Our Story -

A friendly chat with some Emerald Isle parents a couple of years ago has brought Isla Esmeralda Spanish immersion program to life.

Director and founder, Dr. Karen Sánchez was a full-time teacher of Spanish and English as a Second Language in public schools grades K-12 for many years before moving to a teaching position at Rutgers University. At RU, in addition to undergraduate and graduate Spanish, she teaches current and prospective teachers methods of teaching. Dr. Sánchez has led many study abroad programs for high school and university students in South America, Mexico and Europe, confirming her long-held belief that immersion is the most effective language learning experience.

Realizing how limited such immersion travel opportunities were for most people, for years Dr. Karen envisioned creating a program for all ages to be immersed in Spanish without having to travel abroad. Through a Rutgers University-affiliated teacher-training program, she found the opportunity to design a limited immersion experience as part of her town’s summer recreation program in Mandarin. Though the Mandarin immersion was very successful, the Spanish language and its many dialects and cultures in the Americas are her first love.

That chat on Emerald Isle led to an ongoing conversation with local school administrators increasingly challenged to find a path to effective access for second language education for area students. Finally a long-time dream had met a need that would help it become a reality.

This is our grand opening year with hopes that we will grow quickly to include adults, teachers, and students of all ages who want to begin acquiring Spanish or improve their proficiency.

We hope you will join us as founding families this summer at Isla Esmeralda on Emerald Isle, where we bring life to the language!