World Languages

Learning world languages opens many doors to personal, professional and academic development. It provides a critical perspective through which students understand their individual identity and global community. Vistamar students are prepared to be orally proficient and culturally competent—to communicate effectively in real-life situations, and know how, when, and why to say what to whom.

Department Objectives

Be orally proficient
Be culturally competent
Develop a broader understanding of global community
Possess a deeper sense of one´s identity
Foster opportunities for academic, professional & personal growth

Oral Proficiency Requirement

Vistamar students study at least one language other than English for a minimum of three years. To achieve a higher level of proficiency, students are encouraged to take a fourth year course. To reflect both local and global cultures, three distinctive programs are offered: Mandarin Chinese, Spanish, and Heritage Spanish. Small groups of students are provided with individualized support as they develop oral proficiency in an intimate, student-centered setting.

In order to qualify for the Vistamar diploma, all students must pass an oral proficiency test in a second language in addition to fulfilling the minimum course requirement. Students must attain a minimum level of “Intermediate-Mid” based on standards established by the American Council of Teachers of Foreign Language (ACTFL). Students in the Heritage Spanish program must attain a minimum level of “Advanced-Low” in both speaking and writing.

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Meet the Faculty

List of 5 members.

Angela Volpicelli

Spanish Department Chair, Spanish Teacher

University of Wisconsin-Madison - MA
Indiana University - BA

angelavolpicelli@vistamarschool.org
Bio
Angela came to the World Language Department at Vistamar after teaching Spanish language and literature at the Archer School for Girls here in Los Angeles. With fifteen years as an educator, she has experience teaching Spanish to all ages and levels in a variety of settings. She taught Spanish to international high school students in Salamanca, Spain with The American School In Switzerland´s summer program and has lead many students through international service programs in Guatemala, Peru and Mexico.

Angela completed a B.A. in Spanish from Indiana University and an M.A. in Spanish language and literature from the University of Wisconsin. She studied at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid and has done graduate-level work in language teaching in Santiago de Compostela and Granada, Spain.

In her free time she enjoys hiking, cooking, yoga, going to the beach and spending time with her husband Kyle and baby daughter Willamina.
Marco Andrade

Spanish Teacher

Universidad Catolica - Bachelors Degree

marcoandrade@vistamarschool.org
Bio
Marco earned a BA in philosophy from Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Ecuador. Before moving to the United States he taught Spanish language and literature for two years at a high school for girls in Quito, where he also served as assistant editor of the monthly journal Casa de la Cultura and as Spanish teacher and tour guide for Escuela Español Equinoccial, which specialized in programs for foreign students. Before joining Vistamar, he served as an assistant teacher in Spanish immersion classrooms in Culver City public schools and as a Spanish tutor for high school students and adults. He came to work at Vistamar in 2006, and has taught all levels of Spanish language, from Spanish I to AP Spanish. In the summer of 2015, he was invited to be a part of a team of AP Readers, evaluating AP Spanish exams for students from all over the country.
Minhua Gu

International Admission Coordinator, Chinese Department Chair, Chinese Teacher

Pepperdine University - MA
University of Nebraska - MAT
Shanghai Institute of Foreign Trade - BA

minhuagu@vistamarschool.org
Bio
Minhua has been teaching Mandarin in independent schools for 10 years. She holds masters degrees in Education and in Psychology. She has developed and started Chinese programs at Spartanburg Day School in South Carolina and at Polytechnic School in Pasadena. She believes that building cultural competence and communication skills are vital components in language acquisition. She incorporates this idea in her curriculum. She is teaching Chinese I. Chinese III, Chinese IV, and AP Chinese.
Qian Kang

Chinese Teacher

qiankang@vistamarschool.org
Enrique Ruiz Soto

enriqueruizsoto@vistamarschool.org
Bio
Enrique comes from Cantabria, Spain, and earned a BA in English from the Universidad de Oviedo. He spent an academic year abroad in Northern Ireland and holds a Master of Arts in teaching English at the secondary level from Western New Mexico University where he student taught in Spanish and English. He also holds a Master of Arts in teaching Spanish from Northern Arizona University where he taught Spanish lower level courses for the last two years. He enjoys teaching, playing the guitar, singing, cooking, sports and traveling. He works very hard, always has high expectations and his goal is to make a difference in education.