About Lara's Spanish Hub

Learn about our teachers and
our style of teaching

Lara Orlando - Founder and Main Teacher

¡Hola!

I’ve been a language teacher for over 15 years, and have taught in Argentina, the UK, China and Australia. I did a combined English/Spanish Translation and Teaching degree  (Argentina) and have a Diploma in Teaching Spanish as a Second Language. After working as a teacher and coordinator of several schools over the years, I decided to finally put my passion for teaching Spanish into my own school, and Lara’s Spanish Hub was born.

I love to inspire students and to get them speaking Spanish from day one. One of the most rewarding things for me as a teacher is to see my students make connections and friends within the classroom and to see them having fun while learning about Spanish and Latin American cultures.  I also love organising social events to connect students to the Spanish speaking world.

I have a passion (should I say obsession? :)) for creating – and incorporating – fun materials, games and activities to do in class – having a good time while learning is so important! So what are our classes like? Full of talking, laughing and trying out new ideas in a relaxed and friendly environment. As I always say, no class is complete without a game!

I look forward to meeting you all soon!

¡Hasta pronto!

Lara

Margarita Pardo - Teacher, Head of the Children's Program

¡Hola!

I’m Margarita Pardo, a Spanish Teacher from Colombia. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Early-Childhood Education and a Diploma in Spanish Pedagogy. I have over 10 years’ experience teaching Spanish in Colombia and Australia, and I’m in charge of the children’s program at Lara’s Spanish Hub.

My biggest passion in life is to teach children. Nothing beats the feeling of seeing children build a relationship with Spanish from a young age, where learning is fun and exciting, and the classroom is a safe space to play and experiment using the language.

I like teaching Spanish using the natural approach, where Spanish is taught in a native-like way, through exposure, before rules and grammar. In my classes, children learn Spanish by doing the things they like the most, playing and having fun.

I believe that the best way to build a connection with a second language is by creating a community where experiences can be shared and built upon. I can’t wait to meet you and your child soon!

¡Hasta muy pronto!

Margarita
 
 

Jasmin Panesso - Teacher

¡Hola a todos! 

I’m Jasmin Panesso. I’m an enthusiastic Colombian teacher with a Bachelor’s degree in foreign languages. I come from the capital of salsa: Santiago de Cali! I’m proudly ‘Caleña’ and I love sharing about my culture. 

I have 9 years experience teaching. I am very passionate about languages and giving my students the best language learning experience. I believe learning a new language should be a really enjoyable experience, therefore  I love using so many resources and bringing a lot of fun in class to spice them up.

I enjoy incorporating meaningful and enjoyable experiences in my  Spanish lessons  so my students can have the opportunity to express their thoughts, ask questions, take creative risks and collaborate with others.

I am very excited to meet you all and to help you to discover what’s behind the Spanish world. 

¡Nos vemos pronto!

Jasmin

 
 
 

Carmen Jiménez - Teacher

¡Hola!

My name is Carmen and I am a Spanish Teacher from Valencia, España. I have a master’s degree in Intercultural Communication and Language Teaching, and I have been teaching languages professionally for 7 years.

 One of my passions and something I have learned over the years as a teacher is content creation. I love creating teaching units, discovering new teaching applications and implementing them in the classroom. Although I am a teacher who strongly supports pen and paper, I am aware that new technologies can make the classroom much more fun and enjoyable.

 Although teaching is my passion, I have worked in other professions which I believe, although different from teaching, combine the knowledge of teaching. I have worked as an au pair in Germany, as a monitor at a summer camp in France and as a private English teacher in the Czech Republic. I love travelling, learning about new cultures and languages, so I love not only teaching, but also learning and transmitting this knowledge to my students.

¡Espero veros pronto! 

 Carmen

 
 

Caro Vázquez - Teacher

¡Hola!

I’m Carolina Vasquez. I’m a Colombian teacher with a diploma in foreign languages and a University Teaching Diploma. I also have a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, which I believe helps me understand my students’ language needs. I have worked as a teacher, psychologist, and coordinator in schools and universities over the last years.

Traveling the world has given me the opportunity to learn about different cultures, traditions, and languages. This has broadened my perspective and enriched my teaching approach.

In my classes, I strive to create a positive and inclusive learning environment where every student feels motivated and supported. All my lessons will be fun and interactive.

I look forward to meeting my new students and embarking on this language learning journey together.  Let’s make every class an enjoyable and enriching experience!

¡Nos vemos pronto!

Caro

 
 

Liliana Santos - Teacher

¡Hola!

Soy Liliana and I’m excited to be part of Lara’s Spanish Hub. I am from Pamplona, Colombia, a small city near the Venezuelan border and I have lived in Perth for nearly five years.

I hold a teaching degree in foreign languages with a focus on English and French. I have been teaching languages for the past five years, and I am thrilled to now have the
opportunity to teach Spanish, my native language and share my culture with others.

My teaching style is dynamic and engaging, and I love to use a variety of resources and activities to make learning fun and effective. I’m also patient, approachable, and committed to helping my students achieve their goals. I believe in creating a positive and engaging learning environment that encourages my students to practice and improve their language skills.

I can’t wait to meet you and have a great time together!

¡Nos vemos pronto!

Liliana

Our Teaching Method: The Communicative Approach

Our method is based on the communicative approach. We do not just want you to know Spanish, we want you to use it! The main focus of Lara’s Spanish Hub is to improve your communication skills. Our teaching style is highly interactive and dynamic and we focus on developing the student’s abilities to speak and understand spoken Spanish, since we know their ultimate goal is to be able to have a conversation in Spanish.

It sometimes happens that people study a foreign language for many years and yet they are not able to use the language at all. In most cases this is a consequence of a traditional approach to language teaching, which emphasises grammar and written skills.

On the contrary, the Communicative Approach believes that language is about communicating rather than just grammar. This allows us to bring real communication situations into the classroom. You’ll participate in many situational activities, which are well planned and structured but also leave room for being spontaneous and for improvising (and making mistakes 🙂 ) so that you can practise Spanish in normal life situations.

Our lessons are carefully resourced and planned, and we have a passion for incorporating the most creative and innovative materials and activities to ensure our students have fun while learning. While we adopt the most effective language teaching methodologies, we also take into account our students’ different learning styles and needs.

Finally, we follow the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

Testimonials