More than Spanish is an organization dedicated to promoting the teaching, study and use of the Spanish language in Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire. Our goal is to provide students with a positive and fun first exposure to the Spanish language and its culture.

We use the Natural Approach technique that follows the natural pattern of first language acquisition. It allows the comprehension of the second language before the speech production. The focus is on communication (speaking) instead of form. Speech will emerge naturally when the student is ready, much as it does with children learning to speak their native language.

Our lessons are constructed around five elements: Physical response, songs, games, hands-on activities and culture.

More than Spanish has a professional team of native Spanish speaking "profesores" with University education in a broad number of fields including Psychology, Languages, Elementary Education, and Adult Education. We regularly hold training sessions to improve our teaching methods and incorporate the feedback we receive from students into our classes.

Partial List of Clients
Presently, our programs are available throughout the North Shore and Merrimac Valley in Masachusetts and Southern New Hampshire, in more than 25 participating schools. Listed below is a sampling of our long time clients:

Veronica Wood - Director/ Owner
Veronica Wood was born and raised in Quito, Ecuador where, in 1992, she received her BS in Child Psychology from the Catholic University of Quito. In Ecuador, Veronica worked for several years as a School Psychologist for grades one through six. She was also the coordinator of various International Exchange Students' Programs. In 2000, she moved to the United States where she began teaching Spanish and funded her own language program based upon her extensive experience, intensive training in several methods of children's education and her background as a native speaker. Currently, she is completing a Master's Program in Business Administration at the IDE Business School in Quito Ecuador. Senora Veronica believes strongly that all children should have their first exposure to a second language as young as possible giving them the neural development that only takes place at an early age. She is dedicated to discovering new and innovative strategies that will engage and enrich young learners. Whether teaching or consulting, Veronica is an enthusiastic educator who continues to share both the joy of learning and an appreciation for language and culture with all her students and clients.

Cristina Meissner - Merrimac Valley Director
Born in Quito - Ecuador, Cristina has been teaching Spanish, French and English for over 10 years both in Ecuador and the United States. She graduated from the Central University of Ecuador with a degree in Languages and a Major in Tourism Administration. She obtained the TOELF Certificate of Proficiency in English as a Second Language from the University of California in San Diego and The Diploma De La Lengue Francaise from the Universite Carolique d' Angers in France. Cristina has taught foreign languages in many Pre-Schools and Elementary Schools in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. For Cristina and her husband Rainer, raising their son Nicholas in a bilingual environment has been a positive and rewarding experience.

Mariela Di Tullio - Academic Director/ Lead Teacher
Mariela was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina where she was a first grade teacher. She moved to the US in January 1999. She lived in New Jersey, Massachusetts and finally she found her place in East Derry, New Hampshire where she feels like home. She lives there with her husband and two sons. She is very involved in her kid's schools. She enjoys being around kids, adults and teaching them the importance of different languages and heritage. After two years with More Than Spanish she still amazes herself while hearing the students speaking, counting or singing in Spanish.

Jane Johnson - Business Administrator
Jane Johnson holds a bachelor's degree in Marketing and a Master of Science in Health Care Administration. She is a licensed Nursing Home Administrator but her current, and most important role to date, is being Mom to her two young daughters. "I became involved with More Than Spanish over a year ago as a parent, when I realized, how important it was to have my children exposed to a second language. I am now excited to coordinate programs in a variety of learning settings to give other children the same opportunity to learn a second language at a young age."

Mariana Gesualdi
Born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Mariana has been living in Newburyport for five years. She has taught infants and young children, as well as participated with them in different programs such as music classes, story time, playgroups, etc. "I had the chance to discover how much I enjoy spending my time with young children, how curious children are, and how fast they are able to learn. It is for this reason that I am so excited to be part of the More than Spanish program."

Regina Azucena
Gina recieved her MA in Spanish literature and has completed the Mtel certification to teach Spanish, English and Latin as foreign languages. She has traveled to Spain, Bolivia, Guatemala and Chile; and lived and worked for several years in El Salvador. She has teaching experience working with adults, children of many ages, has homeschooled her own children for 13 years using a bi-lingual approach, and has been with MTS for three years. She believes that children learn best in a hands-on, natural, and visual stimulating environment with plenty of encouragement and opportunity to express themselves creatively; and has found that "More Than Spanish" provides the perfect language-learning context.

Constanza Valdes
Constanza was Born and raised in Colombia, where she worked as a teacher assistant in an elementary school during her high school years and it was then when she realized her love for teaching. She started her studies on Education and Pedagogy at the Technological University of Pereira, Colombia. She worked for different education and research projects at this university. In June 2006, she moved to the United States where learning the English language she fall in love with languages and cultural heritage. Currently she lives in Manchester NH, and is studying Spanish at The University of New Hampshire. She is also interested on getting an ESL certification and a minor in French. During these years she has worked as a tutor and volunteer in different programs. Living in this country has helped her to realize the importance of language. It is because of her love for education and children that she enjoys teaching her language. That is why she is so excited to be part of the More Than Spanish program, where children "learn while having fun."

Marina Hardy
Marina was born in Madrid, Spain. Went to school at the British Institute and finished High School in Cambridge, UK and Sion, Switzerland. While she was working as a VIP hostess at Torrejon Air base, she met her husband who was stationed there as an air force pilot. After they got married, they moved to his hometown in Westfield, New Jersey. She become a commercial/instructor pilot and owned and operated a certified FAA flight school in St. Petersburg, Florida. Currently, she is finishing a Licensure in Psychology at the Universidad Nacional de Educacion a Distancia - UNED Madrid, Spain.

Donna Lodge
Donna Lodge was born in Gloucester, and was raised around education, with both parents in teaching positions. She pursued a degree in education at Philadelphia Biblical University, hoping to do her student-teaching abroad. Not only was she able to student-teach in Mexico (Aug. 2001-Oct. 2001), but also she enjoyed a month long trip to Ecuador during the summer after her sophomore year. After graduating from PBU in December of 2001, Donna returned to Mexico to teach in Puebla and lived there until June of 2003.  From 2003 – 2006 she taught at Faith Christian School in Gloucester, MA, but continued to enjoy various trips to Latin America.  She was a classroom teacher at FCS, but also provided Spanish classes for K4-8th grade. In 2006 Donna returned to Mexico again to teach at the Colegio Americano in Puebla. She taught 49 five to six year olds in a bilingual environment.  onna returned to the States in December of 2007. "I am very excited about teaching with More Than Spanish because I love the philosophy of having fun while learning!"