​Spanish Teachers:

Chinni Mancilla, Owner & Director of Operations
​
Hola! Salut! Ni Hao! My name is Chinni and I have been the very proud owner of The Language Labs for the last five years. I was born in California,  but raised in Venezuela. My father is from Spain and my mother is from Venezuela. While we always spoke Spanish at home, my parents taught me how important it is to try to speak different languages and absorb diverse cultures. We traveled and moved quite frequently so I chose a career that permitted me to practice my language skills, follow my passion for traveling and continue to learn about different countries and cultures. I became a Flight Attendant and flew happily around the world for almost 10 years. During my travels, I had the wonderful opportunity to live in the French part of Switzerland where I became fluent in French. I am a Certified Medical/Educational Interpreter and own an Interpreting Agency - which all falls under the The Language Labs umbrella.

​Spanish is a very happy language, and this is what we try to instill in our classrooms while teaching. Introducing the children to salsa music, singing Spanish songs,  having the children create their own presentation of their favorite hobby or a different Spanish speaking country. This is all part of making Spanish an enjoyable learning process to encourage learning, and the children hone the skills needed for eventual language fluency. Conversation skills are my top priority. There is nothing better than seeing a student's happy face of accomplishment when they have mastered vocabulary  or a complete phrase in Spanish!

​Gracias! Merci! Xie Xie!
Evelyn Alonso, TLL Spanish Teacher

¡Hola! My name is Evelyn Alonso, I recently graduated from DePaul University with a bachelor’s degree in political science. Currently, I am pursuing my master’s degree in human resources. My previous profession was being a nanny to four kids; here I developed a further interest in children’s programming and education. Both of my parents are from Veracruz, Mexico; I was born and raised in the United States.
​Being bilingual has taught me the value of navigating two languages and cultures. I aspire to teach children the same value and success! ​
Lilia Arizabala, TLL Spanish Teacher

¡Hola!

My name is Lilia Arizabala and I come from a small pueblo in Macas, Ecuador. I grew up in South America but when I turned 18, I moved to the U.S to be full filled with many opportunities! I started off as a waitress for a small restaurant in Chicago, IL. I then gave birth to 3 wonderful kids and moved my way down to Plainfield, IL where I became a part time babysitter. This is where I found my true calling. I loved working with children that I then became a party planner for kids’ birthday parties! I had my fun with that for a few years until I was granted the opportunity to become a Spanish teacher, and this is where I am today.


Throughout my classes I try my best to create a dynamic and enjoyable environment for the students. I love getting the kids involved in my lessons and I often encourage their participation in a way for them to feel comfortable and confident in their Spanish speaking skills. My students learn so much about my language and my culture just as much as I learn from them, and I couldn’t be more grateful. As a Spanish teacher, the best part of my job is coming into a classroom and hearing my students speak to me in Spanish and showing off to me what they know. I can see the smiles in their faces how proud they all feel for learning a new language and the fact that I get to go to work and experience that every time brings me so much joy in my life. 
Alma Ascencio, TLL Principal Consultant

¡ Hola Familias!
​
My name is Alma Ascencio and I was born and raised in Veracruz, Mexico, where I graduated as a social worker. In 1988, I moved to Chicago and later got married in 1996. A year later, my husband and I had a son who we have raised bilingual. I believe that being bilingual opens a world of opportunities and enriches minds. A few years after my son was born, I discovered that my passion is working with children. I have been working and teaching Spanish since 2000, instructing at a diverse array of schools. My experience has taken me to teach in Public, Private, Catholic and Montessori Schools. I am very proud of my heritage, and I'm very happy that I have the opportunity to share my language, customs and culture with all your children.
​Aracelis Carrasquillo, TLL Spanish Teacher

I am a registered nurse and Spanish instructor. I was born and raised in Puerto Rico, and I am proud of my heritage. 

 In my profession as a nurse, I am dedicated to providing compassionate care to those in need. I strive to make a positive impact on the lives of my patients, ensuring their well-being and comfort. 

 As a Spanish instructor, I have the privilege of sharing my language and culture with others. It brings me joy to see my students embrace and appreciate the richness of the Spanish language. 

 When I'm not working, I love spending quality time with my family. We enjoy exploring the great outdoors, whether it's hiking, picnicking, or simply taking a walk in nature. These moments allow us to connect, make memories, and appreciate the beauty around us. 
Nathali Chacon, TLL Spanish Teacher

Hello everyone, it makes me very happy to be able to introduce myself to you and tell you a little about myself. I am Nathali, I am from Venezuela, I am a dentist, and I have always really enjoyed working with children, for me this is a wonderful opportunity to be able to teach them my native language. I hope to teach and guide you in the incredible world of Spanish.
Sra. Nathali
Picture

​Soraya Dulce, TLL Spanish Teacher

​Hello parents!

I would like to extend a huge welcome “Bienvenida” to my new students. I look forward to sharing our wonderful and unique program with all your children.

My name is Soraya Dulce, and I was born and raised in the beautiful country of Colombia. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Special Education, and I have been working with Language Labs for 7+ years now. I am passionate about sharing my culture and language with children.  Let's have fun!
Andreina Guerra,  TLL Training Specialist & Advisor
​
Hello everyone! I'm Andreina, I am from Venezuela  and I take great pride in being a Spanish teacher. From a young age, I discovered my passion for language and teaching, and today, I can confidently say that children are a balm in my life.

Every day, as I step into the classroom, I am surrounded by infectious energy and enthusiasm. Witnessing my young students learn and grow in their command of Spanish is truly rewarding. Their innate curiosity and ability to absorb knowledge constantly inspire me.

I believe that education is a powerful tool for shaping the future of our youth. I strive to create a fun and stimulating learning environment where my students feel safe to express themselves and make mistakes. My goal is to foster their love for Spanish and their desire to explore new cultures through the language.

Beyond teaching grammar and vocabulary, I aim to awaken creativity and critical thinking in my students. I love incorporating games, interactive activities, and visual resources to keep their interest and make learning memorable.

My greatest reward as a teacher is witnessing my students gain confidence in their language skills and feel empowered to communicate in Spanish. As we embark on this exciting journey together, I not only teach them but also learn from them.

Children truly bring joy to my life, and I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to positively impact them. I am thrilled to embark every year and continue nurturing the passion for Spanish in the minds and hearts of my dear students.

I am ready to share laughter, discoveries, and successes with all of you on our wonderful learning journey together.

Señora Andreina
Laura Gutierrez, TLL Spanish Teacher
​
¡Hola! My name is Laura Gutierrez, I was born and raised in Mexico City and received my Business Administration degree from the University of Valle de Mexico.

My husband is a sugar trader and his company transferred us to the United States 14 years ago and since then, Naperville has been our home. I have two children; my daughter is studying Criminal Justice in New York City and my son is a Junior in High School.

I am very passionate about my culture, language, and traditions. For this reason, I am so excited to share my native language with your children and be a part of their bilingual development.
Through games, songs and videos I hope to provide your children a learning experience that will enhance their Spanish knowledge and I will strive to offer fun but educational classes each lesson.
​
¡Gracias! ​
Nicely Perez Hernandez, TLL Spanish Teacher

​I am from Venezuela, I studied in my country and finished with a degree in computer administration.  I have two beautiful children which I am very proud of them. I have three years teaching children in Spanish with very satisfying  results and I want to continue doing this beautiful work of teaching my native language.


Saludos.
Veronica Juarez, TLL Spanish Teacher

¡Hola! I was born and raised in Mexico, and received my business administration degree from the University of San Luis Potosi. In 2006, my husband received a job offer and we were relocated to the United States.  For the past 6 years, I have been teaching Spanish in various Child Care Centers. I am also a Spanish Tutor. I participate in most of the events in my church, scholar district and the community in general with my family. I have two daughters studying in University of Iowa and a son in middle school. It is a huge pleasure to transmit my Hispanic-Mexican culture to my classes and to your students.

​!Muchas Gracias!
Carolina Londoño, TLL Spanish Teacher
Hello families!
My name is Carolina Londoño, and I was born and raised in Medellín, Colombia. I take great pride in my culture, love the traditions of my country, its people, and our native language.

I began my college career as a civil engineer at the University of Medellín, but in 2016, I made the decision to come and live in Chicago in search of more opportunities for my future and to learn a new language. Since then, I have enjoyed getting to know new people and cultures, different languages, cuisine, and people from various parts of the world. I also love sharing a bit of my Latin roots.

I am very excited to teach your children how wonderful the Spanish language is through games, dances, songs, learning activities, and, in turn, create many smiles. Working with children is one of the most rewarding experiences, as it involves a lot of learning.  Besides teaching them new things, one also learns a lot from them.  When you are close to children, you learn to be fun. Children have great energy, and working with them helps you maintain a more positive attitude towards life. Additionally, you get to experience the joy of seeing them progress in something new, and each day is a new experience.

​Thank you very much!
Teacher Caro.

​¡Hola familias!
Mi nombre es Carolina Londoño, nací y me crie en Medellín, Colombia.
Me siento orgullosa de mi cultura, amo las tradiciones de mi país, la gente y nuestra
lengua nativa.
Comencé mi carrera universitaria como ingeniera civil en la universidad de Medellín,
pero decidí parar mis estudios en el cuarto semestre cuando tomé la decisión en 2016
de venir a vivir a chicago buscando más oportunidades para mi futuro y aprender el
idioma, desde entonces me encanta conocer nuevas culturas, diferentes idiomas,
gastronomía, y personas de varias partes del mundo y al igual enseñar un poco de mis
raíces latinas.
Estoy muy feliz de poder enseñar a sus hijos lo maravilloso que es el español por
medio de juegos, bailes, canciones, actividades de aprendizajes y así crear muchas
sonrisas.
El trabajo con niños es uno de los más gratificantes y en el se puede percibir mucho
aprendizaje, además de enseñarles cosas nuevas, también aprender mucho de ellos.
Cuando estas cerca de los niños aprendes a ser divertido, los niños tienen una energía
grandiosa y trabajar con ellos te ayuda a mantener una actitud más positiva frente a la
vida, además puedes experimentar la alegría de verlos progresar en algo nuevo y cada
día es una nueva experiencia.

¡Muchas Gracias!
Maestra Caro.
​Dear parents,

My name is María José Mendez and I have the pleasure of introducing myself.

I want to start by sharing a little about myself. I am originally from Venezuela and my native language is Spanish. Two years ago I had the opportunity to move to this beautiful country and since then I have been working as a Spanish teacher. I feel very lucky to be able to share my passion for the Hispanic language and culture with your children.

In addition to my experience as a teacher, I am a Venezuelan doctor and I am also a proud wife and mother of two beautiful children. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family and we also have two adorable dogs that fill us with joy.

My focus in the classroom is to create a positive and motivating learning environment, where your children feel comfortable and safe expressing themselves in Spanish. My goal is to foster a love for the language and help them develop their language skills in a fun and effective way.

I appreciate your trust in allowing me to be part of your children's education. I am sure thattogether we will make great progress in their learning of Spanish.

Saludos cordiales

Señora María
Alejandra Osorio, TLL Curriculum Developer & Consultant
​
¡Hola amigos! 

I’m very happy and proud to being part of The Language Labs Family. 

This is my Tenth year as an educator in the States (but my 19th year teaching a foreign language). In 2003, I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Teaching of French at the University of The State of Morelos, in my country, Mexico. 
I have been the creator and author for the Spanish and French books since 2019. 
My love for teaching and my patience to better understand my students has given me the opportunity to also learn from them every day. 

I am committed to creating an inclusive classroom environment that encourages students to express themselves freely while improving their language skills through lots of games and fun activities. 
I can’t wait to see the happy faces in the classroom! 

¡Hasta Pronto!
Señora Alejandra"
​Libia Parra, TLL Spanish Teacher

Hola Padres y Familias!
My name is Libia Parra. I was born in Colombia and have been living in Chicago for 30 years. I worked as
a market analyst at the Commercial Office of the Embassy of Spain in Chicago. During my time at this
Office I was able to benefit from my bilingual and bicultural skills to successfully organize trade missions
and events between business leaders in Spain and the United States.
I have also worked as an ESL tutor in the Education Program offered through College of DuPage.
Learning a second language is an asset to all students and opens their minds to seeing the world from
other perspectives.
It is for this reason that I take such joy to share my knowledge and teach your children the Spanish
language and the diversity of culture.
Gracias!
Maria Paula, TLL Spanish Teacher
Hello!
“Language is a window to the world and an opportunity to connect”

My name is María Paula and I am from Bogotá, Colombia . From a very young age, my parents planted in me the love of learning, curiosity, and traveling. 
Learning new languages bloomed the opportunity to see a world full of different places, cultures, people, colors, and ways of living that enriched and amplified my perspectives. 

As a creative youth facilitator for the past 10 years, I’ve learned that every day is a chance to create and connect in community. 
I am happy to be part of the Spanish language group at Language Lab and look forward to all the creative learning that will blossom. 

¡Hola !
“El lenguaje es una ventana al mundo y una oportunidad de conexión” 

Mi nombre es María Paula y soy de Bogotá, Colombia . Desde muy joven mis padres sembraron el amor por el aprendizaje, la curiosidad y los viajes. El aprender idiomas me abrió la oportunidad de comprender que el mundo está lleno de lugares, personas, culturas, colores, formas de vida variadas que enriquecen y amplían perspectiva. 

En mi camino profesional de más de 10 años cómo facilitadora de espacios creativos de aprendizaje juveniles, he aprendido que cada día es una nueva oportunidad de crear conexión en comunidad. 

Estoy muy contenta de ser parte del equipo de enseñanza de español de language lab y emocionada de todo el aprendizaje que florecerá. 

María Paula 
Angelica Sanchez, TLL Spanish Teacher

Hello, my name is Maria Angelica Sanchez, everyone calls me Angelica!  

I have a bachelor's degree in early childhood education and master's degree in education.  I simply love to teach; it is my passion.  The connection that I developed with my students during the learning process has always been very satisfying for me!  I can't wait to help you to become a bilingual person.  I was born and rise in Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico.  Guanajuato is the Capital, and it is the place where the whole Mexican independence movement started!!  Very proud of my roots.  I worked as a teacher (kindergarten, elementary and college) for few years before coming to the United States.  I believe my mission in this world is to " Fill a heart " with hope, positivity, respect and love.

I hope I can influence and inspire everyone I meet, especially my students.
Hasta pronto

​Maestra Angelica Sanchez
Diana Carolina Rivera Villegas, TLL Spanish Tutor
​
¡Hola! My name is Carolina Rivera Villegas. I was born and raised in Colombia, (a beautiful country in South America recognized for its beautiful landscape and cultural diversity). I have a Bachelors in Children Education and over 17 years of experience teaching Spanish.

For the last five years I have taught Spanish in Illinois and have also had the wonderful opportunity to train other teachers. I have also enjoyed and taken much pleasure in recording multiple videos and TV shows in which I share different methods, techniques and ideas on how to teach children creatively. My passion and vision is to teach children through music, games and creative projects.
​
I love to teach using my Spanish native language and to transfer the importance of learning a second language to our new generations. It is my desire to provide students many meaningful, fun, and educational learning experiences.

​¡Muchas Gracias!
Jaime Rodríguez Amaya, TLL Spanish Teacher

Hello everyone,
I was born and raised in Bucaramanga, Colombia. I am a lawyer by profession, and I love my culture, language, food and music; It makes me happy to be able to share it with you.

Throughout my life I have had contact with teaching, and it has contributed more to my life than what I have been able to provide to my students.

A saying that I really like and apply in my daily life is “the best act of justice that we can do for ourselves is the search for knowledge”, I believe that every day you learn new things and sometimes from those you least think about.  I hope to support your children in learning the beautiful language of Spanish and also learn from them.
Yoliver Rodríguez, TLL Spanish Teacher

I was born and raised in Caracas Venezuela.  Where I completed my studies as a phoniatric doctor specializing in language pathologies, hearing, learning and everything related to human communication.  It was while I was studying that I developed a passion for helping children develop their abilities to the maximum, to teach them that through games and fun learning activities, an infinite world of opportunities opens up for them that they can take advantage of in the future and it will become a of its greatest strengths.  I love being able to teach my native language and seeing how children convert it into their second language generates indescribable joy in me.  Filling them with laughter while they learn and making them see that being bilingual will be their superpower is my personal goal.

​Mi nombre es Yoliver Rodríguez,  nací y me crié en Caracas Venezuela.  Donde logré mis estudios como Médico foniatra especialista en patologías del  lenguaje, audicion, aprendizaje y todo lo relacionado con la comunicación humana.  Fue mientras estudiaba que desarrollé la pasión por ayudar a los niños a desarrollar sus habilidades al máximo,  a enseñarles que a través de juegos y actividades de aprendizaje divertidas se les apertura un mundo infinito de oportunidades que podrán aprovechar en el futuro y se convertirá en una de sus mayores fortalezas. Me encanta poder enseñar mi lengua materna y ver como los niños la convierten en su segunda lengua genera en mí una alegría indescriptible.  Llenarlos de risas mientras aprenden y hacerles ver que ser bilingües será su superpoder es mi meta personal.

French Teachers:

Peggy Laparra, TLL French Teacher
​
Bonjour! My name is Peggy. I am French, I was born in Normandy, France. In addition to being a native French speaker, I have French as Second Language Certificate, this is an International diploma recognized to teach English as a foreign language. I also own a Master Degree in Business Administration. I lived in Paris for 14 years where I was working as a Training development manager before relocating to the US in 2012.

I have been living in Naperville since 2012 with my family.  I teach French in the Naperville area. I work as a French teacher and head of curriculum in a French school for native French students.

I started teaching with The Language Labs in 2019 for several classes in different elementary schools, providing French tutoring and animating story times.

I love to teach my native language. I feel very proud when my students are making steady progress and start actually communicating in French. I love sharing the French culture with well-known stories or songs from my childhood. I like being creative when working on craft projects that I know my students will enjoy.

À bientôt! See you soon! 
​Estelle Paciero, TLL French Teacher
​
Bonjour, my name is Estelle Paciero. I was born in France, in a town located on the west coast of France. I first came to the US as an au pair, a live-in nanny, in Michigan. I met my husband during that year, and we’ve been married for 17 years. We have three children, and we live in Plainfield.
I graduated from Eastern Michigan University and earned my bachelor’s degree in secondary education with a major in French and a minor in Spanish. Languages and cultures have always been a passion for me.
Throughout the years, I have taught French in many settings: tutoring a group of students or one on one, teaching at a local French immersion school, helping with homework, and teaching at The Language Labs since 2019.
I enjoy using different techniques to teach my native language using books, songs, crafts, and a lot of games.
It’ll be a pleasure for me to teach your children because I love sharing my culture and language with others. I believe that by understanding someone else’s culture, we become more accepting of other people. Learning a second language will broaden your children’s future opportunities. I can’t wait to start and meet everyone.
​
A bientôt!

Chinese (Mandarin) Teachers:

Julia Yun Hsia (Hsia Lao Shi), TLL Mandarin Teacher

Nihao! My name is Julia Yun Hsia, and I am from Taiwan. My family and I moved to the United States in 1984 when I was fourteen.

As a shy eighth grader who did not speak English well, I took on learning as a way of life and came out of my comfort zone by talking without fear. I graduated from Illinois State University with a degree in Graphic Communications and started working as a graphic production artist in the commercial printing industry. At the same time, I started teaching at Chinese schools and enjoyed sharing my Chinese Language and cultural knowledge with the students.

I started working with The Language Labs in 2021 and have connected with many students through story time at the libraries, after-school language club programs, and private tutoring lessons—my students' age range from pre-K to adults. I offer a supportive learning environment where students feel safe and build confidence while having fun with learning. Watching the joy they experience and the progress my students make is why I teach.

I'm looking forward to talking with you. Xiexie!
​ 
Peggy Lee (Huang Lao Shi), TLL Mandarin Teacher
​
Ni Hao! My name is Peggy Lee. I was born and raised in Taiwan. I received my bachelor’s degree in Public Administration in Taiwan, and I immigrated to the United States in the year of 2005. I got my Montessori Early Childhood teaching certificate in 2009. Since then, I have consistently worked as a Chinese teacher. I have been with TLL since 2018 and have really enjoyed being a part of such a welcoming and positive environment. My husband and I have two kids aged 16 and 18 who are fluent in Chinese.

I am passionate about teaching. Teaching for me means transferring knowledge with love. It is about getting students to be happy learning and studying. I am responsible, creative, and love bringing my enthusiasm and energy to class.

Xie Xie!

Administrative || Operations Team:

​Joselyn Regueiro - TLL Social Media Director

¡Hola! I was born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela. I came to Chicago in May 1997. I have a bachelor degree in Computer Science and more than 25 years of experience in IT, currently working as Data Analyst. 
I’m also the owner of Josy’s Photo Creation, LLC and photographer. I have been working with the Language Labs since December 2022, helping with the social media accounts and promotion of events and activities. 
I am very happy to be able to help The Language Labs, and be part of this great team. My goal is that more people get to know TLL and the wonderful job they do teaching kids, supporting the parents and helping the community. As a Spanish speaker, I can witness the importance of being bilingual and be proud of it. 

¡Muchas Gracias!
​Sonia Mani - TLL Operations Manager

Hi! My name is Sonia, and I am so happy to join The Language Labs Administrative Team!  I graduated from Northern Illinois University with a bachelor’s degree in Operations Management and Information Systems.  I spent a couple years consulting at Accenture applying my IT skills within the Products Department with clients, such as Pfizer, UPS, and Best Buy.  And while I took a break from the workforce to have 2 wonderful children, now ages 15 and 12, and adopted by the most loyal pup in the world, LUNA 😊, I started my own portrait photography business, House of Sonia Photography.  I constantly explore various disciplines to broaden my own artistic pursuits, integrating my interest in fine art.  And now I love to develop my marketing ideas through creative thinking and applying it to promote The Language Labs.  I am so happy to join the team and love creating and managing digital content for The Language Labs and help build its brand, existing relationships for the organization, and the love of learning languages.
Again, I enjoy using my skills to contribute to the exciting advances in promoting learning a second language by The Language Labs!