Rafael Arellano
Executive Director, Founder and Spanish Instructor
Rafael was born in Cuernavaca, México, the City of the Eternal Spring. He started teaching Spanish when he was 16 years old and is still doing it at Edúcate Ya. He received a BA in Pastoral Ministries from Marylhurst University, and did his graduate studies in Theology at Mt. Angel. He has been an advocate for education among Latinos, has offered opportunities for those that are interested in learning Spanish and about Latino cultures, and has provided the opportunity to study abroad. He has a MA in Spanish Literature and has taught in four community colleges in the Portland area. He is the founder and executive director of Educate Ya.
Executive Director, Founder and Spanish Instructor
Rafael was born in Cuernavaca, México, the City of the Eternal Spring. He started teaching Spanish when he was 16 years old and is still doing it at Edúcate Ya. He received a BA in Pastoral Ministries from Marylhurst University, and did his graduate studies in Theology at Mt. Angel. He has been an advocate for education among Latinos, has offered opportunities for those that are interested in learning Spanish and about Latino cultures, and has provided the opportunity to study abroad. He has a MA in Spanish Literature and has taught in four community colleges in the Portland area. He is the founder and executive director of Educate Ya.
Daniel Alfaro Blanco
Executive Assistant and Academic Coordinator
Executive Assistant and Academic Coordinator
Janet Munoz
Event Coordinator
She/her/hers
I am originally from Phoenix ,Arizona and moved to Portland 12 years ago . Since a young age my mom has worked with many nonprofit organizations and took me along . We did many things such as marching for LGBTQ rights , undocumented rights , knocking on doors , made phone calls etc . Since those days I got a passion to work with my community ,and learning/sharing experiences from many different cultures . I also enjoy spending time with my family and 3 fur babies !
Event Coordinator
She/her/hers
I am originally from Phoenix ,Arizona and moved to Portland 12 years ago . Since a young age my mom has worked with many nonprofit organizations and took me along . We did many things such as marching for LGBTQ rights , undocumented rights , knocking on doors , made phone calls etc . Since those days I got a passion to work with my community ,and learning/sharing experiences from many different cultures . I also enjoy spending time with my family and 3 fur babies !
Jake Clark
He/him
Intercambio & ESL Classes Coordinator
I am originally from the state of South Dakota and lived in Portland now for 10 years. As a really young child, I used Spanish to speak with my great-grandmother who came to the States from Spain. She passed away when I was still in elementary school, and I suddenly had no one to speak Spanish with and lost my ability to use it until I relearned it in my early 20s. I gained my passion for languages and travel through my relationship with her, which eventually turned into studying languages as a personal hobby.
In 2022, I got my undergraduate degree from Portland State University in applied linguistics and also earned certification to teach ESL. Languages are not only fascinating, but are of course tools that allow a person to broadly communicate within a community and open up all sorts of possibilities. As a teacher, I love being able to help others in their language learning journey. Other than languages, I also am an avid reader and spend a lot of time playing music
He/him
Intercambio & ESL Classes Coordinator
I am originally from the state of South Dakota and lived in Portland now for 10 years. As a really young child, I used Spanish to speak with my great-grandmother who came to the States from Spain. She passed away when I was still in elementary school, and I suddenly had no one to speak Spanish with and lost my ability to use it until I relearned it in my early 20s. I gained my passion for languages and travel through my relationship with her, which eventually turned into studying languages as a personal hobby.
In 2022, I got my undergraduate degree from Portland State University in applied linguistics and also earned certification to teach ESL. Languages are not only fascinating, but are of course tools that allow a person to broadly communicate within a community and open up all sorts of possibilities. As a teacher, I love being able to help others in their language learning journey. Other than languages, I also am an avid reader and spend a lot of time playing music
Sophia Lanina
She/her
Health Educators Program Coordinator
I was born here in Portland and grew up in Eugene, where my mama encouraged me to learn Spanish and to always maintain a connection to our Mexican community. After graduating high school I spent time working as a nanny in Spain, and later traveled throughout other Spanish speaking countries like Costa Rica, Belize, Cuba, and Mexico. I went to school sporadically throughout my early twenties, eventually landing back in Portland at PSU. I graduated with a BA in Social Sciences with a focus on Chicana/Latina studies. I’ve always felt passionate about connecting with and uplifting Latinx communities, and in my spare time I love to go dancing with friends, try new vegan recipes, read in the sun with my cat, and make music with my band.
She/her
Health Educators Program Coordinator
I was born here in Portland and grew up in Eugene, where my mama encouraged me to learn Spanish and to always maintain a connection to our Mexican community. After graduating high school I spent time working as a nanny in Spain, and later traveled throughout other Spanish speaking countries like Costa Rica, Belize, Cuba, and Mexico. I went to school sporadically throughout my early twenties, eventually landing back in Portland at PSU. I graduated with a BA in Social Sciences with a focus on Chicana/Latina studies. I’ve always felt passionate about connecting with and uplifting Latinx communities, and in my spare time I love to go dancing with friends, try new vegan recipes, read in the sun with my cat, and make music with my band.
Spanish/English Instructors
Melissa Orozco
ESL & Spanish Teacher
I was born in Guatemala and lived there most of my life until I moved to California. The transition was difficult and pushed me out of my comfort zone in various ways. Even though art has been an important part of my life, I never thought I would be spending most of my time creating it.
As a child I always felt at home in nature; I used to spent endless hours in my parents garden. When I became an adult I decided to study biology and began to pick up oil painting on a side as a hobby. I tried to experiment with other forms of art like music and sculpture, but I realized my artistic connection is the expression of color.
ESL & Spanish Teacher
I was born in Guatemala and lived there most of my life until I moved to California. The transition was difficult and pushed me out of my comfort zone in various ways. Even though art has been an important part of my life, I never thought I would be spending most of my time creating it.
As a child I always felt at home in nature; I used to spent endless hours in my parents garden. When I became an adult I decided to study biology and began to pick up oil painting on a side as a hobby. I tried to experiment with other forms of art like music and sculpture, but I realized my artistic connection is the expression of color.
Elizabeth
Volunteer Teacher Spanish All levels Grammar
Hi, I´m a native Spanish speaker. I was born in Mexico, City, and I studied Italian Literature & Language at UNAM. I love to teach, and for that, I studied a course in Didactic at Università per Stranieri in Siena, Italy, and after a Master in Competency-Based Education.
I taught Italian and Spanish for 15 years at the university UNAM, and now I’m here in Portland Oregon to share with you all my Spanish and Italian language, my experience, and my Latin culture.
Gracias!!!
Elizabeth.
Volunteer Teacher Spanish All levels Grammar
Hi, I´m a native Spanish speaker. I was born in Mexico, City, and I studied Italian Literature & Language at UNAM. I love to teach, and for that, I studied a course in Didactic at Università per Stranieri in Siena, Italy, and after a Master in Competency-Based Education.
I taught Italian and Spanish for 15 years at the university UNAM, and now I’m here in Portland Oregon to share with you all my Spanish and Italian language, my experience, and my Latin culture.
Gracias!!!
Elizabeth.
Thomas Shalloe
Spanish All levels Grammar
I am originally from WA state, however, I have lived and been educated in many different places. Most recently I moved to Portland from Phoenix, Arizona where I completed my Ph.D. in Latin American Cultural Studies at Arizona State University where I taught a wide-range of Spanish and Latin American cultural courses for around 9 years. Prior to starting my graduate studies in 2014, I lived for many years in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Aside from Argentina, I have traveled extensively throughout the Spanish-speaking world, having spent considerable amounts of time in Mexico, Spain, and Uruguay. I am a big consumer of cinema and music, especially from Latin America and traveling is one of my passions. Aside from the aforementioned countries, I have also visited Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Peru. I teach Spanish and English here at Edúcate Ya and I also coordinate the Full Immersion programs.
Spanish All levels Grammar
I am originally from WA state, however, I have lived and been educated in many different places. Most recently I moved to Portland from Phoenix, Arizona where I completed my Ph.D. in Latin American Cultural Studies at Arizona State University where I taught a wide-range of Spanish and Latin American cultural courses for around 9 years. Prior to starting my graduate studies in 2014, I lived for many years in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Aside from Argentina, I have traveled extensively throughout the Spanish-speaking world, having spent considerable amounts of time in Mexico, Spain, and Uruguay. I am a big consumer of cinema and music, especially from Latin America and traveling is one of my passions. Aside from the aforementioned countries, I have also visited Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Peru. I teach Spanish and English here at Edúcate Ya and I also coordinate the Full Immersion programs.
Belinda Calderon
Spanish All levels Grammar
Hola! As a native Spanish speaker sharing the love for my language and culture has being a passion in my life the past 30 years. I was born and raised in Venezuela where I attended college and earned a Computer Programming Degree. I always dreamed of learning English as a second language maybe because of my love for English music even though I did understand anything. I had the opportunity to come to Brigham Young University for a year and submerge in a full time English program. During that time I met my husband and the rest is history. I love teaching Spanish and I try to bring as much of my culture into class as possible. I believe that a good education shapes not only minds but hearts as well. I enjoy spending time with my husband John, my daughters, my son and our 2 adorable furry babies. I have played the piano since I was 5 years old and continue to feel fascinated with the magic that music brings. I believe that in this changing world, learning another language is very important in helping us become better and kinder people.
Hope to meet you all soon. Hasta pronto!
Spanish All levels Grammar
Hola! As a native Spanish speaker sharing the love for my language and culture has being a passion in my life the past 30 years. I was born and raised in Venezuela where I attended college and earned a Computer Programming Degree. I always dreamed of learning English as a second language maybe because of my love for English music even though I did understand anything. I had the opportunity to come to Brigham Young University for a year and submerge in a full time English program. During that time I met my husband and the rest is history. I love teaching Spanish and I try to bring as much of my culture into class as possible. I believe that a good education shapes not only minds but hearts as well. I enjoy spending time with my husband John, my daughters, my son and our 2 adorable furry babies. I have played the piano since I was 5 years old and continue to feel fascinated with the magic that music brings. I believe that in this changing world, learning another language is very important in helping us become better and kinder people.
Hope to meet you all soon. Hasta pronto!
Jake Clark
ESL All levels Grammar/ Spanish Pronouns: he/him/his Languages Spoken: English, Spanish |
Rafael Arellano
Spanish All levels Grammar |
Melissa Orozco
Spanish All levels Grammar
ESL All Level
Spanish All levels Grammar
ESL All Level