Today we’d like to introduce you to Elsa Torres.
Hi Elsa, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was invited to join a Spanish Class by a mother of another class I had my children participating in, and that lead to becoming a Spanish teacher for play-based classes that were bilingual (English and Spanish). I was part of that great group for about a year, and I begin to feel a calling to be able to offer Spanish Immersion, play-based, child-led classes to the entire community of San Diego. This is when Juega & Aprende | Play & Learn came to fruition. Our first season launched in the Summer of 2023, and my children had such a fun time participating in our Spanish Immersion classes. I want to share that joy and community with other families in San Diego. Our classes are interactive, held outdoors, and give children an opportunity to play, learn, and engage with others while being immersed in Spanish.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Nothing worthwhile comes easy, right?! I did face challenges as there was a lot of information pertaining to establishing a business that I needed to learn. I did have some support along that way, and I’m appreciative for that. Along with being patient, I had to learn to be flexible and understanding. A lot of the original plans and ideas pertaining to Juega & Aprende as a business changed quickly and with little notice; this required the ability to pivot and re-plan. In the end, it was all worth it!
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about Juega & Aprende?
Juega & Aprende translates to Play & Learn. I wanted to capture the essence of what I see children doing when thinking of a brand, a name – something that defines what children do in the classes I offer. They Play and learn – the classes at Juega & Aprende are play-based, child-led classes that are held outdoors for children ages 2-7. Our classes set us apart in that we provide Spanish Immersion, and children are invited to engage, interact, and build community while being immersed in Spanish. For Fall 2023, we currently offer classes on Mondays and Saturdays at East County Parks. I’m excited to share the classes being offered with the community of San Diego. My hope is that every family who joins us will have a great time watching their children play, learn, engage with nature and each other.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I am a native to San Diego, so there is little I don’t like about my city. I appreciate the weather the proximity to the beaches and the bay. The traffic can be difficult to deal with, and our city needs improvements; however, overall, I enjoy San Diego.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.juegayaprendesd.com
- Instagram: Juegayaprende_sd
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092447595867&mibextid=b06tZ0
