About
Learning a new language really can open a door to the world. Authentic Lingo can guide you every step of the way.
How We Teach
Our approach to language learning is a bit different than you'll find anywhere else, and combines the best of effective approaches.
Authentic Lingo's approach simply works better. Here's why.
Welcome to Authentic Lingo
I'm Mary Ellen
I’m your teacher for the Authentic Lingo courses, and am thrilled to meet you! I have a passion for effective communication and continued skill development, and have been a lifetime student of languages. My CV is available online for details, and I have decades of experience in teaching French and Spanish in various educational settings. Through living overseas for a few years I gained a natural French accent, learned culture and developed the ear for French language cadence onsite in Switzerland and Algeria.
My Background
Out of a desire to engage learners creatively and effectively, I earned a degree in both French and Spanish with a lifetime Texas certification in secondary education. Noticing a large gap between the active, immersive learning I had experienced and the static, textbook based classes most people go through, I employed a right-brain oriented, communication-focused approach that I have honed for many years. After seeing solid success for my students with a wide range of learning styles in public and private schools, I developed an original curriculum for home schooling and adult learning – with the goal of providing a vibrant and effective option for foreign language development.
Real World Language Application
My husband and I learned volumes about homeschooling as we took our children through high school as homeschoolers, (living in northern Montana at the time it was a solid choice!) where they not only excelled academically but learned many practical skills. Among them, problem solving and how to apply what they learned in real life. They both own their own successful businesses now.
A second career as a manager and trainer in the outdoor retail industry further convinced me of the extreme value of excellent communication skills and hands-on learning. Associates were energized and grew in their sales skills quickly as I presented multi-faceted training with a goal of making the work relevant to their needs. It seems that no matter the team or subject material the spark of student engagement (active participation) and feedback via conversation generates positive results!
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