María Fernanda Acuña, English Teacher

María Acuña, a Venezuelan-American residing in Santiago, Chile, possesses 18 years of teaching experience in Spanish and English. With a B.A. in Hispanic Studies, an M.A. in English and American Literature, and an AA in Hotel Management, Maria holds Bridge certifications, including a 40-hour TEFL and C2 CERF. For five years, she has contributed to Bridge’s interactive and student-centered environment. Maria’s teaching philosophy prioritizes a friendly and tailored approach, incorporating students’ interests and needs. Adopting a quasi-journalistic role, she learns about students’ lives to create contextualized language connections. Specializing in Business English due to her Hotel Management background, Maria finds fascination in understanding business dynamics. She shares a success story where patience and tailored exercises transformed a reluctant student, initially stressed about English classes, into an appreciative learner who successfully met his company’s language requirements.