At Castilla, we are passionate about learning Spanish language and culture. We offer a variety of courses for all levels, from beginner to advanced, with the goal of helping our students achieve their language goals.
Address
Friendly Company 30 Thessaloniki 54621
Phone
+30 2310 261 241
Email
info@castilla.gr
My name is Elena Mourelatu Santamaria, born in Madrid, bilingual, with a Greek father and a Spanish mother. In 1988 my parents opened the Centre for Spanish Studies CASTILLI, located at 30, Filiki Etaireia Street, with just two classrooms. Within a few years, the response was so great that they expanded to two floors and a second annex at the same time. I grew up in this space, a Center for Spanish Studies that combined at the same time with the learning of Spanish exclusively and Spanish-speaking culture, the atmosphere of a familiar and warm space, like a home, a Spanish-speaking house in the heart of Thessaloniki.
I graduated in Spanish Literature with a Master's degree in Teaching Spanish to Foreigners (2005) and started working as a Spanish teacher. At the same time, I was certified by the Instituto Cervantes of Spain as an oral language examiner for Spanish Language degrees at all levels and by the Ministry of Education of the Hellenic State as an oral language examiner for State Certificates of Language Proficiency at all levels (2009-2013).
In 2004, before settling in Thessaloniki, I worked as a teacher of Spanish at the University Rey Juan Carlos and at a Language Learning Centre in Madrid. I had students of many nationalities but my love for Greece brought me to Thessaloniki. My master's thesis, for this reason, is Teaching Spanish to students whose native language is Greek.
Since 2005 I have been teaching Spanish in small classes here in Thessaloniki. In 2013 I attended the courses in language teaching through online platforms from the Instituto Cervantes "Competencia Digital II. Dirección de cursos en red y gestión de contenidos digitales, Instituto Cervantes" and was certified as a teacher in online courses. So since 2017 we have been putting online courses into practice at our Centre, culminating in the pandemic season.
Every year I take part in training seminars for Spanish teachers as well as in courses at Spanish Universities.
I speak English, a little French and German. Spanish is my mother tongue and I learned Greek at a fairly young age. I love teaching my language to people of different nationalities and I find it magical how language and culture can be exchanged.
I have also been a member of the Panhellenic Association of Translators since 2014.
In my spare time, I enjoy fitness, travel, dancing and volunteering.
