Spanish Learning Center Instructors

Brenda Saenz-Summers is from the highlands of Guatemala,
from Huehuetenango. She has lived in Guatemala most of her
life.

She began learning English in 1983 when she came to
Oklahoma for an exchange student program. Later, she
attended the University of Alabama to further her English
studies and also to pursue a degree in Nutrition. Brenda
returned to Guatemala, where she taught English to Spanish
speakers at the National University in Guatemala City as well
as Spanish to English and French speakers through private
instruction. She also spent many years providing nutrition
counseling in the poor, rural villages of Guatemala as well as
in different institutions in Guatemala City. After that, Brenda
received a postgraduate degree in Food and Nutrition Security
in The Netherlands. She was completing a Master's degree in
Public Health when she decided to move to the United States.

Since coming to the U.S., almost seven years ago, she has
been teaching Spanish in community-based classes in the
Phoenix area. At this point, she has 19 years of experience
teaching Spanish and English. She knows the subtleties of
each language and culture. She also has vast experience
teaching small and large groups as well as teaching private
lessons and tutoring.

Brenda also studied Spanish Linguistics and English-Spanish
Translation at ASU.