About
Santa Cruz Language Institute Online Language Programs offers live online language classes that include language classes, workshops, and events such as cooking in other languages, movie nights, music extravaganzas, field trips, and travels abroad. The program offers Spanish, French, Italian, and Portuguese live online group courses, with activities described as bringing the flavors, sounds, and colors of the globe into the learning experience. Classes are offered for adults, teenagers, pre-teens, kids only, and kids and parents together, and students can take a first free class before committing to a group course.
• Ages: 8–18 years old
• Schedule: Live online Spanish, French, Italian, and Portuguese group courses starting in August 2026, with semi-intensive 3-week Spanish courses in June–July and regular 6-week courses with new sessions starting every 7 weeks
The Santa Cruz Language Institute states that its mission is to teach languages for communication and give language students access to the communities of the world. The mission also includes bringing an excellent learning environment to the community, helping people develop their language speaking potential, and supporting students, professionals, companies, and organizations in bridging linguistic gaps, building and expanding their networks, and integrating in the communities where they work. The institute notes a special interest in helping students develop their natural ability to learn languages and become multicultural while being engaged.
The leadership and teaching team includes Ariel Pérez, Michelle Barbosa, Natalie, Nadia, Marie, Asunción, Elisa, Valentin, and Clarisse. Ariel is a Lecturer of Spanish at UCSC, has taught at Stanford University and the Defense Language Institute, is a certified Oral Proficiency Interview tester for ACTFL and DLI, and holds a Master’s in Teaching Foreign Languages from the Monterey Institute of International Studies. Michelle has taught Spanish as a second language for 20 years in California and Argentina, founded the A.P.I.E. Spanish teachers’ cooperative in 2008, has taught at the Berlitz Institute and collaborated with the Sing ‘n Speak Spanish program, holds a B.A. in Profesorado de Español from Universidad Nacional de Córdoba and a Master’s in Alternative Pedagogies, and is fluent in English, Portuguese, French, and some Italian. Natalie specializes in teaching English as a second language, has a B.A. in Spanish and Classical Civilizations from Beloit College, has worked in Madrid as an Auxiliar de Conversación for 6th graders, and studied for a year at Universidad de Murcia. Nadia is a licentiate in Psycho-pedagogy from Universidad del Salvador in Buenos Aires, has taught in multiple types of schools and institutes, has experience teaching English and Spanish as a second language in Argentina, Costa Rica, and Mexico, and obtained the New Oxford Institute E.L.T. Lower Certificate in 2001. Marie studied Applied Foreign Languages with a major in Business at Sorbonne University and holds a Master’s degree in English and Spanish from Rouen University. Asunción holds a Master’s in Journalism with a specialty in human rights and international relations, a Master’s in Political Science, and an International Diploma in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language from International House Mexico, which is accredited by the Cervantes Institute. Elisa graduated in Languages and linguistic-cultural mediation from Università degli studi Roma TRE, holds Ditals I & II certification, and has an excellent level of English and Spanish and an academic level of French. Valentin has a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Linguistics and Multilingualism from UCSC, a minor in Education, a Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, experience as a Spanish department tutor at UCSC, a postgraduate certification as an Expert in Natural Language Processing, and is attending a Master’s program in Technological Language (AI). Clarisse graduated from the University of Orléans with a Master’s degree in Linguistics, specializing in teaching French as a foreign language.
The institute notes that its live online language courses are for all levels and are aimed at adults, teenagers, kids, and parents, and that classes are imparted by highly qualified native teachers. It states that it works in small groups and covers both speaking proficiency and grammar with equal emphasis. The Santa Cruz Language Institute also states that it is committed to introducing the community to the world by teaching foreign languages online and to helping students, professionals, companies, and organizations bridge linguistic gaps, build and expand their networks, and integrate in the communities where they work. The program lists credentials that include a certified Oral Proficiency Interview tester for ACTFL and DLI, accreditation of International House Mexico by the Cervantes Institute, and Ditals I & II certification.
Last updated June 25, 2026.
• Ages: 8–18 years old
• Schedule: Live online Spanish, French, Italian, and Portuguese group courses starting in August 2026, with semi-intensive 3-week Spanish courses in June–July and regular 6-week courses with new sessions starting every 7 weeks
The Santa Cruz Language Institute states that its mission is to teach languages for communication and give language students access to the communities of the world. The mission also includes bringing an excellent learning environment to the community, helping people develop their language speaking potential, and supporting students, professionals, companies, and organizations in bridging linguistic gaps, building and expanding their networks, and integrating in the communities where they work. The institute notes a special interest in helping students develop their natural ability to learn languages and become multicultural while being engaged.
The leadership and teaching team includes Ariel Pérez, Michelle Barbosa, Natalie, Nadia, Marie, Asunción, Elisa, Valentin, and Clarisse. Ariel is a Lecturer of Spanish at UCSC, has taught at Stanford University and the Defense Language Institute, is a certified Oral Proficiency Interview tester for ACTFL and DLI, and holds a Master’s in Teaching Foreign Languages from the Monterey Institute of International Studies. Michelle has taught Spanish as a second language for 20 years in California and Argentina, founded the A.P.I.E. Spanish teachers’ cooperative in 2008, has taught at the Berlitz Institute and collaborated with the Sing ‘n Speak Spanish program, holds a B.A. in Profesorado de Español from Universidad Nacional de Córdoba and a Master’s in Alternative Pedagogies, and is fluent in English, Portuguese, French, and some Italian. Natalie specializes in teaching English as a second language, has a B.A. in Spanish and Classical Civilizations from Beloit College, has worked in Madrid as an Auxiliar de Conversación for 6th graders, and studied for a year at Universidad de Murcia. Nadia is a licentiate in Psycho-pedagogy from Universidad del Salvador in Buenos Aires, has taught in multiple types of schools and institutes, has experience teaching English and Spanish as a second language in Argentina, Costa Rica, and Mexico, and obtained the New Oxford Institute E.L.T. Lower Certificate in 2001. Marie studied Applied Foreign Languages with a major in Business at Sorbonne University and holds a Master’s degree in English and Spanish from Rouen University. Asunción holds a Master’s in Journalism with a specialty in human rights and international relations, a Master’s in Political Science, and an International Diploma in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language from International House Mexico, which is accredited by the Cervantes Institute. Elisa graduated in Languages and linguistic-cultural mediation from Università degli studi Roma TRE, holds Ditals I & II certification, and has an excellent level of English and Spanish and an academic level of French. Valentin has a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Linguistics and Multilingualism from UCSC, a minor in Education, a Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, experience as a Spanish department tutor at UCSC, a postgraduate certification as an Expert in Natural Language Processing, and is attending a Master’s program in Technological Language (AI). Clarisse graduated from the University of Orléans with a Master’s degree in Linguistics, specializing in teaching French as a foreign language.
The institute notes that its live online language courses are for all levels and are aimed at adults, teenagers, kids, and parents, and that classes are imparted by highly qualified native teachers. It states that it works in small groups and covers both speaking proficiency and grammar with equal emphasis. The Santa Cruz Language Institute also states that it is committed to introducing the community to the world by teaching foreign languages online and to helping students, professionals, companies, and organizations bridge linguistic gaps, build and expand their networks, and integrate in the communities where they work. The program lists credentials that include a certified Oral Proficiency Interview tester for ACTFL and DLI, accreditation of International House Mexico by the Cervantes Institute, and Ditals I & II certification.
Last updated June 25, 2026.
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