Today we’d like to introduce you to Roxana McElearney.
Hi Roxana, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My name is Roxana McElearney. I came to this country when I just turned 21. I joined the U.S. Navy and married a U.S. Marine. I had no intentions to go to school until my husband left for his first deployment, and I had a newborn baby “Dinita”. I realized I need a career as I was scared that my husband might not come back from one of his deployments plus having a baby was a big responsibility and I decided to go back to school. At first, I didn’t know what to study; however, I saw the need in my family of the English/Spanish communication as my parents couldn’t communicate with my husband. Therefore, I started interpreting for them and I became a bridge of communication between the English/Spanish language. After that, I realized it was fun to go from English to Spanish and from Spanish to English interpreting. It took around 6 years to get my associates degree with moves, getting pregnant again, being a mom, a wife and a student plus every single college required new classes so, I accumulated a great deal of credits trying to get my first degree. Meanwhile, I decided to use my husband as my guinea pig to teach him Spanish and I did fantastic, and he started to communicate very well with my parents. After that, in 2006, I got pregnant again and waited a couple of years and I decided to teach Spanish because I loved the fact of interpreting and translating and teaching Spanish to my husband and children. I started teaching Spanish in an elementary private school which I was able to see my kids throughout the day as they attended that school. In 2008, I started my bachelor’s degree in human development and graduated in 2010. I kept teaching Spanish and raising my children as my husband kept going on long deployments. In 2013, my husband got orders to Cherry Point, NC as the Sargeant Major of the base and we moved to North Carolina. I kept teaching Spanish but one day I shared with my husband that even though my native language is Spanish it will be better if I have a master’s degree in Spanish just in case. Eventually, as my children grew up, I realized I will become an empty nester, and I will be alone. I had problems with depression every time my husband deployed, and I was aware that I needed to make sure I take care of myself in the years coming as all my children were going to graduate high school and move out eventually. First, I kept working while doing my master’s degree online but then I decided to stop working while doing my master’s. I thought that because I was a native speaker and a Spanish teacher it was going to be very easy to get a masters degree. I was wrong. It was very challenging, but I didn’t quit, and my husband, children and parents were very proud of me. In December of 2024 at 48 years old, I graduated with my master’s degree in Spanish from UNCW. I already had the experience to teach online as a teacher of record for the school to undergraduates and had the experience of an internship plus as a conversation center instructor. You see…New Bern is a small town, and the only place you can work as a Spanish teacher is the community college, otherwise, you have to drive to other cities at least 50 minutes or so. I applied several times at the community college since I got 18 credits on me at UNCW but never got a call for an interview even after I graduated. I mentioned several times to my family, friends, and students that I should open my own Spanish language school or center. One day my daughter Dinita told me: MOM JUST DO IT!!! DO NOT BE SCARED!!! I had a dream one night that it will be named “The Spanish Center”. After that, I decided to open The Spanish Center. I realized that I have nothing to lose and that I will succeed as I am a Spanish native speaker and have now a master’s degree….I decided to become a bridge like once I did with my parents and my husband but with the English speakers’ community and the Spanish language. Today, I offer Spanish teaching, Spanish tutoring, Spanish conversation and English/Spanish and vice versa Interpretation and Translation services. In person and online & for all ages as I have now the experience teaching in elementary, middle, high school, and university. It has not been easy but because I have family and friends always cheering me up, I keep going. It is fun. Now the community college want me to teach for them, and I just accepted a position as online teaching at UNCW too. I still feel sometimes is difficult without my children at home, but I visit them at least once a month. My two boys Paul and Luis are like 5 hours away driving in the same university and thanks God Dinita is here in New Bern as well as my parents that moved from California to stay closed to us.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has not been a smooth road. Trying to raise my children and going to school at the same time has been the most difficult thing I have done in my life. First, because for me family comes first and second, I didn’t like to study. It took me 22 years from start to finish my master’s degree, and it was definitely a challenge. Having my husband deployed a lot was not just difficult on me with depression but also for my children. I had to understand that I had to be a rock for my children, become their example, and become positive even when I didn’t feel it. I had to force myself out of bed and put a smile on my face and repeat myself every morning: I got this, I can do this, smile, everything is going to be ok. I had to fight with myself to keep going forward for my family. My parents helped me a lot when my children were younger. They were like 2 minutes away from my house all our lives. I learned from my mother to put a positive attitude even when the circumstances were not the best and find little things in life that made me happy. I learned to live one day at a time without thinking how I will feel tomorrow. Eventually, I realized that I was strong and that I was able to do anything I put my mind on. Another struggle was being Hispanic and having such a thick accent because people usually think: ohhhh she doesn’t understand, or we can take advantage of her for different situations. I am a U.S. citizen, but some people do not know that and believe that they can take advantage of me.
A struggle to opening The Spanish Center was and still is the managing of the company as a business. I am still learning how to do paperwork and deal with the taxes, receipts, etc. I have no experience on that, so that is somehow difficult and challenging.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At THE SPANISH CENTER, I provide a full range of Spanish language services in person and on-line: -SPANISH TEACHING: Engaging group classes and customized one-on-one private lessons for all ages and skill levels.
-SPANISH TUTORING: One-on-one support to help students excel in their Spanish studies.
-SPANISH CONVERSATION CLUB: Spanish Conversation practice. Engaging in dialogues on different topics; such as, Conversational Spanish for travel or a specific interest. Tailored to your specific needs.
-ENGLISH/SPANISH INTERPRETATION & TRANSLATION: Professional interpretation & translation services for conferences, meetings, medical appointments, and legal proceedings for businesses, healthcare providers, and legal professionals.
I am most proud of our commitment to authentic cultural immersion. I don’t just teach vocabulary; I transport our students to the heart of Spanish-speaking cultures through our conversations, food, and a native-speaking teacher. That’s an experience no one else can match.
My philosophy of education is to enjoy innovative teaching, curriculum design, and teamwork while educating each student differently as a unique person. I believe that a key element in the foreign language classroom is keeping the students motivated. My personal style of teaching brings enthusiasm, cultural elements, and technology into the classroom. My primary goal as a Spanish teacher is to make learning the Spanish language attainable and enjoyable. Despite the belief that some students are not good at languages, I want my students to understand that learning a second language is not out of reach. I teach with a smile and open personality to interact with my students and guide them through their learning process. I use their unique learning style to teach and show them in different ways how to learn Spanish. As a Spanish teacher, Spanish tutor, interpreter, and translator, I create and model effective practices for students to use the target language outside the classroom for future career and life situations.
I am most proud brand wise that I am a native Spanish speaker and a U.S. veteran with a master’s degree that I can put in use to help others like I once I helped my parents and my husband to communicate with each other. I have become a bridge of learning between the English speaking culture and the Spanish speaking culture.
I have a supporting community in New Bern that helps me achieve my goals including my family and friends.
I want the readers to know that if you sign up for Spanish classes with The Spanish Center you will have a digital reading website subscription included and the opportunity to join the Spanish Conversation Club zoom sessions that I manage to practice with other students. Also, I would like them to check my website for more information: www.thespanishcenter.com. They can also follow me in Linkedln, TikTok, Instagram, facebook, YouTube at thespanishcenternc.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
That dreams can come true if you put your mind and sprit to it. I will say: “Querer es poder y Poder es vencer” which means: If you really want something, you can conquer it if you put your mind to it. Like wanting is getting it and getting it is conquering. A second lesson: Even if you fall, which you will and several times…you have to get up and keep going, keep trying, keep persevering even if you do not see results right away. You need to be patient and stay positive and keep going.
Pricing:
- $65 One-on-one lessons (1 hour): -Conversation sessions included besides the one hour class. -flangoo.com: a service that provides digital readers for Spanish including native audio, comprehension questions, & vocabulary. -Levels: Beginners to Advanced. -All ages welcome. -Classes available in person and online. -Homework given each class.
- $45 3-5 students lessons (1 hour): -Conversation sessions included besides the one hour class. -Flangoo.com: a service that provides digital readers for Spanish including native audio, comprehension question, & vocabulary. -Levels: Beginners to Advanced. -Classes available in person and online. -All ages welcome. -Homework given each class.
- $30 Conversation club (30 minutes): -Spanish Conversation practice. Engaging in dialogues on different topics; such as, Conversational Spanish for travel or a specific interest. Tailored to your specific needs. -Levels: Beginners to Advanced. -All ages welcome. -In person and online. -Social gathering with literary undertones (Tertulia de Español).
- $50 One-on-one tutoring (1 hour): One-on-one tutoring offered in person and on-line for all ages and all levels. Hitting a snag on a particular topic from your Spanish class? I will be your supporting system designed to clarify and solidify that specific concept you are finding challenging. I will provide a clear alternative explanation of the concept using different analogies or visual aids to help. I will break it down in a way that resonates with your individual learning style.
- $100 Interpretation (2 hours) in New Bern. Contact me for surrounding areas. Available for meetings, conferences, medical appointments, and legal proceedings.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thespanishcenter.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/thespanishcenternc
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thespanishcenternc
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/thespanishcenternc
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSpanishCenterNC
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-spanish-center-new-bern?osq=the+spanish+center
- Other: linktr.ee/thespanishcenternc
