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What is PlaySpanish®?
PlaySpanish® is a program designed to introduce children to the Spanish language and culture through a play-based curriculum. When approached this way, the language becomes a lively and captivating experience for everybody involved. While in class, children participate in a variety of activities that includes arts, crafts, story-telling, puppetry, music, dance, and games. As several parents have said: "PlaySpanish® is learning made fun."
We, Carmela Tondo-Mata and Ricardo Mata, started the program in January 1997 with a group of 5 students. As we celebrate our 14th year playing with children, we have approximately 2,000 students participating in our classes weekly throughout the Greater Charlotte area. Over the past 13 years, we have worked with over 12,000 children.
The classes are led by degreed native speakers and conducted in a small-group setting with an average class size of 8 students. The groups are organized by age and previous exposure to the language so that nobody feels left out or behind. In a typical group, the age range is no more than 2 or 2 ½ years of age between the youngest and the oldest child. Classes last between 30 minutes to 1 hour depending on the age of the children.
Parents are encouraged to join us in class whenever possible. Since the setting is very casual, a PlaySpanish® class is a great way to relax and spend quality time with your child.
Who Are We?
We are natives of Venezuela and Spanish is our native language. Carmela has a B.A. in Education from Universidad de Carabobo in Valencia, Venezuela. She has 21 years of teaching experience. Carmela designs and develops the curricula, themes, activities and material used in class.
Ricardo holds degrees in Business Administration and Hotels Management. After several years in the corporate world, he returned to his true passion: working with children. During his college years in Caracas, he taught English as a second language, including two years at a private school where he worked with 5th and 6th graders, and as a private tutor working with Middle and High School students.
On a more personal note, we met in September 1992 and married in December 1994. In January 1995 we settled in Charlotte and began to build a future in this wonderful city we now call home. In April 1997 The Lord blessed us with a daughter, Marianna. In September 2003, we were blessed again with another beautiful girl named Victoria. Both girls are fully Bi-lingual.
We are totally committed to the success of PlaySpanish® --it is our present and our future. A key part of that commitment is our objective for the program: To make PlaySpanish® the best foreign language program for children in North Carolina.
The foundation of that objective is our staff. We have selected a group of highly qualified professionals who teach some of the classes. These individuals have been carefully screened --including thorough personal and criminal background checks-- and have received extensive training in the PlaySpanish® methodology. They are native Spanish speakers who bring to the classroom vast knowledge and experience.
Occasionally, we also have American teachers, with impeccable domain of the Spanish language, who bring a different perspective to the classroom -the perspective of an American with first-hand experience about the life and culture of Latin American countries.
Additionally, all our teachers receive training in First Aid and Child/Infant CPR –one of our requirements before they can begin working with the children.
This is a partial list of the current teachers and their credentials and qualifications:
Sandra Valencia is from Lima, Perú. After 18 years in the corporate world, she decided to pursue a different career and became a teacher. She has been in our staff for 6 years and, during that time, has gained the hearts of many children including both our daughters. Sandra is a very tender, playful individual who fits perfectly in our organization.
Alicia García is a teacher from Guayaquil, Ecuador where she earned a B.S. in Biology. Alicia brings to the classroom more than 30 years of teaching experience at all levels of instruction.
Isabel "Ina" Borjas is originally from Caracas, Venezuela. She holds a B.A. in Education from Universidad Católica Andrés Bello and a B.A. in Psychology from Adelphi University in New York. She is full of energy and very playful. Children simply adore her!
María José Dávila is a Graphic Designer from Quito, Ecuador. She has been blessed with an outstanding ability to work with children. Her personality is very sweet and children fall in love with her at first sight!
Adriana Makowski is a Systems Engineer from Bogotá, Colombia. She has been in our staff since December 2010. A gifted teacher, she was able to gain her students' hearts in just a few weeks.
Our Mission
We believe, very strongly, in having a clear purpose and a deep commitment to what we do. That's why we sat down and put in writing our beliefs and mission. We are happy to share them with you.
Our Mission
To enrich the lives of children and their families by teaching them the Spanish language and culture in a safe and entertaining environment.
Our Guiding Beliefs
Children: Always our priority. We will do whatever is necessary to guarantee their safety, enjoyment of the class, and growth within the program.
Staff: We have the best staff available. Our team members are qualified professionals who offer their best performance in each and every activity and who continually look for ways to improve themselves and the program we offer.
Program: We have the best foreign language program for children in the state of North Carolina. With our joint efforts, we will continue to make it better.
Organization: Our organization is based on Christian principles of respect towards each other; equality among all of us and those with whom we interact; honesty, integrity, and loyalty.
Community: Through our daily work, we help build a better, stronger community in which we can grow and develop as a family and individuals.
Business: We will operate in a way that will allow for the continuous and steady growth of the company using sound financial and managerial principles.
Our focus is the continuous growth and development of each and every one of our students and staff members.
Testimonials
PlaySpanish® has been an integral part of our school since September 2000. Their teachers join our classes to present music, songs and story-telling among other activities. The material is presented in a fun-filled environment and, as a result, our children really enjoy the experience of learning a new language. While our 18-36 month old children learn to identify colors, shapes and animals in Spanish, the vocabulary of our 3-6 year old children includes many basic words and terms of everyday use.
The PlaySpanish® faculty members also go the extra mile by joining our Peace Day Celebrations in April each year. They prepare the children in a Spanish-oriented production which showcases the children's acquired skills.
Our school is enriched by our PlaySpanish® partnership; It adds to the strength of our academic experience.
Ana Leahy
Director
The Charlotte Montessori School
NewBridge Children's Academy in Belmont is proud to offer PlaySpanish to all of the children enrolled. The creative and engaging activities offer all children the opportunity to be successful at any age level. The pace of the activities is quick and keeps the children completely involved. The theme-related activities are always relevant and pertain to what children are interested in learning. Our teachers are very impressed and learning Spanish right along with the children. We are so happy we selected PlaySpanish to provide enrichment opportunities for our children.
Amanda Hommel
Director
NewBridge Children's Academy
Belmont, NC.
Dear Ricardo: Thank you so much for teaching my children Spanish in such a fun and exciting way! You truly run an exceptional class. Your personality and method of teaching is top notch! My kids have truly enjoyed your class and have looked forward to every lesson. Thank you for making learning Spanish so fun and enjoyable!
Jennifer Shingledecker
Huntersville, NC
I used the PlaySpanish program as an introduction to a collaborative program with the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. During the PlaySpanish program, the children learned several Spanish words and they learned them in such a fun way that they had no idea they were learning at all. The PlaySpanish programs are delightfully interactive, extraordinarily effective, and literacy-based.
Teresa Cain
Student Services
Spangler Library at ImaginOn
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