Thank you for your curiosity and welcome to Touri.
I’d like to tell you why I started Touri and the inspiration behind it. Let’s go back a number of years when I was required to take Spanish in school. For whatever the reason, I just didn’t seem to grasp any of the concepts and ultimately failed the class. I never thought I would be able to learn Spanish or any language for that matter. Many years later I was bitten by the travel bug. I couldn’t get enough of the world and all of the hidden gems just waiting to be found. To date I have traveled to 29 countries.
While living in Buenos Aires, Argentina I had the opportunity to teach English in businesses such as IBM, Xerox and Proctor & Gamble to name a few. I discovered how fulfilling it was to be able to teach students and watch them progress with the knowledge I bestowed upon them. SO AMAZING. I realized that to learn any language it has to be fun and engaging. There is a set of 1000 words that one should learn in order establish a foundation to be understood. From there it’s just building blocks and expanding on your own curiosity and willingness to learn.
Having lived in numerous Spanish speaking countries, I would dream, speak and think in Spanish effortlessly. I became enamored with the culture, food, language and most importantly the people. The Spanish and Latin American people are so passionate about their culture and developing true, deep personal relationships that I was captivated.
When I finally came back to the United States to finish college. I felt culture shock in my own country and over time I realized I was losing my ability to recall simple vocabulary. The feeling was.. empty. Nostalgia ensued. I decided to create a schedule to call my friends on a weekly basis not only to stay in touch, but to practice the language.
I started Touri because I want to be able to share my teaching passion with the world. To pull back the veil of close mindedness and live fully through a new set of eyes. If you think you have experienced life, I encourage all of you to learn a new language. It’s as if you have been living blind. Learning a new language is so much more than grammar and communication; its the ability to immerse yourself in an unimaginable culture fill with new experiences, food, jokes, passion, ideas, creativity, and a sense of openness.
These experiences led me to start this website and create fun and engaging language learning materials. I hope you find them useful on your journey to becoming fluent.