Can you spot the languages?

Chinese | English | French | German | Japanese | Korean | Portuguese | Spanish | Catalan

Food – in English, Arabic, Mandarin, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, and ASL

CRLC made it onto the front page of the Times Union. The article covers the work we have been doing with Price Chopper/Market 32 to equip supervisors with Spanish language skills. The story ran in multiple news outlets. Click on the logos below to check out the stories!

Kayani Ilse

American Sign Language Instructor

Kayani is currently teaching ASL in person on Mondays! Here is a little bit about her and her language background.

Kayani Ilse’s inspiration and passion for American Sign Language began when her family adopted a deaf child. The joy she experienced learning and communicating in ASL blossomed into a deep love and respect for sign language and the deaf community. Kayani has earned both a Bachelor’s degree in American Sign Language Interpreting and a Master’s degree in Teacher Preparation with a concentration in Deaf Education. She has more than ten years of professional experience as an educational ASL interpreter. She is a credentialed K-12 teacher of the deaf. She believes learning should be fun, engaging, and authentic to each individual. Kayani is looking forward to sharing her love of ASL and deaf culture with you.

Want to get to know more of our staff? You can browse languages and meet our teachers by clicking the button below.

Teacher Features

During Hispanic Heritage Month, we are highlighting several of our Spanish language instructors.

Lali Roura i Vinyeta

Lali brings more than a decade of teaching experience in Spain, China and the United States. Having lived in multiple countries, she has interesting cultural insights to share. Learn why she thinks it is important for the US to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month (as well as her favorite Spanish word!).

WHY DID YOU BECOME A LANGUAGE TEACHER?

In high school, I tutored schoolchildren in English. Later, after graduating with a degree in translation, teaching languages became a way for me to grow professionally as well as help people learn foreign languages.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR THE U.S. TO CELEBRATE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH?

The United States is a country with a significant variety of languages and cultures, some of them with a presence of many years even before the creation of the country as we know it. I think it is important to embrace and celebrate our history because it helps give shape to a country and contributes to a better understanding of our origins.

ANY EXAMPLES OF HOW SPANISH LANGUAGE HELPED A BUSINESS?

After graduating, I had the chance to live in China. I was hired to teach Spanish to the staff of a well known Spanish food company there. For the Chinese staff, communicating with their counterparts in Spain helped them to better understand the company’s products and business culture.

Years later, living in Richmond, VA, I taught Spanish to the staff of a medical center. From administrative assistants to nurses, they needed to communicate with Spanish-speaking patients. Just teaching a few basic words and giving them some cultural notes was enough for them to establish a better connection with the patients.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SPANISH WORD?

Azahar (it means orange blossom). I like this word not just for its meaning (blossom, flower) but also because it gives you the sense of variety within a language. The word azahar has Arabic origins.

Gloria Batista

Raised in New York City in a Spanish-speaking household, Gloria Batista is bilingual. An alum of University at Albany, she worked for the New York State Department of Labor, translating and interpreting for Spanish speaking applicants. Today, Gloria teaches Spanish to children across the area.

WHY DID YOU BECOME A LANGUAGE TEACHER?

Becoming an American Latina educator allows me to continue to honor my heritage and my own ancestors. I enjoy teaching the beauty and wonder of Hispanic culture, sharing my Puerto Rican / Spanish background, and walking my students through wonderfully diverse lessons of beautiful people, rich history, amazing foods, heartfelt music and the multitude of ways Hispanics have added to the great fabric of our Nation. And there is no greater joy than seeing someone’s eyes light up with a sense of identity through the familiar line of diversity in our cultures.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR THE U.S. TO CELEBRATE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH?

Our nation should never forget the great contributions that Hispanics & Latino Americans have made in the makeup of our country. Also, it is imperative that our younger generations be inspired by the great successes of Hispanics and Latin Americans in all aspects of this United States of America.

CAN YOU SHARE AN EXAMPLE OF HOW CRLC’S SPANISH LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION HAS HELPED A LOCAL BUSINESS OR ORGANIZATION?

I have been teaching at Malta Montessori for a little over a decade and continue to hear from parents and students about the impact of Spanish language on development, awareness of culture and continued growth in language skills. Presently, I’m thrilled to partner with Arbor Hill Elementary/Albany City School District, Gloversville Elementary School, Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library as well as teach private classes.

Years later, living in Richmond, VA, I taught Spanish to the staff of a medical center. From administrative assistants to nurses, they needed to communicate with Spanish-speaking patients. Just teaching a few basic words and giving them some cultural notes was enough for them to establish a better connection with the patients.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SPANISH WORD?

“Disfruta el viaje tanto como el destino.” It translates to, “Enjoy the journey as much as the destination.” There’s so much joy for me, walking alongside my students on the path from introduction to Spanish to witnessing them blossom in growth of language and exploration of Hispanic cultures.

Wednesday, December 4th from 5:00-7:00pm

Join us to learn more about the school and our courses!

Tell us about your language journey and learn more about CRLC programs.

518-729-5407 | info@crlcalbany.org | crlcalbany.org

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