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Our team

Meet the Team Behind Versa Spanish Academy

At Versa Spanish Academy, our team believes that learning Spanish is more than studying grammar and vocabulary—it’s an invitation to explore cultures, connect with people, and open doors to new experiences. Each member of our team is deeply passionate about sharing the language and guiding you through a journey that is immersive and rewarding. Our teaching philosophy is simple: learning should be enjoyable, engaging, and truly transformative.

With a strong emphasis on communicative language teaching and cognitive learning, our approach ensures you’re not just memorizing phrases but genuinely interacting with the language in real, practical ways. Each class is carefully designed to encourage meaningful conversations, build confidence, and develop skills that go beyond the classroom. Gijón is a safe and welcoming city that allows us to fully immerse our students in real-life contexts outside the classroom.

The teachers at Versa team up to offer a level-based curriculum planning. This programme follows the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

Our team is made up of experienced, certified ELE teachers, all with university degrees, and proven expertise in teaching Spanish as a second language. With their extensive backgrounds, they bring both professionalism and warmth to every lesson, creating an atmosphere that is welcoming, supportive and fun.


Cristina
Academic Coordinator and ELE Teacher

Vanessa
ELE Teacher

Covadonga
ELE Teacher

Marga
ELE Teacher

Marta
ELE Teacher

Alvaro
ELE Teacher

Marta
Student Experience Advisor

JB
Marketing and Partner Relations Coordinator
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Cristina

Academic Coordinator and ELE Teacher

Born and raised in Madrid, Cristina’s roots trace back to the picturesque region of Extremadura. Her passion for Spanish language and culture began early and grew with each step in her academic journey.

She began her teaching journey in the U.S. as a Spanish conversation assistant at Macalester College in Minnesota. Her enthusiasm for sharing her language and culture inspired her to continue her studies, leading to a Master’s degree at Miami University in Ohio, followed by a PhD in Spanish Language and Literature at the University of Cincinnati. These experiences not only deepened her love for the Spanish language but also reinforced her commitment to helping others discover its beauty.

After her years in the U.S., Cristina returned to Spain, choosing Gijón as her new home. With over a decade of experience teaching Spanish as a second language, she sees this work as her true vocation. In 2023, driven by her passion and a desire to create a unique language learning experience, she founded Versa Spanish Academy. Her aim is to provide students with a welcoming, immersive environment where they can learn Spanish in a way that feels both engaging and personal.

Beyond the classroom, she enjoys reading, creating crochet pieces, and spending time outdoors – especially on a sunny terrace with friends, enjoying good food, a fresh beer and endless conversations. Family remains central to her life, and she cherishes visits to Casar de Palomero, her family’s village, where memories with her grandmother and friends keep her grounded in her heritage.

Vanessa

ELE Teacher

With her Basque roots, Vanessa infuses each lesson with warmth, energy, and a contagious smile that makes learning Spanish a joy. Her career has taken her to The Netherlands, the USA and Spain. She has taught at prestigious institutions such as the University of Washington and the Cervantes Institute.

Vanessa’s commitment to language education goes beyond the classroom—she even co-founded a Spanish school in the Netherlands, where she spent four years building a supportive community of language learners. This experience has given her unique insights into both the challenges and rewards of learning Spanish, which she brings into her teaching style, always with patience and a personal touch.

A lifelong learner herself, Vanessa finds joy in discovering new things, and her love for the arts is reflected in her passion for theater. As both an actor and an avid theatergoer, she brings a touch of drama and storytelling into her lessons, making Spanish come alive through cultural insights and real-world connections.

Now settled in the charming coastal town of Colunga, Asturias, Vanessa enjoys spending her free time with her family, exploring the lush woods, swimming in the sea, or getting lost in a good book. Vanessa’s twenty years of teaching experience, inviting personality, zest for life, and dedication to teaching make her an invaluable part of Versa Spanish Academy.

Covadonga

ELE Teacher

Born in Oviedo, Cova is one of those teachers who inspires enthusiasm from the very first moment. With a degree in Romance Philology, she is a teacher of Spanish as a Foreign Language (ELE) and a SIELE examiner, boasting a solid academic background and extensive experience teaching Spanish to students from all over the world since 2014.

Her international career has taken her to countries such as Portugal, the United Kingdom and Ireland, where she not only furthered her linguistic studies but also discovered her true calling: teaching Spanish. Furthermore, her family ties to Argentina bring a unique cultural richness to her classes within the Spanish-speaking world.
Cova speaks five languages, which allows her to understand the challenges of language learning first-hand and to support her students with empathy, dynamism and warmth. For her, teaching Spanish means instilling confidence, motivation and a love of learning, inspired by the teachers who shaped her own path.
Her classes stand out for their energy, creativity and positive atmosphere, where learning becomes a fun and meaningful experience.

Outside the classroom, Cova enjoys traditional Asturian music — playing the bombo and the tambor —, the company of animals and her love of role-playing games, which reflect her creative and curious personality.

 

Margarita

ELE Teacher

Marga has over 14 years’ experience teaching Spanish as a foreign language. She is a qualified teacher, an examiner for the Instituto Cervantes, and holds a degree in History, as well as a Master’s degree in International Development Cooperation.

Throughout her career, she has lived and worked in places such as Madrid, Granada, Quito, Brighton and Gijón, where she has developed a broad and intercultural perspective on the Spanish-speaking world. Her experience in Latin America and in the field of international cooperation brings an enriching perspective to her classes, based on respect, diversity and critical thinking.

Having always been passionate about teaching, Marga sees teaching Spanish not merely as learning a language, but as a gateway to culture, exchange and understanding between people from different backgrounds. Her classes combine warmth, dynamism and reflection, creating an atmosphere in which learning Spanish also becomes a real-life experience.

Outside the classroom, she enjoys nature, sport and spending time with friends and family, always seeking that balance which she also conveys in her teaching style.

Marta

ELE Teacher

Originally from Gijón, Marta holds a degree in Spanish Language and Literature, as well as a master’s degree in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language (ELE). Her academic background is complemented by a strong commitment to teaching and a particular sensitivity to language learning as a human and transformative experience.

Throughout her life, she has lived in various places, including Madrid, England and the Basque Country – experiences that have broadened her perspective and enabled her to connect with people from different cultural backgrounds. This international experience is reflected in her teaching style, which is always approachable, empathetic and tailored to the needs of each student.

For Marta, teaching Spanish means accompanying her students as they find their own voice in a new language, creating a space of trust where learning flows naturally. Her classes stand out for their warmth, creativity and attention to detail.
Outside the classroom, she enjoys theatre—both on and off stage—yoga and spending time with her family, especially by the sea.

Alvaro

ELE Teacher

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Marta

Student Experience Advisor

Born in Caceres and raised in the historic town of Trujillo in Extremadura, Marta lights up Versa Spanish Academy with her welcoming smile and unmistakable southern accent. As the first friendly face you’ll see when you step through our doors, Marta ensures that everyone feels embraced and valued, whether they’re new to the Versa family or have been with us for months.

Marta’s role as Student Experience Adviser is all about creating a sense of belonging. She goes above and beyond to make sure that each student feels right at home and well-supported throughout their learning journey.

Beyond her role, Marta is a passionate advocate for music, culture, and social causes. An activist at heart and a talented bass player, she brings her love for arts and culture into everything she does. Always in the know about Gijón’s best events, Marta is always happy to share tips on local spots and happenings, making it easy for students to dive into the vibrant cultural scene of the city.

Marta’s love for music, her commitment to community, and her lively spirit make her an essential part of the Versa experience. She is here to make sure every student not only learns Spanish but also enjoys the richness of the community around them.

JB

Marketing and Partner Relations Coordinator

Originally from Belgium, JB has spent nearly half his life travelling and living in different countries. After a 12-year career with multinationals in Ireland, he sought a new rhythm of life, choosing Asturias as his home base for a richer life-balance. Now, he’s happily settled between the mountains and the sea, fully immersed in the Asturian lifestyle, where he oversees the general coordination, partner relations, and marketing for Versa Spanish Academy.

JB’s dynamism, his global background and cultural insights bring a distinctive flavour to Versa’s environment. His extensive experience in marketing, international business, language teaching, school management, combined with his understanding of different cultures, helps Versa grow and nurture a collaborative atmosphere as well as a student-centered learning experience.

JB is also a passionate musician who loves playing world music with friends and a social pint. His other interests span the natural and creative worlds – from hiking in wilderness to photographing his travels, JB has a keen eye for the beauty in nature and everyday life.

He’s also a curious mind and a committed advocate for sustainability, always working to “rewild” his own plot of land and bring nature back into his surroundings.