About Our Founder

A native of Spain, Guadalupe O'Brien grew up under the influences of several Spanish cultures and languages. From an early age, she showed passion for travel and adventure, always absorbing the native culture around her like a sponge. From hiking up to Machu Pichu to exploring the outback of Australia, she has developed a keen eye and ear for minute details, a refined taste for local gastronomy, and a distinct passion for new experiences.

Guadalupe and her husband John split their time between their Washington D.C. area residence and

their Virginia farm.

Qualifications

Master's degree in Applied Linguistics and Teaching Spanish as a Second Language, University of Antonio de Nebrija, Madrid, Spain.
Master’s Thesis: “The affective factors in the English-Spanish Interlanguage’s Phonology”
Bachelor's degree in Education, University of West Florida
Minor in Spanish Golden Literature, University of West Florida
Multicultural Populations Endorsement, University of West Florida
ESL Curriculum Certificate, University of West Florida
Spanish Certification (K-12), University of West Florida

Curriculum and development of the following:

Advanced Spanish for Military Linguists
Spanish for Healthcare Professionals
Spanish for Law Enforcement
Hispanic World at a Glance
Analysis of Second Language Acquisition
Cultural Awareness Series: Discovering the Americas
Spanish Placement Test

The name “Spanish Milestones” is deep-rooted in our founder’s native cultural background and philosophy. To her, learning a language is similar to making the Camino de Santiago (aka: The Pilgrimage of Compostela). The journey is long and arduous, but with perseverance, hard work, determination, and clear goals, you will finally reach your final destination.

“Milestones” are essential to being successful in life. In the case of language learning, milestones are a required discipline to track progress and achieve targeted goals. Milestones break long journeys down into clear, measurable steps, making the process attainable. This is reflected in our strategic approach in working with our clients.

Guadalupe has been recognized for her strong desire to always provide the highest quality of education and innovative ideas. She has developed language and cultural programs for on-site and e-learning instruction always thinking in maximizing students’ performance and continuous progress.

Guadalupe is a highly motivated and challenge-oriented person with a strong drive and positive attitude. She is focused and exceptionally productive in fast-paced environments. A hands-on manager and critical thinker, she can quickly assess the needs of students, and draws from a wide range of valuable experiences.

Her comprehensive professional experience combined with her native background makes her a Maestra in the Spanish language.