The department!
Los profesores/as de español
SPANISH
Hi! My name is Sara Pierce. I started LTCC in 2005. I was actually born here in South Tahoe, at Barton Memorial to be exact. I guess you can say I am a "true local." After I graduated from South Tahoe High I moved to Santa Barbara and got my BA in Spanish from Westmont College. During my time obtaining my BA, I also went to study abroad in San Sebastian, Spain for a semester. It was then that I fell in love with traveling and Spanish history and culture.
After I graduated I took two years off before I got married and went back for my Masters of Arts (MA) in Spanish. I got a little closer to home and attended Sacramento State for two years. During this time I traveled to Guadalajara, Mexico for a summer to study Mexican literature and Linguistics. And then, just like a dream come true, Lake Tahoe Community College offered a full-time Spanish Instructor position just as I was finishing my thesis. Good timing I guess!
I am so happy to be home. I love Tahoe, outdoor activities, playing tennis, teaching, traveling, my students, laughing, and my dog Duke. In Spring 2008 I had a baby boy, Ralston, which has made my life a lot more full. I also had a daughter in December 2010. Her name is Kannon. Lastly, in September 2012 I gave birth to my third child, Paxton. All three have attended the Bijou Community School immersion program and learn Spanish immersively. Don't let them be fluent before you!
Come take a class with me! I promise you'll have a great time and want to learn more. I love to incorporate the world as my classroom and make interactive student-centered activities my priority!
Hello, my name is Catalina Goralski, aka Profe Goralski. I am originally from Santiago, Chile. I have been teaching Spanish at LTCC for ten years. I taught Spanish at UNR and I have my own private tutoring business.
Hispanic/Spanish language and culture education is my passion, my vocation, and my life. I enjoy sharing my knowledge and experiences with my students. In my classes, you will learn the language and experience a new way of thinking. Italian film director Federico Fellini said, “A different language is a different vision of life.”
Come and learn Spanish with me!
Hola. Bonjour. Oi. Hello.
My name is Esther Gormley and I have been part of the World Languages Department at LTCC since 2008. I teach Spanish, French, and Portuguese! Originally from Brazil, I have also lived in Portugal, France and several Spanish-speaking countries like Spain and Peru. Now I live in Reno, Nevada with my husband David, our daughter Sophia, and our dogs Slick and Parker. I love to travel and to learn about other cultures, and that's why I also like to teach languages - to share my passion and to learn from my students!
I’m Jessica Gerland. Ever since I can remember, I’ve been fascinated with the Spanish language and culture. I have my Associate’s Degree in Spanish from LTCC, and my Master’s Degree in Spanish from the University of Nevada, Reno. I taught Spanish at UNR for two years, and this will be my second year teaching online for LTCC. My love for travel has taken me to nine Spanish speaking countries (and counting). I am currently living abroad in Cali, Colombia.
I love teaching online, and sharing the South American lifestyle with my students.
Hi, my name is Nathan. Although I have only been teaching at LTCC since 2014, I have 17 years of teaching experience across a variety of levels. I am a graduate of UC Santa Barbara, and Auburn University where my degrees are in Spanish, Latin American and Iberian Studies, and Foreign Language Education. My interest in learning another language originated with my interactions with my teammates on the soccer field right here in South Lake Tahoe. I continue to be amazed by how the languages we speak not only shape who we are, but also reveal so much about entire groups of people. I currently reside in South Lake Tahoe where I teach online for LTCC and operate a restaurant with my brother-in-law.
Side note: Nathan has over 15 years of foreign language education experience over a wide range of levels, settings, and locations including a stint teaching K-12 Spanish in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. He graduated with highest honors from UC Santa Barbara with majors in Spanish and in Latin American and Iberian Studies. During his final year at UCSB, he was awarded the Wilson Memorial Award for Most Outstanding Senior.
Hello everyone!
My name is Tracy Young and I have been teaching Spanish since 1999 (Lake Tahoe Community College, Truckee Meadows Community College, and University of Nevada, Reno).
I’ve lived in Spain, and traveled and visited nine other Spanish-speaking countries. Even though immersion in a Spanish-speaking country is the ideal way to learn a language, you can get started right here, at LTCC. I am very much looking forward to sharing with you everything that I have learned in more than two decades of learning and living Spanish. I hope you enjoy your journey learning Spanish; I’m looking forward to facilitating your learning! ❝You can never understand one language until you understand at least two.❞
‒Geoffrey Willans
My name is Marc Zollinger and I love Spanish, traveling, and most of all...teaching! I grew up in central Illinois, but now live in Portland, Oregon. Along the way I spent a year in Spain a couple years in the Virgin Islands (St. Thomas) and Alaska selling jewelry to cruise ship passengers before finding my calling as an educator. For ten years I taught at the college level (University of Oregon and Willamette University, both in Oregon) and now I am the AP Spanish instructor at West Linn High School just outside of Portland. I have been blessed to be in a supportive district that has provided a lot of professional development in student centered language learning technology. I will bring these skills to LTCC to help benefit my students and co-workers. And finally, on a personal note, I have a beautiful wife and super smart 2-year-old son who keep me going when I'm not grading student work or planning my next unit. I'm excited to be here at LTCC with all of you!
HOLA! Cómo te va? I am Laura Brunel-Canale and I have a career of professional experience in teaching and designing curriculum in all facets of learning Spanish language, culture, literature, English as a Second Language and literacy.
I have taught Spanish and ESL at universities, community colleges, secondary and elementary schools. I have a Masters in Education, Primary and Secondary Credentials, Certification in Spanish and lots of class work in ESL and Special Education. Needless to say, my favorite school has been Lake Tahoe Community College where I have taught for many years. It's a great community and atmosphere! I have also taught in the ISSI Program. The directors and students are the best and I always learn something new!
I have also created programs and taught Hispanic communities for years, here and abroad.
My principle interest has been Study Abroad Programs which I have directed to different parts of Mexico, El Salvador, and Europe.
Learning Spanish has to be fun and relevant to one's growth in life. Through participation in various methods: music, art, movies, videos, reading and conversations, you can acquire an entrance and knowledge into another world! You will become a universal student and part of other cultures while developing friendships around the world!
Come and visit our classes for a new experience! Nos vemos pronto!
FRENCH
Bonjour!
My name is Valerie Delachaise and I have been teaching French conversation since 1999 at LTCC. I was born and raised in France and graduated with a French Baccalaureate in Social Economics before embarking on a new life in the US. I traveled a small portion of the world before settling down to South Lake Tahoe in December 1985 in the midst of a snow storm! I started at LTCC as a French tutor before becoming an instructor and it has been a passion and a pleasure to teach and share my culture ever since.
Bienvenue à bord!
JAPANESE
Hajimemashite♪
My name is Naomi Green. I am a Japanese born native and raised in Japan and with education and work experience in Japan. I have been teaching Japanese at LTCC since 1999. I have taught elementary Japanese, conversational Japanese, intermediate Japanese, intermediate conversation and maybe online Japanese in the near future.
I like to incorporate lots of fun games, real life situation and content activities to practice what we just learned. I believe laughter and stimulating (maybe competitive;^_^?) scenes help everyone to want to remember! You may discover how good you are at memorization and acquisition! That’s why I make sure my class is a comfortable, fun, and super brain active place. All different human beings, different races, businessman, gamers, snowboarders, anime nerds, old, young, we all help each other, converse in Japanese and become one by the end of the course through one common interest, “Japanese”. It’s a fascinating phenomenon! I am very honored to be the one to share and spread the goodness of Japan through this class.
Arigatou gozaimasu m(._.)m
Yoroshiku onegaishimasu (Let’s have a positive time together.)
American Sign Language
Welcome! I’m Karla Johnston and one of my greatest passions is teaching American Sign Language at LTCC. I’ve been blessed to be doing so since 1995! I’m a nationally certified ASL interpreter and specialize in Educational and Medical Interpreting, earning a 4.7 on my Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment. I own an American Sign Language Interpreting business with my husband, who is also a certified Interpreter (SignLanguageTeam.com). One of my greatest treasures is the Deaf community and when you take ASL classes at LTCC you are warmly received as we participate in monthly events to further our signing skills and strengthen our community. Consider immersing yourself in a spatial, gestural, emotive language and meeting a wonderful new family!
