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.

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.

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.

GABRIELA ACOSTA, Teacher

Gabriela holds a degree in Education, with an emphasis in plurilingual education. She is a qualified teacher of English and Spanish and also speaks French. Her interest is in the teaching of language along with culture through investigating different themes. She teaches regular classes,

Gabriela also loves the physical sciences and mathematics and is knowledgeable in computer and internet studies. She likes to study different cultures, their art, history, beliefs, etc.

OLGA CUJI, Teacher

Olga studied Social Communication at the Univeridad Central del Ecuador. She is also qualified as a teacher of Spanish as a second language and has 8 years of experience working in Spanish schools in Quito. She teaches regular classes, online classes, and medical Spanish courses.

She is outgoing, sociable and smart, and enjoys writing short stories and poetry and creating crossword puzzles. She also enjoys reading, watching films and swimming.

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. Caty teaches regular classes, online courses, and small groups, as well as being qualified to teach for the DELE exam.

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.

SANTIAGO CALISPA, Teacher

Santiago has been teaching Spanish for over 10 years and has a degree in pedagogy and psychology of teaching, and is currently studying Applied Linguistics.

Teaching Spanish to foreigners has broadened his abilities as a tutor as he has had to deal with students from radically different backgrounds and with different learning needs, styles and objectives. He enjoys the methodological challenges of understanding the student-teacher dynamic as it is applied to the teaching of Spanish

XIMENA ARGUELLO, Teacher

Ximena obtained her degree in Business Studies at the Universidad Tecnológica Equinoccial, and also holds a diploma for teaching Spanish as a second language. She has worked in varous businesses as an administrator, but now prefers to teach Spanish for the opportunity that it offers her to meet people from all over the world, make new friends and learn about other cultures. She enjoys teaching students Spanish and all about the culture and history of Ecuador. Ximena also speaks very good English.

She likes nature, adventure sports, cooking (especially deserts!), music and the cinema.

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 is also qualified as a lawyer. He teaches regular classes, online courses, medical Spanish, and works with small groups. He also travels with students on our "Study and Travel" programs.

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. She is qualified as a Spanish teacher and has taught Spanish to foreigners for 12 years. She teaches regular classes, small groups, online classes and travels with student on the "Study and Travel" packages.

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. Paulo teaches regular courses, online classes, small groups and medical Spanish, and travels with students on our "Study and Travel" options.

Carina graduated with a degree in Cultural/Historical Tourism from the Universidad Central del Ecuador and the Institute IE. She has worked as an archaeological guide, and also has been a teacher of Spanish for the last 5 years. She enjoys teaching Spanish as it gives her the opportunity to meet people from all over the world, and share the culture and history of Ecuador with them. She also enjoys seeing students progress in their ability to speak Spanish, and how they learn to manage themselves in various situations in a new language. Carina teaches regular Spanish classes as well as online courses.

Fernanda likes to travel with students on our "Study and Travel" programs. . . .

EVELYN ESTRELLA, Teacher

Evelyn studied Public Relations and Communication at the Universidad Tecnológica Equinoccial and she holds a certificate in teaching Spanish as a foreign language from IE. She is a qualified teacher of Spanish and also speaks Italian very well. She teaches regular classes and she enjoys it for the opportunity to know about other cultures and countries.
She loves to travel, learn languages and she feels satisfied with her job when students improve their Spanish skills