Beginner Portuguese for Younger Learners (Part 2)

Greetings! I'm Kristine Dizon, PhD, Founder & Head Teacher of the 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰 & 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 (MLLC). As both the course director and the creative force behind our curriculum, I've dedicated myself to crafting an innovative educational experience that merges my extensive background as a professional musician with my fervent belief in the transformative power of combining music and language education.

At MLLC, our teaching philosophy is anchored in a dynamic, interactive curriculum designed to inspire joy and passion in the learning journey. Our team comprises elite educators, each bringing 25-30 years of expertise in fostering growth and excellence in both virtual and traditional classroom settings.

We specialize in offering immersive, live online classes, bespoke individual tutoring, and flexible self-paced courses across French, Portuguese, and Spanish. Our instructors are not only native speakers but also certified educators committed to delivering a nuanced, culturally rich learning experience. Beyond language, MLLC is your gateway to an expansive suite of music education offerings, including theory, appreciation, ear training, and history. Furthermore, we provide specialized preparatory courses for esteemed music theory exams from the Royal Conservatory of Music, ABRSM, and Trinity College of Music.

Choosing MLLC means selecting a partner dedicated to enriching your educational path with quality, innovation, and a deep commitment to personal growth. We're thrilled to welcome you to our community. Thank you for entrusting your learning journey to us!

𝐁𝐢𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐬

🎵 𝗗𝗿. 𝗞𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝘇𝗼𝗻, 𝐏𝐡𝐃 🗣️ is Founder of the Music & Language Learning Center. Currently serves at the Banting Postdoctoral Fellow (2024-2026) at Concordia University, Montréal, she is also recipient of the Fulbright and Portuguese Science & Technology awards. She is an internationally known linguist, teacher, and professional musician who has taught on four continents. Her passion for service stemmed from her work as an AmeriCorps Vista Fellow. In her spare time, she likes to play with her pet rabbit, Señor Blanco.

 📚𝙀𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝘽𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙:
- 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐝𝐨𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰, Concordia University, 2024-2026
​- PhD in Cultural Studies, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Portugal as 𝑭𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒂çã𝒐 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒂 𝒂 𝒄𝒊ê𝒏𝒄𝒊𝒂 𝒆𝒕 𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒏𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒊𝒂 𝑺𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒂𝒓, 2016-2022 (suma cum laude)
- Advanced Professional Certificate in Music Theory and Analysis with distinction, Berklee College of Music, 2021-2022
- Executive Graduate Certificate in Social Entrepreneurship, Cultural Agency, Community Development, Organization Development, Design Thinking and Education Leadership, Global Leaders Program, 2021-2022
- Diplôme de direction d’orchestre, Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris, 2019-2020
- Prix de Perfectionnement, Conservatoire de Versailles, 2018-2020
- Postgraduate Diploma in Clarinet Performance ‘aluna extraordinaria’, Escola Superior de Música e Artes Espectáculo as 𝑭𝒖𝒍𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝑺𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒂𝒓, 2014-2015
- MM in Clarinet Performance, Southern Illinois University - Carbondale, 2012-2014
- BA in European History and Music, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, 2008-2012

𝘿𝙞𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘾𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1N_UhPTCxBwPuHZSuBGiKYUBHGQP9VIqi/view?usp=drive_link

🎵 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝗧𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲 is a voice, piano, music theory, and music history teacher. She also directs choirs at her church. In her spare time, April loves reading, playing games (board games and online), and watching football and baseball games.

📚𝙀𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝘽𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙:
- Bachelor's Degree in Music Education (Voice, Piano), Youngstown State University, Ohio. Graduated Summa cum laude, 1988-1992
- Professional Teaching Certification/License by Ohio Department of Education. Continuous education to maintain certification, 1992-2024
- Master's Degree in Music Performance (Voice) from Youngstown State University, Ohio, 2003, 2006-2008

𝘿𝙞𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘾𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1dBgE2BYSoCuaG1bodPJ007J-82UBoOXk?usp=drive_link

🇲🇽 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘇 🗣️  is one of our Spanish teachers. Since she began college, she started working as an ESL online teacher which she has been doing for 2 years. She has also been a volunteer for 5 years, teaching various subjects across the country of Mexico, during her free time. She is a cat person, who cannot start her day without a cup of coffee. She loves watching films and reading classic novels.

📚𝙀𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝘽𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙:
- BA in Pedagogy, University of Monterrey, 2019-2023
- 120 hour TEFL certificate, TEFL Full Circle, 2019

🇧🇷 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀 🎵  is a professional violinist who works with music, language, and arts administration.  Caroline teaches violin in Africa, several countries in South America, and the USA. She also offers Portuguese classes integrated with the Music and Language Learning Center. Caroline has a beautiful 9-month-old daughter named Lia Kayla.

📚𝙀𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝘽𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙:
- Executive Graduate Certificate in Social Entrepreneurship, Cultural Agency, Community Development, Organization Development, Design Thinking, and Educational Leadership, The Global Leaders Program, 2021
- MM in Violin Performance, Azusa Pacific University, 2019
- MAT Program, Longy School of Music of Bard College, 2017
- Artist Diploma, Azusa Pacific University, 2015
- BA in Music, Violin, 2007.

 🇦🇷 𝗗𝗿. 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗼𝘀 𝗗𝗲𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗴𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗼 🗣️  is a specialist Spanish Teacher with over 12 years of experience in international curricula at leading schools in New York. He holds a PhD in Spanish from New York University. Marcos loves to travel, who enjoys spending time with friends, and rides his bike everywhere!

📚𝙀𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝘽𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙:
- Ph.D. in Spanish and Portuguese Languages and Literatures, New York University (2011-2018)
- Masters Candidate in Hispanic Languages and Literature, Stony Brook University (2009-2011)
- B.A. in Literature, University of Buenos Aires (2000-2006)

𝘿𝙞𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘾𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1DdfyyGb-u08dVoEJ0CZ4CAdiNZXQ_fHQ

🇲🇽 𝗢𝗿𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗱 🗣️  has over 22 years of experience in the education field, with expertise in Hispanic Linguistics, Spanish Teaching, Curriculum Development, Course Planning and Facilitation. She has experience in administering DELE and CEFR testing for language level placement.

📚𝙀𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝘽𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙:
- Bachelor's degree, Atlantic International University, Honolulu, Hawaii
​- Certified Spanish Curriculum Developer by Cervantes Spanish Institute

𝘿𝙞𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘾𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1o8xCQQ47lAXJJd8hb6l_b5fefu8bMN3c?usp=drive_link

🎼 𝐉𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐊𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐚 🎶 is a rising conductor with a rich background in music. She's currently pursuing an MMus in Conducting at the Royal Northern College of Music after graduating from the École Normale de Musique de Paris and the Conservatorio della Svizzera Italiana. Josephine has conducted esteemed orchestras and participated in renowned masterclasses. Her musical journey began at the University of Oxford, where she earned a BA Hons in Music while excelling as a choral and instrumental scholar. 🌟

📚𝙀𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝘽𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙:
- Bachelor's Degree, University of Oxford
- Certificate of Advanced Studies in Contemporary Repertoire Conducting

𝘿𝙞𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘾𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1MB6wI6jMFj17Hqh8wFtW13XLWTpN08VA?usp=sharing

🇵🇹 𝐆𝐚𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐥 𝐌𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐚𝐬 is a dedicated language enthusiast and experienced educator in Portuguese, French, and English. He has taught in varied settings, including tutoring Canadian diplomats in Brazilian Portuguese and teaching French to elementary students. Known for his adaptable teaching style, Gabriel tailors lessons to foster cultural immersion and support individual student needs. He holds a degree in French language and literature and is fluent in Portuguese, English, and French, with advanced skills in Danish and beginner-level Russian. His passion for languages extends to creative pursuits, with his poetry recognized in international competitions.

📚𝙀𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝘽𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙:
- Trade Certificate in International Business Management
- Bachelors Degree in French Language and Literature

🇵🇹 𝐍𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐬 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢 a California native and experienced foreign language educator, has over 10 years of teaching experience. Growing up in a multicultural environment, he developed a deep curiosity about multilingual communication and its impact on personal growth. His career has included roles with non-profits and as an independent instructor, teaching Spanish, European Portuguese, French, and ESL, along with developing curriculum materials. He also provides translation services and is passionate about music, culture, and global communication. Nicholas believes in making learning enjoyable and accessible, encouraging open-minded dedication in every student.

📚𝙀𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝘽𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙:
- Bachelors Degree in Spanish