TEACHERS AND STAFF

San José Staff 

Virginia Vargas

Director

Virginia Vargas Vicky, the nickname Costa Ricans give to their Virginias, graduated from Costa Rica's Teachers College in 1958. As of this date, she has worked more than 38 years in public and private education, first with elementary school children, then in the preparation of bilingual secretaries, as a certified Spanish examiner for Peace Corps volunteers, and eventually as a Spanish instructor and administrator at Intensa which she co-founded with her husband in 1980. Vicky is no stranger to the language-learning adventure, having lived and worked some 11 years in the United States where she met her husband and where her four children were born.

Yamileth Cerdas

Instructor/Supervisor

Yamileth Cerdas Though Yamileth has lived in San José for years, she is originally from Turrialba in Cartago, site of an important indigenous cemetery. Degreed in Spanish philology from the University of Costa Rica, Yamileth taught Universal Literature, Spanish Grammar, and Editing and Orthography in the Ministry of Education's high school equivalency program. In 1986 she joined Intensa as a Spanish teacher. She has worked as a supervisor and in the writing of school text materials. Additionally, she has held different positions on the board of directors of Intensa's Employee Association.

Vera Cordero

Spanish Department Registrar & Homestay Coordinator 

Vera Cordero Vera graduated as an executive bilingual secretary from one of Costa Rica's leading secretarial schools in 1974 and later specialized in the administration of human resources. Subsequently, she moved to California to live and to work for 10 years in that state's electronic sector before returning to Costa Rica. In 1988, she joined Intensa's administrative staff, working for the last 18 years as the school's Spanish department registrar and homestay coordinator.

Oscar Fernández

Spanish Department Head

Oscar Fernández Oscar is from Cartago, Costa Rica's first capital. A graduate in Spanish philology from the University of Costa Rica, he worked there for several years both as an assistant and alternate professor in the linguistics department and as professor of teaching methods for the speaking/hearing impaired. In 1987 he joined Intensa's staff as a Spanish professor and several years later became the school's Spanish department head. A founding member of Intensa's Employee Association, he has served on its board of directors almost continuously for more than 15 years.

Bernard Patterson

Administrative Director

Bernard Patterson Bernard was born and raised in Chicago until he was six, when he moved to Costa Rica with his parents. Bilingual and educated in business administration and finance, Bernie began working at Intensa when on vacation during his high school years doing a variety of clerical jobs and running messages. After college, he returned to Intensa to work in a number of positions in accord with the school's developing academic and administrative needs. Several years ago, he took over as administrative director of Intensa's main campus school.

Guiselle Alfaro

Tour Coordinator & Maintenance Manager

Guiselle Alfaros Guiselle is an executive bilingual secretary. Born in Quepos, a town close to Costa Rica's famed Manuel Antonio National Park, she came to San José for her schooling. After graduation, she worked a number of years first for an engineering firm and then for a company specializing in promotional materials. In 1997, she went to live in New York for a time. For the last 10 years she has worked at Intensa in administration, providing a variety of services to our students with emphasis on tours.

Juan Pablo Chacón

Instructor

Juan Pablo Chacón Juan Pablo was born in Cartago, the country's agricultural highland. With a talent for drawing and graphic design, Juan Pablo will shortly obtain his university degree in Industrial Design and Interior Decoration from Costa Rica's Institute of Technology. In the meantime, he has been working as a Spanish instructor at Intensa, where his music adds a new dimension to the teaching process.

Gerardo Chaves

Transportation Entrepreneur & Musician

Gerardo Chaves Gerardo is from Aserri, a town known for its "chicharrones." Owner of a small fleet of buses, he provides transportation to schools, travel agencies, and other businesses in the greater metropolitan area including Intensa whose students he has mobilized to and from the airport and around the country for more than 15 years. Ever since he was six, Gerardo has been playing music, including a 33 year stint with the San José National Band.

Wilbert Pacheco

Transportation Entrepreneur

Wilbert Pacheco Wilbert and his family have been providing quality taxi service in San José and throughout the country for two generations. In 1989 Wilbert decided to learn English at Intensa in order to better serve his growing English-speaking clientele. Shortly thereafter, Intensa contracted him to meet its students at the airport and get them safely to their homestays.

Alajuela staff

Rafael Gutierrez

Administrative Director

Rafael Gutierrez Born in Costa Rica, Rafael spent the first 10 years of his life in San José before moving to New York City where he graduated from the Jamaica High School in Queens in 1979. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1980 where he worked for 20 years first as a mechanic servicing sophisticated aircraft and later as a supervisor and as a quality assurance representative. While in the Navy, he became an American citizen. At retirement from the Navy in 2000, he returned to Costa Rica, where he joined Intensa, first as a teacher, then as a supervisor and currently as Administrative Director of the Alajuela branch. Married for 17 years, Rafael has two sons.

Ana Cristina Patterson

Program Coordinator

Ana Cristina Patterson Born in Chicago but raised in Costa Rica, Ana Cristina is a graduate in business administration. She has worked at Intensa since 1990, first as an English/Spanish instructor and later as assistant administrator at the main campus in San José. In 1998, she set up Intensa's Alajuela branch where she worked as the administrative director until 2004. Currently she is academic coordinator for all three Intensa schools.

Alejandra Salas

Instructor

Alejandra Salas Alejandra was born in San Ramón in the province of Alajuela. In addition to Spanish, she also speaks English and French. She has a BA degree in Spanish philology from the University of Costa Rica and is currently pursuing a post-graduate degree in teaching Spanish as a second language. She started working at Intensa in 2004, teaching Spanish at all three schools.

María Auxiliadora Suárez

A great cook and more

María Auxiliadora Suárez Originally from Nicaragua, María has been a Costa Rican resident for nearly 20 years. Certified in food handling by the Instituto Nacional de Aprendizaje, she has been running the school's cafeteria since 1999 and is currently in charge of the photocopying department as well. An excellent cook, she often helps out during the students' cooking classes.

Escazú campus staff

Robert Patterson V.

Administrative Director

Robert Patterson V. Robert started working at Intensa Spanish language schools in 1993 as the person in charge of the purchasing and the accounts receivable/payable departments. In 1995, he interrupted his work at Intensa to go to the United States to get his commercial pilot'’s license. After his return, he worked as an administrative assistant at the main San José campus for a number of years before setting up and administrating Intensa's Escazú branch school in 2003.

Yohanna Araya

Instructor & Spanish Department Coordinator

Yohanna Araya Yohanna is originally from Heredia, a town famous for its flowers. She has a degree in Spanish philology with an emphasis on teaching Spanish as a second language. Since 1994, she has been teaching Spanish to high school students and adults as well as doing thesis correction for university students. In 2000, Yohanna began giving classes at Intensa's main San José campus and in Escazú where she is currently the department coordinator.

Zayda Ureña

Instructor

Zayda Ureña Zayda is also from Heredia. She has a degree from the University of Costa Rica in Spanish philology with an emphasis on grammar and literature. Before beginning work at Intensa's main campus in 1992, Zayda worked in the editorial department of the Universidad Centroamericana and has extensive experience as a book buyer for bookstores. Currently she moves back and forth between Intensa's Escazú and Alajuela schools as need arises.