Meet Our Team
Our passionate team of native Spanish speakers brings years of teaching experience, cultural knowledge, and creative methods to help you achieve your language goals.
Carla Diaz
Founder, CEO & Lead Spanish Trainer
Venezuelan-born petroleum engineer who discovered her passion for teaching Spanish after moving to Colombia. Founded "Spanish with Carla" in 2016, which evolved into Spicy Spanish in 2020.
Having instructed hundreds of students worldwide, Carla participated in the Wone Internship Placement in Barcelona (2019), where she taught introductory Spanish to international students from Hong Kong.
Carla combines linguistic expertise with cultural insights, creating an immersive and effective learning experience.
Melisa Arredondo Montoya
Senior Spanish Trainer
From Medellín, Colombia, Melisa — known as "la paisita" — has been teaching Spanish since 2017.
She is known for her creative methods that simplify complex grammar concepts through real-life examples and vivid imagery. Passionate about cultural exchange, Melisa makes every lesson both educational and engaging.
Education
- Bachelor's in Spanish, University of Antioquia
- Diploma in Spanish as a Foreign Language Pedagogy, Caro y Cuervo Institute
- Pursuing Master's in Reading and Writing, EAFIT University
Stephanie Gil
Senior Spanish Trainer
A Colombian native, Stephanie has been teaching since 2017 and brings a unique background in media production for TV and radio.
Having taught in public schools, community programs, and online/face-to-face settings since 2019, Stephanie infuses her lessons with Colombian culture and community service perspectives.
Education
- Bachelor's in English-Spanish, Pontificia Bolivariana University
- Diploma in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language
- Pursuing Master's in Didactics of Spanish as a Second/Foreign Language
Languages: English, Spanish, basic German, Latin, Greek
Vanessa Chavez
Senior Spanish Trainer
Vanessa has been teaching Spanish since 2013 and holds a degree in Spanish from the University of Antioquia.
She has taught at Benkos Bioho pre-university, Preu PCN, and Toucan Spanish School (2018–2020). Vanessa is known for her creative use of multimedia resources — songs, interviews, and books — and facilitates language exchanges with native speakers.
Education
- Degree in Spanish, University of Antioquia
Mauren Araya
Spanish Trainer
From Costa Rica, Mauren has been teaching since 2021 and joined Spicy Spanish in 2022.
She prioritizes enjoyment and dynamic learning, creating a safe and engaging environment where students thrive. Self-motivated and adaptable, her teaching style evolves with each student’s needs, and she brings authentic Costa Rican cultural insights to every lesson.
Daniela Gaitán
Spanish Trainer
From Bogotá, Colombia, Daniela has been teaching since 2022. Bilingual in Spanish and English with two years living in Canada, she brings a global perspective to her lessons.
Currently pursuing a Marketing and Business degree at the University of Palermo, Daniela integrates business perspectives into language instruction — particularly valuable for business Spanish students.
Languages: Spanish, English, planning to learn French
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