Rochester Home
Bright Loritos consists of an incredible team of world language educators who have the ability to reach students in ways few instructors can. Our team members have many years of teaching experience, and their shared passion for world languages and cultures allows students to acquire language naturally. All our instructors go through background checks and hold current CPR and First Aid certifications.
Bright Loritos provides language instruction for children (ages 1-12) when second-language acquisition has proven to be easiest. We offer unique language immersion in-person and online programs in Spanish, French, Mandarin and Arabic taught by native speakers.
Ni hao! Wo jiao Simona Xu (my name is Simona Xu). I am from Sichuan, China—the home of giant pandas and the spicy hotpot. I graduated from Neijiang Teachers’ College. I earned a bachelor’s degree in K-12 education and The People’s Republic of China Teacher’s Qualification Certificate in 2016. I have been helping students to learn Chinese since 2015. I have 5-years of experience working with kids. I am an enthusiastic, energetic teacher, and I love teaching kids. I spice my class with excitement and enjoyment; I spark students’ curiosity and jumpstart their motivation to learn. I support Bright Loritos’ teaching method, such as language acquisition through immersion and comprehensive input-based learning, communication, and play. I believe our meaningful language learning program will have a lifetime impact on your kids. I can’t wait to share the Chinese language and culture with you!
Bonjour! Je m’appelle Courtney. I am the Curriculum Supervisor for Bright Loritos. I work with Alonso on curriculum and with the Bright Loritos teachers giving them feedback on their lessons. I have taught grades K-12 French for 8 years in the United States and in Paris, France. I worked with Mr. Chavez for 2 years as the French teacher and he, the Spanish teacher at a school. I’m excited to be working with him again at Bright Loritos! I currently teach French to grades 8-12 at a private school. I also teach ESL part-time online to students ages 3-14 in China. I enjoy sharing knowledge and ideas with the second language teaching community by speaking at various Michigan World Language conferences. I speak on ways to use technology when teaching a second language. I use Comprehensible Input when planning curriculum and teaching a second language. Comprehensible Input helps the student acquire the language and feel empowered to understand what is spoken and respond accordingly. I have a passion for helping children to become better communicators in all languages they speak.
¡Hola! Mi nombre es Ivonne, and I was born and raised in Lima, Perú. I have an associate degree in Education from San Marcos University and a B.A. in High School Education with a concentration in English and Spanish. I never thought of becoming a teacher, but I decided to study education, and, thanks to all the good teachers I had, I realized that teaching is my passion and is what I like to do the most. I have taught English and Spanish languages in Middle and High School, but then I decided to evolve as an Elementary teacher, and I taught English to kids from 5-11 years old. I love the energy and the ability that kids have when they learn a new language. I believe that children learn language best by playing in a natural environment.
¡Hola! Mi nombre es Patricia Stender. I am from Ecuador, and I was born in the city of Cuenca, one of the most beautiful cities in Latin America, famous for its baroque architecture and its four rivers. I graduated from college as a nurse and worked in a local hospital for a while. A few years later, I completed a master’s degree for teachers in Spanish Linguistics. I am incredibly grateful to teach Spanish to children, youth, and adults here in the U.S. I am proud to work at Bright Loritos and be part of such a fantastic team of language educators. I will make every effort to contribute to an incredible journey of learning and growth for all of my Spanish students.
¡Hola! Mi nombre es Alejandra Hernandez, and I am from Puebla, Mexico. In Mexico, I studied communications at Iberoamericana University. I worked in the radio industry and managed a family business in Puebla. I have a Michigan CDA certification, and I have been teaching preschoolers for many years. I enjoy interacting with my students and teaching them about my language and culture. In my spare time, I enjoy running and spending time with my husband and two children.
¡Hola! Mi nombre es Arley. I am from Venezuela. I studied at the University of Los Andes in the touristic city of Merida. I obtained my Bachelor of Laws and Master of Land Development Laws. In my country, I also worked as a preschool substitute teacher. I moved to Michigan in 2014 with my family. I discovered my passion for teaching my native language when I started to teach it to my children. I am convinced that bilingual people have more opportunities to succeed. I am currently pursuing a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential. I am happy and proud to work at Bright Loritos as a Spanish teacher.
Marhaba! My name is Lubna Hana. I am from Iraq, Baghdad. I have a B.A. degree in Elementary education and 25 years of experience working as an elementary teacher. I am passionate about volunteering in churches teaching children and teenagers in need. My goal is to allow children to have a great learning experience in my classroom and always have fun while learning. Embracing this belief has a profound effect on what and how I teach. I am so lucky and happy to be part of the Bright Loritos team, which I consider my multilingual family.