Our Team

Originally from a town near Cartagena, in Murcia, Virginia moved to Barcelona with her family at a young age. She began teaching at Speakeasy in October 2022, where she discovered her passion for teaching Spanish to foreigners. Virginia finds joy in the cultural exchange that teaching provides, learning as much as she imparts. In her free time, she enjoys the company of her family, friends, and cats. Among her favorite spots in Barcelona are Plaça Felip Neri and the Faculty of Philology at the University of Barcelona.

Originally from Barcelona, Joan has been at Speakeasy since 2017. His favorite thing about being a Spanish teacher is getting to know his students over time. In his free time you can find him hanging out in his favorite Barcelona neighborhood, Sants, in the plaza de Osca. He´s a real music buff, his favorite genres being rock n' roll and punk.

Ana is from Barcelona. Her favorite thing about being a Spanish teacher is seeing the progress from when they arrive to the school and can only say "hola" and just a couple of months later be able to express their opinions. In her free time she enjoys going to the cinema and exploring the surroundings of Barcelona with friends on weekends.

Our beloved Spanish teacher Beatriz! She, and all her family, are from Barcelona. Bea started her teaching career back in 2005 where she was a volunteer teacher for an NGO. She's been part of the Speakeasy team since 2012. In her free time, Bea likes going to the cinema (she's a big movie buff), reading, and dancing to 80s music. She also loves to eat and cook, like all Spaniards, she says!

Leticia is from a small town just south of León, Valencia de Don Juan. She always loved Barcelona for the structure of its streets, the diversity of cultures, and its people. Her work is her passion, she adores teaching young learners up to adult learners. She believes that teaching Spanish is perfect because she loves not only teaching students, but learning from them. Her passions include hiking, getting lost in the city, swimming, and eating, although she says she hates cooking!

Ana Eva is originally from Madrid but came to Barcelona in 2008 for work and has been living in our favourite city since. She has been a teacher in Speakeasy since 2016. Ana Eva loves the beaches and Montjuic in Barcelona and in her free time she enjoys walking her dog, Lola, going hiking, doing sports, and taking photos.

Verónica is from Huesca, a small city in Spain close to the Pyrenees mountains. She loves sharing her language with students from different cultures and seeing their evolution and how they can communicate in Spanish. Hiking and cycling are her passions and she loves climbing up Barcelona´s Montjuic for its amazing views of the city.

Soren is our Director at Speakeasy. Originally from Copenhagen, Soren has been in Barcelona since 2000 and started Speakeasy in 2001. The lovely warm and sunny mediterranean climate and the nearby mountains are his favorite things about the city. Soren is a collector of hobbies including running, skiing, biking, motorbikes, sportscars and believe it or not he is a Major Marathon finisher!

Jiawen is from Beijing and has lived in Barcelona for three years. She came for a master’s degree and stayed for the sunshine, sea breeze, and hidden corners of the city. She loves discovering new cafés, picking up hobbies, and spending time in her favorite neighborhood, Gracia. Having been an international student herself, she enjoys supporting others on that journey and finds joy in how language and culture connect people.

Xingchen is from China but has been residing in Spain since 2018. Eager to embrace new experiences, she is enthusiastic about learning different languages and travelling. The refreshing sea breeze of Catalonia holds a special place in her heart, reminiscent of her hometown, Dalian. During her leisure moments, you can find her at the gym or savoring a café con leche on a sunlit terrace.

Meet Yasmin! After studying and working in London for 8 years, she decided it was time for a change and moved to sunny Barcelona. Originally from Brazil, she's now the Operations Manager and a Student Advisor at Speakeasy. She's always worked at educational institutions and loves being able to work with people from all over the world.

Mario is Cuban, from Cienfuegos. He arrived in Barcelona in 2005 with his family and has lived in Spain ever since. He started working at Speakeasy in the summer of 2023, first as an intern and then as a teacher. He enjoys his work and the growth opportunities he has found at Speakeasy. In his free time, he likes to read, watch manga and anime, and hang out with his friends. He loves the peaceful places in Barcelona, such as the gardens of Montjuïc and the bubble tea cafés.

Sara, a native of Barcelona, has always been driven by a desire to broaden her worldview and embrace continuous learning. An avid enthusiast of hiking and sports, she finds joy in quality time with family and exploring new destinations through travel. Among her favorite places in Barcelona is the Carretera de les Aigües, a spot that allows for a picturesque walk while providing a breathtaking view of the city from above.

Originally from Zalamea de la Serena, a small town in the province of Badajoz, María moved to Barcelona in 2024 for love. She began teaching at Speakeasy that same year. She loves helping students gain confidence in Spanish and enjoys learning from their cultures in return. In her free time, she enjoys music, reading, nature, and board games. Her favorite place in the city to disconnect is the Passeig de les Aigües.

Originally from Siberia, Sophie moved to Barcelona two years ago to do a Masters program on art and cultural management here in Barcelona. She is passionate about photography, art, architecture, gastronomy and jazz. Sophie also has an affinity for working with her hands - be it ceramics, painting, or making candles.

Fern hails from the United Kingdom and has lived in sunny Barcelona for three years. You can find her spending her afternoons walking around the city with her camera in hand. She is happiest when exploring Spain with her dog, Chile. In her free time, she is constantly on the hunt for good food and dog-friendly spots in Barcelona!

Eva is from La Torre de l'Espanyol, a small town near the Ebro river in the South of Catalonia. She loves her work! Being a part of the progress of her students, to see how they evolve is highly satisfying. Her favorite neighborhood in Barcelona is the Gothic area, for its architecture and history and the charm that reflects what was and still is Barcelona.

Marielle grew up in Austin, Texas with an Argentinian mother and Dutch father. She decided to come to Barcelona to get better acquainted with her European side and improve her Spanish. Fast forward seven years and she’s still here and loving it! In her free time you can find her enjoying a vermut in the plazas of Grácia, practicing yoga or exploring Barcelona by bicycle.

Irene is from Santa Perpètua de Mogoda, a town near Barcelona in the Vallès Occidental area. Witnessing her students' progression, fostering meaningful connections, and gaining insights into diverse countries and cultures are the aspects she cherishes most about teaching. During her leisure time, Irene enjoys reading a variety of books, and indulges in her passion for listening to and performing music.

Javier is originally from Badalona with roots in Andalucia, especially Granada. He started at Speakeasy in 2019 and says it's the school that has most facilitated his growth as a teacher. His favorite part of teaching foreigners is how fulfilling the relationships with students is and learning about different customs and cultures. His interests include YouTube, cinema, games, literature, music, and socializing.

Cristina comes from Burgos but has lived in many Spanish cities like Valladolid, Madrid, and now Barcelona. Seeing students progression and the cultural exchange that happens in group classes is her favorite thing about being a teacher. You can find Cristina reading historic and crime novels and listening to indie music like Dorian in her freetime.

Xavi was born and raised in Barcelona. He loves that teaching allows him to be creative while meeting people from all over the world. Sharing a part of his culture with his students and learning from them about their cultures is one of the most gratifying things for him. Xavi loves plaza del Diamant and Felip Neri not only for their beauty but for the important parts of Barcelona´s history that they represent.

Cristina comes from the beautiful island of Ibiza and has been with Speakeasy since 2012. She loves learning about her students who come from all over the world. Barcelona´s Forum is her favorite place to hang out in her free time. She´s a big fan of music and bicycles.