KIM ANDERSEN

Founder, Director, Spanish and English Instructor

In 2003, Kim took a “brief” hiatus from teaching public school. While staying home to raise her young children, she started a Spanish language program in Ballston Spa called, Las Mariposas. What began with one adult and one children’s class per week, quickly grew to several group and private Spanish classes. Before too long, more instructors joined the team, additional languages were being offered, the school’s name changed twice, finally settling on Capital Region Language Center (CRLC), and a second location opened in Colonie. That “brief” hiatus was 19 years ago. In addition to serving as the school’s director, Kim loves to travel, garden, spend time with family and friends, walk the dog, raise chickens, read, and do yoga. She hopes that you will consider joining the CRLC family either as an instructor or a student.

Founded CRLC in 2003

SHA-NETTA WILLIS

Student Success Coordinator

Sha-Netta Willis is a native to the Capital Region. She studied Spanish in middle school and in high school and took one year of Italian during her senior year of high school. She attended an art school in South Florida and majored in Fashion Merchandising. While living in South Florida, Sha-Netta developed connections with people from diverse populations representing all walks of life and cultures from over 60 countries. Living in South Florida enabled Sha-Netta to frequently practice her Spanish speaking skills. In 2009, Sha-Netta relocated back to the Capital Region and eventually worked in Diversity Equity and Inclusion for the State of New York. Sha-Netta is passionate about working with diverse populations and learning about other cultures. She is enthusiastic about joining the CRLC team which will afford her the opportunity to establish relationships with students and support them in achieving their language goals.

Team member since 2023

SARAH STRAIGHT

Communications Coordinator

Sarah grew up in New York State and studied linguistics and Spanish during university. Through her coursework and studying abroad she fell in love with language learning and travel. After graduating, she had the opportunity to work as an English language assistant in two different regions of Spain, Galicia and Valencia. This experience deepened her linguistic curiosity as she was able to learn two regional languages, Galego and Valenciano, in addition to improving her Spanish. She has discovered that learning new languages is possible with time, practice, patience, and perseverance, and she loves to study French and German in her free time.

Team member since 2022

AIDA ANGJO

Albanian & German Instructor

Aida comes from Albania and is a native Albanian speaker. She holds a Master’s degree in German Language and Literature, as well as a Master’s in Leadership and Educational Assessment. Her academic journey began at the German Language High School, where she intensively learned German. In terms of work experience, she has been a Project Manager for approximately 10 years in a German foundation. Aida has also worked as a German Lecturer. She has over 20 years of experience teaching German to children and adults. Furthermore, she has served as an Examiner at the Goethe-Zentrum in Albania. She has pursued various training and qualifications, including language courses and professional development in Albania, Germany, and Austria. Aida is looking forward to sharing her love for teaching the German language and her native language with you.

Team member since 2023

JOSHUA BARMEN

American Sign Language Instructor

During his time working with adults with disability through OPWDD, Joshua was exposed to American Sign Language for the first time and was immediately intrigued and began to learn the language. For the last 10 years, Joshua has been immersed in the Deaf community in the Capital Region. He earned a Bachelors of Arts in Cultural Studies where he concentrated in Deaf Culture and American Sign Language. He worked as an Educational Interpreter and realized through that experience he had a knack for teaching. He obtained a Masters of Science in Special Education with a concentration in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education. Currently a NYS Certified Teacher of the Deaf as well as post secondary ASL teacher for SUNY, Joshua’s love for ASL has impacted others. He has a natural ability to connect with students of all ages and is eager to share his love for ASL and the Deaf Culture with you. 

Team member since 2024

KAYANI ILSE

American Sign Language Instructor

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.

Team member since 2011

LEILA MARIN

American Sign Language Instructor

Leila has been involved with the Deaf Community for 8 years. Her introduction into the Deaf Community was attending a total communication high school called “47” American Sign Language and English Secondary High School. This means she was surrounded by Deaf, Hearing, and Hard of Hearing students and faculty, and she graduated completely fluent. She has been spending her years in the Deaf community trying to build a bridge between the Deaf and Hearing communities. From interpreting, performing ASL Slam Poetry, signing at The United Nations General Assembly, and more, ASL and the Deaf Community are passions of hers that she has had since a young age.  She is looking forward to celebrating the passion that others have for learning ASL through her teaching. 

Team member since 2022

AMY SMITH

American Sign Language Instructor

Amy has a love and passion for teaching and working with the Deaf Community. She earned her Master’s Degree from Gallaudet University. She has worked as a Teacher of The Deaf for 6 years and has taught ASL to Middle and High School students for 5 years. She is a credentialed K-12 Teacher of the Deaf. Amy believes learning ASL is very exciting and enjoys sharing her love for the language with others. She looks forward to working in CRLC’s adult and children programs and sharing her passion of ASL with you.

Team member since 2020

NASSRA HAMID

Arabic Instructor

Nassra Hamid was born in Palestine and grew up in Jordan. She is a native Arabic speaker who has taught both children and adults in Amman and Kuwait. Her passion for teaching her mother tongue shows in her teaching. Nassra offers classes in Modern Standard Arabic and Levantine, her dialect.  She will customize her lessons to meet your needs.

Team member since 2009

LALI ROURA

Spanish & Catalan Instructor

Lali is a native from Barcelona, Spain. She was born in a Catalan speaking household but she is bilingual (Catalan and Spanish). Lali has a Major in Translation and Interpretation and she also has a Degree in Eastern Asian Studies and a Master’s Degree in Chinese and Japanese Studies. Lali has over 10 years of teaching experience and has worked as a teacher for adults in Spain, in the P.R. of China and in the US. In 2010 she moved to Richmond, VA where she collaborated with the Latin
American and Iberian Studies Department of the University of Richmond as a volunteer teaching Catalan culture. Later she worked as a teacher of Spanish language and culture for adults in the Special Programs Department of UR. She moved to Upstate New York in 2017 and she loves travelling, chocolate, yoga, Reiki and her dogs.

Team member since 2022

KIM ANDERSEN

Founder, Director, English & Spanish Instructor

In 2003, Kim took a “brief” hiatus from teaching public school. While staying home to raise her young children, she started a Spanish language program in Ballston Spa called, Las Mariposas. What began with one adult and one children’s class per week, quickly grew to several group and private Spanish classes. Before too long, more instructors joined the team, additional languages were being offered, the school’s name changed twice, finally settling on Capital Region Language Center (CRLC), and a second location opened in Colonie. That “brief” hiatus was 19 years ago. In addition to serving as the school’s director, Kim loves to travel, garden, spend time with family and friends, walk the dog, raise chickens, read, and do yoga. She hopes that you will consider joining the CRLC family either as an instructor or a student.

Founded CRLC in 2003

ARTHUR FORREST

English Instructor

Arthur holds a master’s in TESOL from Shenandoah University, and has taught English and ESL in international schools in Mexico, Oman, Egypt, and China. Helping students with their language goals and seeing their success has always been what has motivated Arthur as a teacher. In short, helping others is what makes teaching meaningful. Of course, part of this process is having a program for students that is challenging, enjoyable, and achievable. Students succeed when they are presented with a clear program and when teachers make teaching a sharing process. Caring is sharing.

Team Member since 2024

ANNA MILLER

English & Spanish Instructor

Anna is a Capital Region native, recently relocated after a number of years abroad. Thanks to a number of inspiring teachers, she fostered a love of languages from a young age, which pushed her to later pursue a career in education. Anna believes deeply in the connection of culture and language, studying both Sociology and Spanish in undergrad, developing a passion to create access for all to language learning. After graduating, she went on to receive her Masters in Arts of Teaching with a concentration in Foreign Languages and her TEFL/TESOL certification. She has lived, taught and studied in Chile, Argentina, Spain, Guatemala, and Australia. Anna is a firm believer in experiential education using music, movement and the natural environment to create dynamic classes.

Team member since 2024

TOM NYGREN

English Instructor

Tom Nygren has over ten years’ experience teaching ESL in a variety of colleges and universities, most recently at the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to that, he spent three years teaching English at Sunway University in Malaysia. He worked with Afghan refugees in Pakistan for two years during the 1980s (he also spent part of his childhood in Pakistan). He loves meeting new people and learning about other cultures and has traveled extensively in Africa and Southeast Asia. Tom has a Master of Education in Teaching English as a Second Language from the College of New Jersey and a Master in Public Affairs from Princeton University.

Team member since 2021

JILL SCHIAVONE

English & Spanish Instructor

Jill Schiavone has a degree in Spanish Language and Literature, with minors in Latin American & Caribbean Studies, Communications, and Anthropology from the State University of New York at New Paltz. She is TEFL certified and learned Spanish in Chile where she studied at la Universidad Viña del Mar. Jill later lived in Miami for four years, where she taught elementary reading and writing during the school year and ESL in the summer. Growing up, she visited Costa Rica with her family every other year, which ignited a passion for travel and language. In her free time, Jill enjoys surfing, traveling, attending live music events, and spending time with family and friends.

Team member since 2024

APRIL STROMBERG

English & Spanish Instructor

April Stromberg is a New York certified middle and high school Spanish teacher who started teaching in 2001. She has a Master’s degree in Spanish with extensive study abroad experiences in Mexico, Spain, and Peru. She has led student trips to Costa Rica, and currently runs the Spanish program at a local private school, teaching levels 1-5 to grades 7-12. She has also worked as an adjunct Spanish language college instructor. April has worked with children, youth, and adults in English as a New Language classes in a variety of settings for over 20 years. April brings a great deal of energy and enthusiasm to all her classes, and delights in watching learners grow in proficiency and meet their language learning goals.

LINDSEY TROMBLY

English Instructor

Lindsey has always possessed a passion for learning about languages, cultures and others’ stories, so it is no surprise that those passions led her to earn her BA in Spanish from the University at Albany, SUNY and a Masters in TESOL from Clarkson. In addition to her degrees, Lindsey spent a semester abroad in Costa Rica during her undergrad where she fell in love with teaching English as a second language during a volunteer opportunity.  Prior to her current position as a K-12 ENL teacher at Waterford-Halfmoon, Lindsey completed volunteer work for the Saratoga County Economic Opportunity Council with adult English language learners both in an individual and group setting at the Saratoga Race Course Backstretch. For Lindsey, language teaching goes beyond just the academic concepts. Her real objective is to help foster relationships with her students, as relationships are the true underpinning of second language success.

Team member since 2024

LINDA WIEN

English Instructor

Linda Wien completed a CELTA degree through the University of Cambridge in 2006 and earned her MS TESOL degree from the University at Albany SUNY in 2013. In addition to teaching in the Capital region she has taught ESL in Honolulu, and as a volunteer in Guatemala and Nicaragua. She loves teaching people from a variety of cultures in diverse settings. Her passion for teaching ESL is evident in her abundant energy!

Team member since 2013

Oudou Sanogo

French Instructor

Oudou taught French at Capital Region Language Center from 2013-2016 and has returned to bring his love of language and cross-cultural communication to the community in which he lives. Over the past 15 years, Oudou has worked in the fields of education and international development at the intersections of technology, innovation, training, and data analysis. A multilingual and Fulbright alumnus with a BA in English Literature from Hartwick College and an MA in sustainable development from Brandeis, Oudou is an avid advocate for transformational partnership through which we can effectively address shared challenges in our communities. In addition to English and French, he fluently speaks Bambara and Miniaka, two local languages in Mali. In addition to working as a teacher, Oudou also worked as translator/interpreter In Mali and the United States. He uses his passion for language for bridging cultures and building mutual understanding. During his free time, he’s either busy learning new tech-related skills or out in the outdoors hiking and exploring nature with his family.

Team member from 2013-2016, Rejoined in 2024

AIDA ANGJO

German & Albanian Instructor

Aida comes from Albania and is a native Albanian speaker. She holds a Master’s degree in German Language and Literature, as well as a Master’s in Leadership and Educational Assessment. Her academic journey began at the German Language High School, where she intensively learned German. In terms of work experience, she has been a Project Manager for approximately 10 years in a German foundation. Aida has also worked as a German Lecturer. She has over 20 years of experience teaching German to children and adults. Furthermore, she has served as an Examiner at the Goethe-Zentrum in Albania. She has pursued various training and qualifications, including language courses and professional development in Albania, Germany, and Austria. Aida is looking forward to sharing her love for teaching the German language and her native language with you.

Team member since 2023

REBECCA ANTONUCCI

German Instructor

Rebecca is an avid language learner and teacher, a Certified Medical Interpreter and Translator, whose passion is traveling, interpreting and pretty much using languages every day of her life. She loves encouraging others to take on the challenge of learning new language and culture skills and focuses on taking what you learn and getting to put it to active use. She interprets, translates and teaches French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and Haitian Creole, and has experience teaching those languages as well as German, Polish, Russian, American Sign Language and Arabic. Rebecca hopes to further her own knowledge in new languages and cultures, and hopes to motivate others to dive into a new language themselves and feel confident enough to speak with native speakers.

Team member since 2020

EVELIN BÖRNER

German Instructor

Evelin Falciano is a German native who relocated to the Capital Region in 2016. She is a trained German, ESL, and Philosophy teacher from the Dresden University of Technology. For 10 years she has been working with learners from all age groups and different kinds of language institutions. She loves meeting language students from all over the world, learn about their cultural background and help them to dive into new opportunities by teaching them German and English.

Team member since 2016

PING QIU

Japanese and Chinese Instructor

Ping Qiu teaches Chinese and Japanese at CRLC. She is from China. She has been in the U.S. for 6 years and had lived in Japan for 11 years prior to that. She is fluent in Japanese and scored the highest possible level on the Japanese Language Proficiency Test. Ping has taught Japanese and has a deep understanding of Japanese Culture. She has also been teaching Chinese, her mother tongue, for more than 8 years. She has taught Chinese to adults and elementary school-aged children. She has had a wide variety of teaching experience in 3 different countries and enjoys teaching one on one or small groups.

Team member since 2020

YOKO SEGERSTROM

Japanese Instructor

Yoko is a native Japanese speaker, born and raised near Tokyo. Yoko has completed the Intensive Japanese Teacher Training Workshop and received a certificate from Cornell University, Department of Asian Studies. She has been teaching Japanese to 5th through 12th grade for over 15 years at a local private school. She has also been teaching adult students in the Capital Region. She enjoys passing on her knowledge of Japanese language and culture to students of all ages.

Team member since 2023

SONYA KIM

Korean Instructor

Sonya was born in the United States but raised in South Korea until she came back to the States for her graduate school. She holds a BA in History and English language & literature from Korea, and earned her MA in TESOL from the University of Pennsylvania. She volunteered teaching English, especially for adult immigrants, in a variety of settings while she was in Philadelphia. She also developed TOEFL prep books when she went back to Korea after she finished her studies in Philadelphia.  Sonya also works at Empire State English, CRLC’s sister school, as the Student Services Coordinator and a Designated School Official. 

Team member since 2019

JIWAN PARK

Korean Instructor

Jiwan was born and raised in Seoul, South Korea. She majored in Korean and earned a certificate in teaching Korean from Kyunghee University. She furthered her education by receiving her Master’s degree in Psychology from Hanyang University. While living in Singapore and the United States, Jiwan has continued to pursue her passion for teaching Korean. In Singapore, she founded the Korean Language Institute while also working as the Education Director and Head Teacher at the Singapore Korean International School. She has put on many events about Korean culture and has helped institutions to professionally organize Korean curricula. Since moving to the US, Jiwan has continued to teach Korean to students ranging from young children to adults. 

Team Member since 2023

XUEHAN LIU

Growing up in an educator’s family in China, Xuehan developed her passion for teaching when she was young. She came to the United States to pursue graduate study and earned her doctorate in Language Education from Boston University in 2013. She also completed certification training in Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages ( TCSOL) at Teachers College, Columbia University in 2010. Xuehan has had ten years of extensive Chinese teaching experience to learners at different levels, and in various settings including universities, language institutes, and elementary schools. She applies a learner-centered communicative approach to her teaching, creating a relaxing and cooperative environment in her classroom to make Chinese learning interesting and meaningful. Xuehan loves to share the intriguing beauty of Chinese language and culture with her students. In addition to spending time with her family, Xuehan enjoys reading, jogging, and Zumba.

Team member since 2021

PING QIU

Chinese and Japanese Instructor

Ping Qiu teaches Chinese and Japanese at CRLC. She is from China. She has been in the U.S. for 6 years and had lived in Japan for 11 years prior to that. She is fluent in Japanese and scored the highest possible level on the Japanese Language Proficiency Test. Ping has taught Japanese and has a deep understanding of Japanese Culture. She has also been teaching Chinese, her mother tongue, for more than 8 years. She has taught Chinese to adults and elementary school-aged children. She has had a wide variety of teaching experience in 3 different countries and enjoys teaching one on one or small groups.

Team member since 2020

QIN WUBRUNI

Chinese Instructor

Qin Wu-Bruni is an NYS-certified Mandarin and TESOL teacher. She grew up in a beautiful little town in mid-west China and has been teaching Chinese in the U.S. since 2016. She received her BA in English and MA in English Linguistics from China, and her Master of Education from Carthage College in Wisconsin prior to becoming a certified k-12 teacher in NYS. It is her love for languages and cultures that brought her here to the country and to this journey of sharing her heritage. One of the things that she enjoys about teaching languages is that she loves seeing the smiles on students’ faces, the sparks in their eyes, and the confidence in their hearts.

Team member since 2023 

VALERIA

European and Brazilian Portuguese Instructor

CRLC partners with an organization in Europe to offer Portuguese lessons. We have a long-term relationship with this partner, and we are happy to be able to offer instruction for both European and Brazilian Portuguese.

Valeria graduated with a degree in Library and Information Sciences from the Federal University of São Carlos, Brazil specializing in linguistics. She earned a Master’s in Portuguese as a Foreign Language from the University of Aveiro, Portugal. Her experience in the businesses world, combined with her qualifications in Portuguese, has enabled her to successfully teach Portuguese language and business values since 2008. In addition, she is a translator and interpreter, primarily dedicating herself to literary translation. She is currently a language teacher working in Girona, Spain.

KIM ANDERSEN

Founder, Director, Spanish and English Instructor

In 2003, Kim took a “brief” hiatus from teaching public school. While staying home to raise her young children, she started a Spanish language program in Ballston Spa called, Las Mariposas. What began with one adult and one children’s class per week, quickly grew to several group and private Spanish classes. Before too long, more instructors joined the team, additional languages were being offered, the school’s name changed twice, finally settling on Capital Region Language Center (CRLC), and a second location opened in Colonie. That “brief” hiatus was 19 years ago. In addition to serving as the school’s director, Kim loves to travel, garden, spend time with family and friends, walk the dog, raise chickens, read, and do yoga. She hopes that you will consider joining the CRLC family either as an instructor or a student.

Founded CRLC in 2003

GLORIA BATISTA

Spanish Instructor / Spanish Storytime

Gloria Batista was raised in New York City in a Spanish-speaking household and is bilingual. Her roots are Puerto Rican and Spanish. She received a B.S. from the University at Albany in political science with a Minor in Spanish and previously worked with the New York State Department of Labor where she translated and interpreted for Spanish speaking applicants. She loves teaching the preschool and elementary Spanish classes with Capital Region Language Center and makes her classes come alive with boundless energy.

Team member since 2006

ANNA MILLER

Spanish & English Instructor

Anna is a Capital Region native, recently relocated after a number of years abroad. Thanks to a number of inspiring teachers, she fostered a love of languages from a young age, which pushed her to later pursue a career in education. Anna believes deeply in the connection of culture and language, studying both Sociology and Spanish in undergrad, developing a passion to create access for all to language learning. After graduating, she went on to receive her Masters in Arts of Teaching with a concentration in Foreign Languages and her TEFL/TESOL certification. She has lived, taught and studied in Chile, Argentina, Spain, Guatemala, and Australia. Anna is a firm believer in experiential education using music, movement and the natural environment to create dynamic classes. 

Team member since 2024

SHEREZ MOHAMED

Spanish & English Instructor

Sherez Mohamed was raised in a multicultural household where Arabic and English were spoken. From a young age, she developed a love for languages and cultures, frequently taking language courses whenever the opportunity presented itself. She has studied Japanese, Spanish, French, and Arabic which has only increased her desire to explore the connection between languages and cultures. In 2013, she received her Bachelor’s degree in Spanish and Sociology from SUNY Albany. Later, she continued her studies, obtaining Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Sociolinguistics from Florida State University where she additionally earned a TESOL certificate. Sherez has taught a mixture of English, Spanish, and Linguistics courses, and loves to expose her students to authentic material in order to foster their desire to explore languages and cultures, just as her teachers once did for her.

Team member since 2023

MIRIAM ROGERS

Spanish Instructor

Miriam Rogers is a Spanish instructor at Capital Region Language Center. Miriam Rogers is originally from Peru where she was a college-level professor. She holds a certification in Teaching Spanish, a degree in Social Sciences and a Master’s degree in English Linguistics. She has been teaching for fifteen years. Her classes are fun and full of interaction. She feels that teaching is based on creating a welcoming environment where students feel comfortable and motivated to learn a new language.

Team member since 2019

LALI ROURA

Spanish & Catalan Instructor

Lali is a native from Barcelona, Spain. She was born in a Catalan speaking household but she is bilingual (Catalan and Spanish). Lali has a Major in Translation and Interpretation and she also has a Degree in Eastern Asian Studies and a Master’s Degree in Chinese and Japanese Studies. Lali has over 10 years of teaching experience and has worked as a teacher for adults in Spain, in the P.R. of China and in the US. In 2010 she moved to Richmond, VA where she collaborated with the Latin
American and Iberian Studies Department of the University of Richmond as a volunteer teaching Catalan culture. Later she worked as a teacher of Spanish language and culture for adults in the Special Programs Department of UR. She moved to Upstate New York in 2017 and she loves travelling, chocolate, yoga, Reiki and her dogs.

Team member since 2022

JILL SCHIAVONE

Spanish & English Instructor

Jill Schiavone has a degree in Spanish Language and Literature, with minors in Latin American & Caribbean Studies, Communications, and Anthropology from the State University of New York at New Paltz. She is TEFL certified and learned Spanish in Chile where she studied at la Universidad Viña del Mar. Jill later lived in Miami for four years, where she taught elementary reading and writing during the school year and ESL in the summer. Growing up, she visited Costa Rica with her family every other year, which ignited a passion for travel and language. In her free time, Jill enjoys surfing, traveling, attending live music events, and spending time with family and friends.

Team member since 2024

APRIL STROMBERG

Spanish & English Instructor

April Stromberg is a New York certified middle and high school Spanish teacher who started teaching in 2001. She has a Master’s degree in Spanish with extensive study abroad experiences in Mexico, Spain, and Peru. She has led student trips to Costa Rica, and currently runs the Spanish program at a local private school, teaching levels 1-5 to grades 7-12. She has also worked as an adjunct Spanish language college instructor. April has worked with children, youth, and adults in English as a New Language classes in a variety of settings for over 20 years. April brings a great deal of energy and enthusiasm to all her classes, and delights in watching learners grow in proficiency and meet their language learning goals.