ABOUT US!
Hello! Hola! Kalimera! from all of us at Ven Languages.
We hail from around the world and have a huge range of work and teaching experience between us which informs our teaching methods to bring you fun, interesting and dynamic lessons, making language learning easier. What unites us is our shared passion for our respective mother tongue and culture and the desire to tell you about them. With such a range of teachers, if you want to learn a language for fun, an exam, holiday or business – we have the perfect one for you!
See you soon! Hasta pronto! Tha ta poume!!!
Learn Something Every Day
Carolina Portillo Costa
Director-Spanish teacher
Coming from a multicultural family with roots in Spain, Brazil and Argentina, it’s no surprise that I love languages and sharing that passion via fun, engaging lessons for adults, business groups and children up to GCSE A level. In addition to Spanish, I’m a fluent Greek speaker. I’ve worked in Spain as a journalist for Antenna 3 International (2006 degree in Communication and Mass Media Studies , Argentina) and taught Spanish in Greece.(2013 Masters in teaching Spanish as a foreign language, University of Alcala de Henares, Spain) After moving to the UK in 2014, I taught in secondary schools and also various after school kids clubs. When not teaching I love cultural activities and socialising.
Our Staff
Karina Meier
Spanish teacher
I’m a graduate in language and literature from Buenos Aires, Argentina. I’ve taught teenagers for thirty years and still feel passionate about language and encouraging reading. I‘ve been trained to use technology in classes and also design teaching material for language lessons. Outside teaching, I love travelling, meeting people and immersing myself in different cultures.
Nuria Martinez Santoveña
Spanish teacher
In 2008 I graduated from the University of Oviedo, Spain with a degree in Pedagogy and subsequently passed two Masters in the Equality of Gender and Public Policies (University of Cantabria) and Human Rights (National Open University of Spain). My teaching experience includes teaching GCSE in the International School in Bangalore , India and in the Modern Foreign Languages departments for Key Stages 2 and 3 at two outstanding secondary schools in the UK. So much travelling in my life has encouraged me to have an open mind and be empathetic when tailor making lessons according to students’ needs and personalities.
Maria Quintana Silva
Spanish teacher
I’m from Madrid but having lived in Argentina, Italy, Canada and now the UK, I speak Spanish, Italian, French and English. My Masters in Audiovisual Communication has lead to extensive work experience in technical and literary translation (children’s books, video games, websites, subtitles). My children’s picture books have won international awards and been mentioned in several Best Books lists. I have eleven years’ teaching experience at the Cervantes Institutes in New York and London and the Spanish Institute of Montreal.
Marilia Centeno
Spanish teacher
I was brought up in a Spanish-Portuguese environment which fostered my love of languages. Having completed various teaching courses covering methodologies and teaching theories, I’ve been teaching since 2000 and am always keen to learn new skills. In addition to working in Contemporary Spanish literature departments and attending conferences, I enjoy learning about and then utilising technology in my lessons. I’m a qualified Cervantes examiner and am currently studying Social Anthropology and Culture to broaden my horizons and enable me to understand my students from different perspectives.
Jacqui Ashman
English teacher
I’m originally from the North of England but have lived in London for over 35 years. I’ve taught English to foreign students since 2000 to groups in language schools, to individuals and at Cochabamba University, Bolivia. In addition to the CELTA and DELTA, I’ve been an examiner of spoken English for Trinity college for 11 years. Recently, I’ve been to Nepal to train primary school teachers of English and introduced fun, communicative methods to their lessons. I’m enthusiastic about bringing real life experiences into the classroom and particularly enjoy using a range of teaching methods and developing my own materials. Outside the classroom, I’m passionate about dressmaking, shoe making and learning Spanish. My other hobbies include; travelling, reading and swimming.
Iro Christopoulou
Greek teacher
I’m a Greek ex-TV producer/journalist with fifteen years’ experience who studied in Italy and then moved to the UK for love in 2015. Languages and linguistics are my passion; I’m fluent in Greek, Italian and English and speak some Spanish and French. I became a Greek teacher after volunteering and coordinating fundraising events to save my local library. When I’m not teaching, I’m busy looking after our new baby.
