Joshi G. Prasad
Chief Executive Officer.
He is the key piece in the School’s framework. He ensures the proper achievement of objectives, compliance with the ELE USAL Group guidelines, and maintains constant communication with the Central Department in Salamanca. He also leads the administrative team and works closely with the academic management to ensure the smooth operation of the school.
Mr. Joshi holds a degree in Business Management and is currently pursuing studies in Management and Leadership at the Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He has more than 20 years of experience in managing companies related to the education sector. His goal is to create opportunities for at least one million people to experience multilingualism throughout their careers.
Due to his strong social commitment and deep human quality, he is a founding member of a non-governmental organization dedicated to providing shelter to homeless orphaned children.
In his free time, he enjoys traveling, reading, volunteering, and spending time in nature.
LANGUAGES: SPANISH (C1) – ENGLISH, HINDI, URDU, NEPALI (QUADRILINGUAL) – BENGALI AND JAPANESE (BASIC)
Paula Reyes Álvarez
Principal
Born in Vigo (Spain), she holds a PhD in Applied Linguistics, specializing in Methodology and Didactics of ELE (Spanish as a Foreign Language), from the University of Vigo (Spain) and a Degree in Spanish Philology from the same university. She also holds a Master’s Degree in Teacher Training for Spanish Language and Literature and a Postgraduate Degree in Applied Linguistics. She is a DELE Examiner for all levels and has more than 13 years of experience in the world of ELE.
Paula has been a Spanish teacher at universities in different countries: Brazil, Portugal, the USA, and Poland. In 2015 she was awarded the ASELE Award for her doctoral thesis “ELE teacher training in authentic competence assessment”. She has published various scientific articles on competence teaching, authentic assessment in ELE, and discourse interpretation.
Currently, she is the Academic Director of the ELE USAL Bilbao and Barcelona centers, responsibilities she combines with teacher training and academic advising.
In her free time, she likes running, dancing sevillanas, and enjoying the sea.
Languages: Spanish and Galician (bilingual), English (B1).
Gheily Jiménez
Academic Coordinator
Born in Venezuela, Gheily is an innovative and empathetic teacher with more than 20 years of teaching experience. She obtained her degree as a Teacher in Comprehensive Education from the Instituto Universitario Pedagógico Monseñor Rafael Arias Blanco in Venezuela. In addition, she is a DELE Examiner for levels A1-A2 and holds a Master’s degree in Spanish as a Foreign Language.
Gheily has been dedicated to teaching Spanish for about 6 years, delivering both general Spanish courses and DELE exam preparation from level A1 to C1 for adults, as well as CCSE. She has experience applying linguistic immersion programs, mother tongue teaching, and language camps with children and teenagers. Additionally, she has worked as a Spanish teacher in the International Baccalaureate with the Language Acquisition program in MYP.
Working in countries such as Venezuela, Australia, Dubai, and Spain has allowed her to develop multicultural skills in the educational field, providing her students with a comprehensive education and incorporating activities involving art, music, and cinema into her sessions.
In her free time, she enjoys painting, reading, and doing crafts.
Languages: Spanish (native) and English (B2).
Berta Ruiz-Alejos
Spanish Teacher.
Born in Spain, Berta Ruiz-Alejos is a creative educator with a strong artistic background and international experience. She graduated in Fine Arts with a specialization in Creation and Design from the University of the Basque Country (UPV-EHU) and also completed a Master’s degree in Art Education. Later, she earned a Master’s degree in Spanish as a Foreign Language (ELE) from the University of Cantabria.
Berta has worked in various fields related to art, education, and cultural creation. She served as an art teacher at Amadeus Aula Creativa (Logroño) and has developed projects in photography, graphic design, and ceramics at cultural centers and companies such as Cooltour (Italy) and Sutan (Bilbao). Her experience as a Spanish teacher has allowed her to merge the world of education with artistic creation and design, bringing an innovative and multidisciplinary approach.
Living and working in countries such as France, Italy, and China has given her a strong intercultural awareness in her teaching practice, fostering participation and individual expression.
In her free time, she enjoys ceramics, drawing, and the cultural and social atmosphere of Bilbao.
Languages: Spanish (native), English (B2), Italian (B2), French (A2), Basque (beginner), and Chinese (beginner).
Nerea Turiño
Spanish Teacher.
Spanish, she is our teacher specialized in teaching Spanish to young children. With care and dedication, she refers to her students as “her little ones,” making sure they always leave with a smile after each class. She also teaches adult classes at various levels and enjoys creating materials and activities for her students.
Her passion for discovering new cultures has led her to study and work in several countries such as Australia, Portugal, and Italy.
She holds a Master’s Degree in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language (Nebrija University) and a Bachelor’s Degree in Modern Philology (English) (University of León). Thanks to her specialization, she stays constantly up to date with innovative methodologies and resources for teaching ELE. She is also accredited by the Cervantes Institute as an oral examiner for the DELE A1 and A2 exams.
In her free time, she enjoys traveling, exploring new places, and meeting people. She is also passionate about music, nature, and spending time with her dog, Dora.
Languages: Spanish (native), English (C1), Italian (B1), Basque (B1), and French (A2)
Cassius Guimarães
Head of Marketing
Born in Itamonte (Brazil), he has been living in Spain since 2019.
He is a strategic communicator with more than 20 years of experience in marketing and institutional communication. He has led branding projects in key markets such as Barcelona, Madrid, Dubai, Beijing, Milan, Moscow, São Paulo, and Rio de Janeiro for clients including the Government of Brazil, Volkswagen, Tetra Pak, Lenovo, and Faber-Castell.
He holds a degree in Communication (Unisul), a postgraduate degree in Scientific Journalism (Unicamp), an MBA in New Technologies (UNADE/IOE), and continuing education in Branding (ESPM) and Team Leadership (Harvard Business Review Brazil). Furthermore, he has studies in psychoanalysis (SBPI and Universitat de Barcelona) and holistic psychology (European School of Natural Therapies and Wellness), which brings a deeply human perspective to his approach to storytelling and brand reputation building.
In his free time, he likes playing the viola caipira, a traditional Brazilian guitar, and reading books and comics. His favorite author is Clarice Lispector, from whom he leaves an iconic quote below: “Freedom falls short for me. What I desire does not yet have a name” (from the book “Near to the Wild Heart”, 1943).
Languages: Portuguese (native), English (C2), Spanish (C1), German (C1), Catalan (B2).
International Associates
He Yi
International Relations Manager
Born in Chongqing, China, YI is an open-minded, friendly person full of energy and dedication, with enthusiasm for both life and her work. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Cultural Industry Management and a qualification in Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language, and has worked in Chengdu and Shanghai on cultural projects and audiovisual planning.
Currently, YI holds the position of Head of International Relations and Director of the Chinese Department at ELE USAL Bilbao. She not only manages daily teaching operations, but also actively drives international cooperation with recognized universities, educational institutions, and agencies, aiming to offer students from different cultures a professional and immersive learning experience.
In her free time, she enjoys traveling, practicing Krav Maga, advocating for women’s rights, reading, spending time by the sea, and participating in volunteer activities.
Languages: Mandarin Chinese (native), Chongqing dialect (native), English (C1), Spanish (B1).
Amanat Ali
Regional Associate, South Asia
Amanat Ali, born in Punjab, Pakistan, has more than 15 years of experience living and working in Spain.
Currently, he is the International Regional Manager for South Asia and IT Manager at the ELE USAL Schools in Barcelona and Bilbao.
He coordinates educational relationships with countries such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Dubai, promoting academic cooperation and supporting international students in their admission and integration processes.
Sama Kamiya
Regional Associate, Japan
Born in Hekinan and raised in Takahama (Aichi, Japan), she holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Urban Sciences from Meijo University (Nagoya, Japan) and a Master’s Degree in Urban Design from the University of Barcelona. During her university years, she broadened her international perspective through short-term stays at Guilin University of Technology (China) and in Thailand, and later completed studies at San Martín de Porres University in Lima (Peru).
She has more than 10 years of experience teaching the Japanese language. Her passion for cultural exchange began during her university years, when she taught Japanese to international students and worked as an interpreter in Nagoya. During her time in Peru, she also collaborated with the JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization) office in Lima. Additionally, she specializes in preparing students for official exams such as the JLPT and EJU (Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students).
In her free time, she enjoys playing the piano —especially pop music— and is currently learning “Bohemian Rhapsody”. She is also a huge fan of manga, a hobby she has shared with her father since childhood.