A bit about the co-founders and some of the Spanish teaching staff and program directors of Yanapuma Spanish School:

VINICIO QUINCHIGUANGO, Founder, Social Director and Teacher

Vinicio holds a degree in languages and linguistics from the Universidad Central de Ecuador. An indigenous Quichua, he also speaks and teaches this native language. Vinicio has taught Spanish to foreigners for 7 years, and has taught language at a Quito high school. He speaks and understands English well, and has also studied French.

He loves to make friends from all parts of the world, and also enjoys travel, dancing (especially salsa), and working with communities.

MARIA CABRERA , Founder, Teacher and Administrator

Maria holds a degree in Tourism Administration from the Universidad Tecnológica Equinoccial and a diploma in Teaching Spanish for Foreigners. She has worked in several different positions, including in the Ministry of Tourism in the Human Resources department and in various travel agencies. For the past 6 years, she has taught Spanish to foreign students in Quito. She has a good knowledge of English as well.

She loves to travel, hike, spend time at the beach, and most anything that puts her in contact with the natural world. She also enjoys volleyball.

ELIZABETH GAROFALO, Founder, Teacher and Financial Manager

Elizabeth holds a degree as a National Tourism Guide from the International Institute of Technology. She worked as a tourism guide for about a year. She is also certified by the Ecuadorian Ministry of Education in Teaching Spanish for Foreigners from IE International de Español. She has 7 years of experience in teaching Spanish, and has a medium level of proficiency in English.

In her free time, she enjoys walking around Quito and surroundings, camping, and discussions of diverse subjects such as politics, economics, tourism, and culture. She loves to travel, listen to music, and dance salsa.

EDISON RENDÓN, Teacher and Academic Coordinator

Edison completed his degree in Social Communication Studies at the Universidad Central del Ecuador. He also holds a certificate in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language from IE Internacional del Espanol, and has 4 years of experience in teaching Spanish as a foreign language. Edison has worked on a variety of projects for enterprise development and communication support, including design of Spanish language programs and development of Spanish teaching methodology. His knowledge of English is very good, and he also speaks some German.

He loves 80s music, swimming, and photography. Teaching Spanish to foreigners gives him the opportunity to share in the experiences of others.

JANET ROCCANOVA, Director of Academic Programs.

Janet has a Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Kentucky (USA), specializing in phenomenology and German idealism.  She is responsible for developing and maintaining relations with educational institutions outside of Ecuador. She develops customized service-learning programs for faculty-led groups of university or high school students and for individual students. She also coordinates academic research and internship opportunities for students. She is particularly interested in enhancing the academic experience abroad through guided reflection and experiential culture learning.

Personal interests include foreign languages, djembe, tai chi, logic puzzles, hiking and world music.

CATERINE VERA, Teacher

Caterine holds a degree in Foreign Languages from the Universidad Central de Ecuador, and since has also attended several seminars on foreign language teaching methodology. She has 7 years of experience in teaching Spanish to foreigners and to children. Her past experience includes work for Andean Study Programs, tutoring students from Ohio State University.

Caterine enjoys reading the news from different parts of the world, movies, crossword puzzles, playing chess, cooking and spending time with her friends. She takes pride in her sense of responsibility, and in her respect for different ways of life in different cultures.

CECILIA JARAMILLO, Teacher

Cecilia has her degree in Administration from the Universidad Tecnológica Equinoccial, and holds a certificate in Teaching Spanish for Foreigners from IE International. Prior to teaching Spanish, she worked in the credit department of Mutualista Pichincha. She has a basic knowledge of English as well.

She loves teaching for the opportunity to offer others some insight into Ecuadorian culture, traditions, and beliefs, and takes great pleasure in seeing her students progress in their knowledge of Spanish. She loves nature, animals, children and music.

LUZ AMORES, Teacher

Luz has more than 4 years experience in teaching Spanish. She studied in the “Escuela Politécnica Nacional” in Quito for a degree in Systems Engineering, and in the “IE Internacional” to be a Spanish teacher.
Luz enjoys teaching Spanish as it gives her the chance to meet people from different backgrounds and cultures, and she loves to travel with students to explore Ecuador with them and appreciate the natural wonders of Ecuador.

Marco has a degree in political and social science. He worked before as a teacher of language and communication, and has worked as a Spanish teacher to foreigners for the last 3 years.
He enjoys teaching foreigners for the opportunity to learn about foreign places and compare them with Ecuador.

 LUCIA ESTEVEZ, Teacher

Lucia graduated from the “Universidad Tecnologica America Ingenieria” with a degree in Tourism Development and Hotel Management.
Lucia enjoys traveling and discovering new places, especially learning about the flora and fauna of the Pacific coast and the Amazon rainforest.
She plays basketball and loves to read. She works twice a month in a local hospital helping the sick, feeding them and cleaning around them.

 PAULO GUACHAMIN, Teacher

Paulo graduated from the Univesidad Central del Ecuador with a degree in tourism. He particularly enjoyed studying tourism for the chance that it gave him to travel and learn about his own country. He has worked as a teacher for the last 4 years and has relished the opportunity that this has presented to travel with some of his students and introduce them to the wonders of Ecuador. In turn he enjoys learning from his students about their countries.