de Kragujevac, las dos últimas en Serbia. He sido coordinadora de proyectos de formación de profesores de español como lengua extranjera y de difusión de la lengua y la cultura española en Serbia. Desde 2014 vivo en Barcelona y combino mi trabajo como coordinadora de Inserción Laboral de la Fundación Pere Tarrés gestionando proyectos de formación y como profesora de español para extranjeros en BCNLIP.

Pablo Abril Sánchez

Biography
I am Pablo Abril Sanchez, a Spanish teacher from Bcnlip. For a year, I was a Spanish teacher at the most important language school in Hong Kong, working with all kinds of ages and levels, also preparing exams to enter the national university of Hong Kong. Then I worked for another year at a very important school in Taipei, the capital of Taiwan. During this time, I came across a Taiwanese company that specializes in providing teachers to teach the Spanish language. They hired me, and I was able to travel the world working as an online Spanish teacher. Thanks to this, I have a lot of experience in conducting online classes and also in conducting face-to-face classes of all levels. A pleasure!

Alicia

Biography
Me llamo Alicia y me encanta enseñar. Para mí enseñar es poder aportar algo positivo a los demás, a la sociedad y a uno mismo. En el caso de la enseñanza de ELE supone además hacer un viaje cada día y tener acceso directo a las diferentes miradas de entender el mundo.
Me licencié en Filología Hispánica en la Universidad Complutense de Madrid e inmediatamente después hice un curso para formarme como profesora de ELE. Desde entonces, y aunque la vida me ha llevado por muchos caminos, me he dedicado mayormente a la enseñanza de ELE. He enseñado en Madrid, Inglaterra, la India y Barcelona, ciudad donde vivo desde hace ya tiempo. He enseñado español en distintas academias, en colegios, en empresas y en la Universidad. Trabajo en Bcnlip desde septiembre del 2022.

María C.

Biography
Me llamo María y soy de Madrid, pero vivo en Barcelona desde el año 2016. Estudié Magisterio en la Universidad de Alcalá (Madrid) y cuando llegué a Barcelona, me formé para ser profesora de ELE. Desde entonces, he trabajado en diferentes escuelas, con alumnos y alumnas de todas las edades y distintas nacionalidades.
Enseñar español no implica solamente explicar reglas gramaticales. En el proceso de aprendizaje, es indispensable acompañar a los/las estudiantes y crear un vínculo con ellos/as
Other Languages

Elisenda Torrell Cascallo

Biography
Bachelor’s degree in translation from Pompeu Fabra University in 2006. Certified in Pedagogical Aptitudes from the University of Barcelona in 2006. Postgraduate degree in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language from International House in 2007. Master in Teacher Training for Teaching Second Languages from the University of Barcelona in 2010. She has been working as an ELE teacher for 8 years and has been teaching Spanish and Catalan at BCN LIP since 2011.
Bachelor’s degree in translation from Pompeu Fabra University in 2006. Certified in Pedagogical Aptitudes from the University of Barcelona in 2006. Postgraduate degree in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language from International House in 2007. Master in Teacher Training for Teaching Second Languages from the University of Barcelona in 2010. She has been working as an ELE teacher for 8 years and has been teaching Spanish and Catalan at BCN LIP since 2011.
To teach a language is not only grammar, it’s to explain a culture, a way of understanding the world, and way to socialize, and I try to prepare my students so that they can integrate into our country with success.

Eric Stone

Biography
A graduate in Philosophy from Université Libre de Bruxelles in Belgium, Éric has taught French to adults, adolescents and children both in schools and businesses since 1989. He’s worked in Bruxelles, Madrid, Amsterdam, Oaxaca (Mexico) and Barcelona. He’s also spent many years doing theatre and contemporary dance.
Teaching French is always exciting because to me it means sharing the intimacy of my mother tongue, all its cultural wealth and all the cultures that use French to communicate.

Gagandeep Singh

Biography
Gagandeep Singh was born in Amritsar Sahib, in the Punjab. There he studied computer science and worked in the family business. He has lived in Barcelona for 12 years. He is an intercultural mediator and works for various entities such as Barcelona City Council and the Generalitat de Catalunya. He is also a spokesman for the Sikh Community of Catalonia. He has written a book entitled “Those of five rivers in Catalonia” which aims to facilitate the learning of Catalan. He likes languages and that is why he speaks seven languages. For Gagandeep, his philosophy of life is based on the three fundamental pillars of Sikhism: Meditation, work and sharing.
When you speak to someone in a language they understand, you get it inside their head. But when you speak to people in their mother tongue, you reach their heart. Language is the identification of the people. When I arrived in Catalonia, at work I was always spoken to in Catalan and that is why I learned it. It opened a lot of doors for me and I got to know a lot of people.

Marina Kétlerova

Biography
She was born and raised in Moscow. She fell in love with foreign languages thanks to reading, she wanted to know the meaning behind unknown words. Marina graduated from the Faculty of Philology of the Moscow State University, where she learned, with more or less success, a lot of languages. Apart from teaching language classes, she is also a translator.
What she likes most about her job as a teacher is spreading her enthusiasm, curiosity, and love for languages and cultures, as well as helping to break down stereotypes.
I trust in the force of the word and, therefore, I believe that languages are instruments of peace, why? Because studying a language is saying ‘I want to understand you and I want you to understand me’. Because studying a language is to create, or discover, a different own voice. And recognizing the right of others to see the world from another perspective. Because studying a language is reaching out to another.
Ali
Biography
Born in London, raised in Wales. She graduated with a BA in Politics and International Relations before completing a Masters in Legal and Political Theory from University College London. Throughout her life she has worked with children and after studying she did an internship at a Montessori school to understand more about this philosophy of “teach me to teach myself”. She did a Diploma in Montessori education and ran her own class for 7 years in various multilingual environments both in London and in Barcelona, which she found to be a beautiful experience. Whilst studying Spanish she became passionate about how we learn languages and decided to do a CELTA course and become an English teacher for adults. She believes that we learn best in environments where we feel supported and are given the tools to develop ourselves.
No matter how many mistakes you make or how slow you progress, you are still way ahead of everyone who isn’t trying
Antony Robbins
Our services

Center equipped for handicapped students: entrance with ramp and bathroom with hand bar.
WiFi connection.
Delivery of diploma and certificate of achievement at the end of the course
Computers available for students and teachers.
Free cafeteria with coffee, teas, water, pastries, candies, and more, all day.
Air conditioning and heat.
Check-out service for books and films.
Free newspapers and magazines in various languages.
Airport pick-up.
Housing near the school and with host families.
Sandwiches
Monthly activities, such as festivals, nights out, and daytime excursions. Linguistic immersion activities integrated into the courses
Support for foreign students seeking official documentation, such as the NIE and student visas.
Free linguistics exchange service
Constant hours of public attention via a mobile phone and email.
Multilingual advice regarding different aspects of life in Barcelona: culture, activities, gastronomy, festivals…
8 classrooms, minimum 4 students — maximum 15 students
Testimonials
Just as we are a language school situated in the most cosmopolitan and multicultural part of Barcelona, our students are of all nationalities, cultures, and ages. If you would like to know more about our open-minded environment and the openness that characterizes us, check out what our students think about our classes and hear about their experiences. All in all, they are the heroes!

Our Philosophy
Learning a language – means living it!
- We teach the four key language skills (speaking, listening, reading and writing) but we place special importance on speaking. We ensure that our students are speaking from day one.
- We use a communicative method that is based on the task-based approach: we encourage our students to communicate in everyday situations where they have to practice what they have learned.
- We pay special attention to our activities and events. They are an important part of our educational ethos, reflecting the multicultural and diverse spirit of the school and presenting the perfect opportunity to practice speaking languages beyond the classroom. It is important that our students understand that the activities and events are not only for socialising, but are designed specially to help students live outside the school environment.
- We have regular assessments so that our students are motivated in class and are given a clear indication of their progress. We offer extra revision classes when we consider them necessary in order for students to keep up with their courses. Likewise, both our teachers and our school also undergo continuous assessment.
- Our school spirit is animated and innovative as we are constantly changing and adapting to embrace new technology, new forms of learning, the best materials, most original activities …
- In order to encourage a good atmosphere in the classroom and to ensure a dynamic learning environment, we have created these rules of behaviour for the classroom. They are also a reflection of your own demands as students.
Our Method
The 10 Commandments of BCNLIP

- Thou shalt not be late
- Thou shalt not use the mobile phone in class
- Thou shalt not take breaks in the middle of the class
- Thou shalt not speak thy native language
- Thou shalt respect thy teacher
- Thou shalt come to class prepared and respect your classmates
- Thou shalt take the level test
- Thou shalt do your homework
- Thou shalt come to class regularly
- Thou shalt contribute to the good atmosphere in class
Why BCNLIP? Only One Reason…
We can talk about our method, our teachers, our facilities, our location, our warm relationships with students, our effectiveness … but we wouldn’t be saying anything different from other schools. Our commitment and dedication is absolute and we strive to achieve a dynamic and effective learning environment. But that’s something you will see for yourself when you come to visit us.
However, there is one essential aspect which is rarely spoken about, not only for a school but for everything in life, the love and care we put in to everything we do. And this is something you notice the first moment you walk through the door of BCNLIP: a mix of professionalism and personality that makes us very different.
If you want to learn effectively in a warm and personal environment, BCNLIP is your language school.
Press about us

Accreditation
BCNLIP Language School has been accredited by Instituto Cervantes, the only International accreditation exclusively focused on teaching Spanish as a foreign language.