Whitney
Meet Whitney
Certified English Teacher
Hi everyone! I am Whitney, a CELTA-certified English teacher, language learner and Spanish tutor. I grew up in a small town in New England in a bed and breakfast across from an apple orchard. Spending my childhood in the hospitality business meant hosting people from all over the world and the way my family created spaces for connection and comfort has always inspired me to do the same. It opened my eyes to the world and sparked my interest in travel and culture.
I got my Bachelor’s degree in Cultural Anthropology and Latin American and Caribbean studies and traveled a lot while at school, going to Ecuador, Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago, and Colombia. These experiences fueled my curiosity about other cultures and languages and led to me pursuing language teaching.
While working at an immigration center in Boston, substituted for an ESL teacher there and immediately loved it. I sought out volunteer teaching opportunities and realized how essential English was to my students' lives not only for work opportunities but to feel safe and confident in their lives in a new country. It was fulfilling and fun and it sparked something inside of me. This led me to Ecuador to volunteer teach kids living on the street or who didn’t have official schooling. It was then that I decided to seek certification and I ended up in Bogotá, Colombia where I ended up living and teaching English for 10 years.
My journey as an English teacher has brought me to meet many amazing people, make lifelong friends, learn about myself, and continue to learn about the world. As a language learner myself I understand how essential a second language has been for my career, social, and intellectual life. It has given me work and study opportunities and unlocked access to a deeper connection with a region of the world. Learning a new language aids in survival, professional goals, personal curiosities, and then it leads to a change within you. You become a new, more expansive version of yourself with new ways of expression, new knowledge, new uncovered sides of yourself you didn’t know you had. Learning another language even physically changes your brain!
In my classes, I strive to create a positive
learning environment where students can
have fun while learning meaningful and useful
lessons. Encouragement, support and
connection in the classroom builds confidence
and motivates us to express ourselves more
effectively. Developing our language skills in
a safe, nurturing environment helps us face
the language challenges we face in our
everyday life and work.
I know learning a new language can be stressful, especially when you are under pressure to learn for work, study, or life changes. I understand it can be overwhelming and scary at times. I am here to help you gain the confidence you need, give you helpful feedback, get to know you more so I can meet your needs the best that I can, and ultimately achieve you using a new language in your life in effective, natural ways! Join me!