Hernán Ojeda joined The Language Learning Institute in January 2024, where he was trained in the Institute’s unique methodology for teaching Spanish as a second language. Born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina’s most populous state, Hernán continues to reside there today.
His language learning journey spans over 15 years, during which he has interacted with people of diverse ages, nationalities, and accents. Hernán first studied English under the guidance of his aunt, eventually earning his certification from the Asociación Argentina de Cultura Inglesa. He later taught English to children at the same institution.
In addition to his role as a language teacher, Hernán also supports The Language Learning Institute by creating marketing materials and offering graphic design expertise. He has found great fulfillment in teaching, and he deeply values the determination of those seeking to expand their knowledge and cultural understanding through learning a new language.
Outside of the classroom, Hernán enjoys graphic design, learning about politics, and spending time with friends and family.
Ken Slack joined the Language Learning Institute in 2020 after a short stint in retirement. Prior to that, he had a 40 year career at a global chemical company retiring in 2018 as Senior Director of Engineering. Working with people from 13 different countries and cultures, he has a great appreciation for the value of language learning to promote cultural understanding. At the Language Learning Institute, Ken is responsible for ensuring that the teachers as well as other staff members have the materials and information to achieve their goals.
His other interests include fishing, motorcycling, mineral collecting and herpetology.
Bruce Vandewater has been with The Language Learning Institute since 2014. He volunteers his time each month to host the French Table on the 3rd Wednesday. He enjoys spending time with others to speak French. Bruce developed a passion for the French language as a child. During high school and college he continued with that passion to receive his Bachelor of Arts degree in French from the State University of New York at Potsdam. To complete his course study, Bruce spent his final academic year in Grenoble, France. He remains in contact with his French pen pal family from his teenage years and last visited the family in France in 2014. Currently, Bruce is a Senior Customer Coach at Sports Engine, an online youth sports registration platform.
His other interests include camping, biking, traveling, working on his house/yard and spending time with family, friends and his cat.
Gail Butler and Nancy Schear
Sisters Gail and Nancy moved with their family to South America in 1958, when Gail was 7 years old. They lived in Arequipa, Peru and in Quito and Otavalo, Ecuador. They returned to the US when Gail was 13. Gail didn’t have much opportunity to speak Spanish until she went to college where she studied Spanish literature. Gail graduated with a BA in Spanish and elementary Education. She had several jobs where she used Spanish. Gail was a Farm Representative and her job was to visit farms and canning factories to inform the workers of their farmworker rights. She also taught English at a canning factory and helped a student prepare to take the GED in Spanish. Gail was thrilled to find the Spanish meetup groups as I enjoy speaking Spanish.
Gail’s sister Nancy has the same background in South America. She was 9 when they went to Peru and 15 when They returned. She did not study Spanish in the US, but she used her Spanish as a nurse Practitioner at Latinx medical clinics in Georgia. When she retired she moved to the city of Merida, Yucatan, Mexico for 5 years. She recently moved back to the US. Nancy participates in Spanish meetup groups in Columbia, Maryland and teaches English to immigrants from Central America.
