Being multilingual, I'm often asked where I was born or if my parents come from some distant land, and even if I was apart of a military family.  However, I'd like to think that having a knack for acquiring foreign languages is in my DNA, if you will.  Undoubtedly, I recognize that I am gifted from above to grasp other tongues with ease, but my upbringing and life experiences have both served as a catalyst in this process.

My roots primarily lie in the lower Sea Coast Islands of South Carolina and neighboring counties, spilling over into the Savannah, Georgia region. Having grown up in these communities, it was common to hear the rich sounds of authentic Gullah, a historically recognized Creole language.  Thus, I found myself interpreting speech patterns from times past for as long as I can recall. 

All of this lent itself to peaking my interest in linguistics as a child. Around 8 years, I determined that I would learn French, as prompted by a dear family friend. Yet, it wasn't until my tenth grade year that I actually embarked upon this childhood dream. From there, I  obtained a Bachelors of Art and Masters Degree from Winthrop University and The University of Northern Iowa, respectively.

Twice I was selected to participate in a study abroad program in France which once entailed living with a French family. While I was already fluent, it gave me the opportunity to further absorb the language through immersion.  From there, I was blessed to learn Spanish and taught it simultaneously while working at my very first assignment, in a magnet school as part of an International Baccalaureate program in  Charlotte,
North Carolina.

 These latter experiences highlighted the importance of the natural approach which is the premise for my thoughtfully designed programs, both face to face and virtually. My heart continually lies with education in serving and connecting others. Thus, it is my desire via Low Country Language Institute to provide language lessons that "stick" through a variety of integrative methods.

Let me know if you'd like to enroll today.