About Us
It’s best to learn Spanish with native Spanish-speaking teachers.
“Our experienced instructors will help you learn and fully immerse yourself in the second most spoken language in the world in terms of the number of native speakers, as well as the third most used language on the Internet. “
Experience the satisfaction of learning Spanish as easy as 1, 2, 3, and enjoy our unique and friendly approach.
When it comes to learning Spanish, you can trust the Pura Vida team.
Our Founder
Patricia López was born in Costa Rica. After completing high school, she attended the prestigious Universidad De Costa Rica where she studied education. She also studied Psychology at the Universidad Autónoma de Centro América. She moved to Santa Monica, California, in the 1990s, where she continued her education at Santa Monica College and UCLA. Patricia’s studies include Communications, Broadcast Journalism, and Early Childhood Development.
She is an award-winning journalist, a former CNN correspondent and Telemundo Network newscaster, and a freelance reporter for various Latin media channels. Aside from achieving a successful career in Journalism, she has also divided her time pursuing her second passion: teaching. Specifically, she loves working with children and enhancing their proficiency in one of the most spoken languages in the world: Spanish!
Our Vision
Living in a globalized world, we know the importance of learning a second language. Learning a language is much more than just learning its grammatical rules and structures. To truly learn a second language, you have to live it, which is why we recommend that you work with native-speaking professionals who will take you or your children on a true journey. This isn’t just about learning a new language, but about a cultural experience from wherever you are.
“You don’t need to go abroad to benefit from learning with a native speaking teacher…”™®
Our team
Patricia López Freer
Her main objective is to teach valuable language skills in four areas: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The skills learned in her lessons are designed to be useful in everyday life.™® Patricia is a passionate teacher, and her teaching career began in Costa Rica at the Escuela de Enseñanza Especial in Puntarenas. In the United States, she has worked in prestigious schools such as Crossroads and Wildwood in Santa Monica, CA, where she still substitutes.
Nury Guevara:
With over a decade of experience in teaching Spanish, she loves sharing her passion for her mother language and culture. She was born and raised in Puntarenas, Costa Rica, where she attended the Parauniversitario American Business Academy and earned her Bachelor’s degree in Language Arts. Nury specializes in online classes, but she also offers in-person classes in Orange County, CA. Nury is also a certified Real Estate Agent in California, USA.
Melissa Gamboa:
With experience teaching Spanish linguistics at a University level, both for native students and non-Spanish speakers, Melissa Gamboa Jiménez is our teacher based in Costa Rica. Melissa has a Master’s Degree in Spanish and Literature (graduated with honors) and a Degree in Hispanic Philology (Linguistics and Literature) from the University of Costa Rica.
She currently teaches Spanish language, literature, and Latin American Culture at the University Consortium for Studies Abroad (USAC, in San Ramón, Costa Rica).
Miss Gamboa has extensive experience in cultural immersion programs, philological correction of texts, editing, and content writing.
Julia Gornall:
¡Hola! My name is Julia Gornall and I’m a first generation American. My mother is Costa Rican and therefore, my first language at home was Spanish! I studied History and Education with a minor in Spanish at the University of Arizona. My primary focus dealt with Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Society and I have lots of experience working with students with disabilities. I’ve wanted to be a teacher since I was in the first grade and I am so happy that my journey has allowed me to also bring my heritage to the table by teaching Spanish. I’m a big computer nerd, and I’ve traveled to many countries and I am constantly humbled by the beauty of the world. Food is my love language. As a Los Angeles native, I am proud to exist in a city with so much cultural, and I aspire to learn something new every day.
*Online only.
Nikki Dalmau:
Nikki is a commercial casting director who founded Nikki Casting, an international Casting Company with an office in Los Angeles and Puerto Rico, and has had the honor of working on unforgettable, award-winning campaigns for prestigious clients.
Nikki will teach you how to audition, while Patricia will help you grasp Spanish-spoken lines, master their pronunciation, and learn the script more easily.
*Online only.
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