About Little Lingoes | Spanish or Mandarin Chinese classes

About Us

MISSION
OWNERS
TEACHERS

Little Lingoes is a learning center dedicated to bringing foreign language and culture to young children. Our center is founded on the belief that a child’s natural capacity and desire to learn is the perfect time to introduce a second language, as well as to teach communication skills and cultural awareness.

We strongly believe in the validity of teaching language by the immersion method. By using teachers from their country of origin and having them communicate to your child as much as possible in the native language, our goal is to help your child learn to speak with the accent and fluency of a native.

All of our instructors are native speakers from their country of origin and with training or experience working with children. All take great pride in their heritage and have a passion to teach in a manner that embraces both their culture and language.

As a result, children are exposed to the wonderful enlightenment of learning language and culture in a real-life experience. Along with becoming bi-lingual, they learn to appreciate the large and small cultural differences of living and working within today’s every growing international community. It’s one of life’s lessons that can never be learned too young.

OUR MISSION:

To introduce parents to the rewarding benefits of learning other languages and the different cultures of the world, through our efforts to:

1. Be aware of the small world we live in, and recognize and appreciate all its people and cultures.

2. Stimulate mental and social development by introducing languages to young children in a fun and engaging atmosphere.

3. Promote the concept of learning other languages and cultures to the community starting with our children.

4. Teach the importance of learning a second language at an early age and having language instructors that are native speakers from the country of origin.

WHO WE ARE: Sue Goetcheus, LBSW, & Vanessa Sturr Ollar

Sue Goetcheus and Vanessa Sturr Ollar both shared the passion to teach their children a 2nd language. Faced with few choices in the Upstate of South Carolina that fit their child’s learning style or schedule, they decided to use their combined professional experience, over 40 years of management/industry and experience working with children in a variety of capacities, to develop their own language center.

After extensive research, they were able to find and further fine tune a curriculum that perfectly suited their vision – Little Lingoes! Presently the program is offered in two languages: 1. Spanish 2. Mandarin Chinese. The current programs are suitable for ages 2-8, with older child classes in development. Little Lingoes also expects to offer private tutoring, on-site classes, and additional languages in the future.

MEET OUR TEACHERS
Hong Lee is from Beijing, China. Ms. Lee has a masters degree in Chinese Classic literature where she worked in Beijing before moving to the United States. Ms. Lee worked in New Your City where she gained over 10 years of experience helping to develop various mandarin immersion programs.
Catherine Chang Con is from Taipei, Taiwan and has an English Literature Bachelor of Arts degree from Fu-Jen Catholic University in Taipei, and a master degree in Computer Science from Louisiana State University. Ms. Con has been an instructor at USC Upstate and Greenville Tech. She also has experience tutoring business professionals, families and children in Mandarin Chinese.
SPANISH Nancy Sharff was born in Bogotá – Colombia, and moved to the United States in 2001. Ms. Sharff has worked with children in the Greenville County School System for five years and teaching Spanish at BrookWood Academy in Simpsonville, SC. Nancy has a BA in Business Administration from Inpahu University and Assoc. Degree from St.Thomas of Aquinos University in Environmental and Natural Resources.
Dulce Villagrana is from Mexico and has a BA degree from the University of the Américas-Puebla, Mexico After working some years as engineer, Mrs. Villagrana started working as middle school teacher for private schools in Mexico. After arriving to the USA, she gained experience working for schools at Michigan and Texas districts as a pre-K paraprofessional and tutor. Ms. Villagrana has training in techniques with intergration of ESL and classroom management.
Ana Ortiz is from Puerto Rico. Ms. Ortiz has worked for the Department of Education in Greenville County for 4 years and has several years of experience teaching Spanish to children of all ages. Ms. Ortiz has a BA from the InterAmerican University of Puerto Rico in Marketing and is presently continuing on to get her MBA.
Ana Maria Sterr is from Puebla, México. She has a BS degree from the University de las Americas – Puebla in Industrial Engineering. Ms. Sterr worked in the automotive industry for several years. Ms. Sterr moved to the United States with her husband, and desired to put into practice her teaching skills, and sharing her native language with children. Ms Sterr continues to teach students at a local private school as well as Little Lingoes. Ms. Sterr enjoys working with children, and her experience as Spanish teacher has been very rewarding.