I am Vanessa Arts, passionate about languages, culture and communication in general. This passion has been the key to successful teaching and training since the start of my career. Passion and enthusiasm lead to engagement, engagement leads to motivation and eagerness to learn, which in the end, allows a better performance. After obtaining my Masters ‘degrees in History, Spanish Language and Literature and Cultural Sciences, I have been teaching English, Spanish and Dutch to native and non- native speakers of all levels, at a wide variety of schools and organizations. For eleven years, I was a teacher trainer at the Spanish Department of the Fontys University of Applied Sciences. I strongly believe in the importance of a student-centered curriculum and a safe learning environment, in providing a structure that leaves room for flexibility and improvisation when needed. Since 2008, I have been focusing on the importance of intercultural awareness and communication. Born in Sri Lanka and growing up in Spain with a Dutch father, I was confronted since childhood with the importance of culture when communicating with other people. Living in Chili, Argentina and Mexico and once I moved to the Netherlands as an adult, I experienced myself the complexity of integration and the challenges a multicultural working environment presents. And I found it fascinating. I am convinced that cultural awareness can help us avoid misunderstandings and misinterpretation of behaviors both at an educational and professional level. Therefore, during the past years, I have been involved in training (future) teachers in multilingualism in the classroom, intercultural communication and culturally responsive teaching. I am very excited to be a part of the Tupkertaaltraining team and help you not only to master the Dutch language but also by giving you useful insights In the Dutch culture in order to achieve a successful communication with colleagues and friends.