Communicating to Connect!
Hi, I'm Lucy
A certified CELTA English Teacher in Madrid, Spain, with 15 years of language training experience. I bring a holistic approach to language learning and teaching, as well as coaching tools to help learners overcome barriers and upskill their communication. I also use my academic background to provide proofreading and editing services to scholars and researchers who need their manuscripts polished before peer-review or publication.
As a shy Nicaraguan-American girl, growing up in the USA, I juggled two languages and cultures. I saw my mother struggle to learn English and face many language barriers without much help. This early experince showed me how crucial English and communication skills were, and it fueled my passion for languages and helping others like my mother to overcome their own learning challenges.
Over the course of my career, I have seen many learners who have been studying English for years but lack the confidence to speak up in meetings. I have also seen learners who have a good level but are being held back because they think their English isn't ¨good enough.¨
My mission is to help learners overcome these barriers and build their confidence and fluency as speakers so they can communicate clearly and effectively at work or in their daily life.
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❝Language is the home of being.❞
— Martin Heidegger
Professional bio
Lucy Maltez is a Celta Certified teacher and is working on her International Coaching Federation (ICF) certification to integrate coaching elements to language learning and training. Lucy believes in building more inclusive classrooms where diversity is valued, especially neurodiversity.
She is a life-long learner and has studied Italian, French, Portuguese, ancient Greek, and Latin— you never know when ancient Greek might come in handy.
In her 15 year career, Lucy has gone from being in academia and teaching Spanish to becoming an English teacher. In 2011, Lucy moved to Spain where she has been living and working for the past 12 years. She was a Head Teacher and Coordinator at an English academy, but she soon realized that her true vocation was teaching and creating personalized learning materials for students.
Lucy has taught at multinationals such as Deutsche Bank, Aerolineas Argentina, Mahou, and Air Liquide; Public Institutions like Bank of Spain, The Spanish Supreme Court ,The National Securities Market Commission (CNMV), as well as with other leading Spanish Companies.
Aside from teaching, Lucy is a grammar enthusiast and was copy editor for Frontiers of Biogeography for several years. She enjoys helping academics and researchers improve their writing. She collaborates with academics at the University of Málaga, University of Valencia, University of Alcalá de Henares, the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), among others.
Lucy has a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Spanish Literature from Trinity Christian College in Chicago, IL She was a Graduate Teacher Assistant and got a Masters of Arts in Spanish and Portuguese Language and Literature from the University of Kansas.
In her free time she loves swimming, learning about neuroscience, reading, and spending time with family and friends.