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Elena Porten

Development

education

BA, Spanish & International Studies, Seattle University

Donde una puerta se cierra, otra se abre » When one door closes, another one opens – Miguel de Cervantes

Elena is a Spring Street alumna. She received her B.A. from Seattle University in Spanish and International Studies in 2010. Elena has a WFR certificate from NOLS and has co-led SSIS Cascade backcountry trips and international trips to Central America. Elena lived in Mexico and Chile during college. Her passion for the Spanish language comes from her heritage and love of travel. She has traveled to several other Spanish-speaking countries including Spain, Cuba, Costa Rica, and Argentina and she has a large, extended family in Mexico City. In 2013/2014, Elena lived and taught ESL in Cusco, Peru. She received her TEFL certificate from a language academy that focuses on practical teaching skills, including lesson planning, classroom management, and learning styles. In the past, Elena has worked as a kayak guide, yoga instructor, and ski instructor. She enjoys being in educational atmospheres that are collaborative and experiential.

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One time in class, I cried about the injustice of being dyslexic in this world. My teacher told me that she was going to make me a writer. She told me to pace around her classroom and talk to her about all the things I wished I was able to write over the years. She put the power back in my hands to be able to articulate myself using words, and I had gone my whole life without ever experiencing that.

Georgia

Alumna, Class of 2019