Native Peruvian teacher with a Master’s in Teaching Spanish and more than 15 years of experience helps adults stop translating word for word and speak Latin American Spanish naturally.

Find out more about Ana María

• 1) Do you speak this language fluently because of your origins or because a teacher inspired you to learn?

  I speak Spanish fluently because it is my native language. I was born and raised in Lima, Peru, so Spanish is part of my culture, my education, my daily life, and my identity.
  
  My professional training in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language has also helped me understand how to explain Spanish clearly, identify students’ difficulties, and guide them step by step toward real communication.

• 2) Can you name a living, historical or fictional character that you think is the emblematic representative of the language’s culture?

  I would choose Mario Vargas Llosa, the Peruvian Nobel Prize-winning writer. His work represents the richness, complexity, and expressive power of Spanish, especially from a Latin American perspective.
  
  For me, he also represents something I value deeply: Spanish is not just one accent, one country, or one culture. It is a language shared by many voices, histories, and ways of seeing the world.

• 3) Is there a typical word, phrase, tradition or behaviour in the language that you particularly like?

  One Peruvian expression I really like is “al toque.” It means “right away” or “immediately.” For example, “Te llamo al toque” means “I’ll call you right away.”
  
  I like this expression because it shows how natural and expressive everyday Spanish can be. Many Spanish phrases do not translate word for word into English, and that is why I help my students understand how Spanish works from the inside, not only through literal translation.

• 4) Why does speaking this language matter to you?

  Spanish matters to me because it creates connection. It is one of the world’s most widely spoken languages, shared by millions of people across many countries, cultures, accents, and ways of seeing life.
  
  As a native Spanish speaker from Lima, Peru, I value my own culture deeply, and I also love how Spanish opens doors to other people’s stories, traditions, and perspectives.
  
  For many of my students, learning Spanish is not just about studying grammar. It is about feeling able to participate, connect, and communicate with more confidence in Spanish-speaking environments.

• 5) What is the main difficulty in learning this language and what can help the process of learning?

  One of the biggest challenges in learning Spanish is moving beyond word-for-word translation and starting to understand the natural logic of the language. Many students know vocabulary and grammar rules, but when they speak, they still organize their ideas with English structures.
  
  This can affect verb endings, gender agreement, word order, pronouns, and common structures such as ser and estar. What helps most is clear explanation, regular practice, and correction that feels useful, not intimidating.
  
  In my lessons, I explain grammar in a practical way and then move quickly into conversation, role-plays, guided practice, and real-life situations. My goal is to help students use Spanish more naturally and speak with greater accuracy, confidence, and independence.

• 6) Provide a valuable anecdote related to your language learning or your days at school.

  One valuable memory from school is learning French as a second language. My teachers did not teach only with grammar exercises or vocabulary lists. They used stories, comic-style materials, songs, and cultural activities.
  
  That experience stayed with me because the language felt alive. It was not just something to memorize; it was a way to understand how people think, interact, and see the world.
  
  Today, I bring that same idea into my Spanish lessons: clear grammar, yes, but always connected to real communication, culture, and meaningful use.

• 7) How has travel or a specific trip helped you to increase your skill and knowledge of the language?

  As a native Spanish speaker, travel did not make me more fluent in Spanish, but it definitely made me a better language teacher.
  
  When I traveled abroad to an English-speaking country to improve my English and enrolled in a formal program to learn English as a second language, I experienced what many adult language learners feel: the fear of making mistakes, the frustration of not finding the right words quickly, and the need for patient, practical guidance.
  
  That experience shaped the way I teach today. I know students need structure, but they also need real practice, encouragement, and a safe space to make mistakes and keep improving.

• 8) What makes you a Superprof in language?

  What makes me a Superprof in Spanish is the combination of my native background, professional training, and more than 15 years of experience teaching adults and professionals.
  
  My lessons are personalized, structured, and focused on real communication. I explain grammar clearly, but always with a practical purpose: helping students use Spanish in conversation, role-plays, everyday situations, and professional or cultural contexts.
  
  I also create a supportive learning environment where students can ask questions, make mistakes, and receive clear correction without feeling judged. Mistakes are not failures; they show us what needs to be clarified, practiced, and strengthened.
  
  Cultural exchange is also part of my teaching. I enjoy learning about my students’ cultures and sharing my own Peruvian and Latin American culture in a natural way.
  
  My goal is to help students understand how Spanish works, move beyond word-for-word translation, and speak with more clarity, confidence, and independence.