Ellen Artigas, Teacher

Ellen Artigas is a native of Mexico City. She attended The United States International University in Mexico City where she focused her education in the areas of public relations and psychology. During that time she also obtained her TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certification at the British Institute in Mexico City. While in Mexico City, Ellen was the third grade English teacher at the Colegio Camino Real elementary school. At this private bilingual school she also coordinated the English staff, implemented the curriculum, and participated in workshops geared towards the teaching of values and virtues to children. After dedicating six years there, Ellen decided to move to Madrid, Spain, where she taught English at La Academia de Idioma,now ENFOREX.

Ellen’s first experience with children began as early as the summer she graduated from West Lake High School here in Austin. That summer she traveled to Amherst, Massachusetts to work for Kingsmont Camp as a camp counselor. When Ellen returned to Mexico City, she got involved in FOCUM (Fomento Cultural México) and coordinated a gala event in El Castillo de Chapultepec to acquire funds for Mexico’s indigenous children. Most recently, Ellen was the lead Spanish teacher at the Lake Hills Montessori school, where she engaged children in Spanish through linguistic immersion, singing, and hands on activities. She was also in charge of designing the curriculum, the training of other Spanish teachers, and the Spanish Immersion Summer Camp.

Ellen’s interests are being a mom, education, and different cultures. She was fortunate enough to have been born in a multicultural atmosphere. Her family is from Mexico, US, and Europe. They speak between four and seven languages. While Ellen lived in Europe she stayed with family friends in Italy, Switzerland, and Austria. They encouraged her to study languages because of her natural ability to pick up the accents as well as the idiom. It was at that time she realized how critical it was, to have acquired her second language at an early age.

Ellen truly believes and trusts MIS’ mission, because she is a product of a dual-language immersion school in Mexico City. With that in mind and as a foreign language teacher, she encourages for the immersion to begin as early as the kindergarten and primary years. "It is precisely those years the core in a second language development," she says.

"It is an exciting time and the chance is now ours to provide our children with a multicultural, multilingual, and international education. I have always loved being around children, they are our future, our inspiration, and the best part of us. I am honored to be a founding TA of the Magellan International School and hope to guide your children to become honorable global citizens of the world."