Today we’d like to introduce you to Claudia Hurst-Vásquez.
Hi Claudia , can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My childhood dream jobs were to be a teacher and some type of artist. I liked to play school, especially as a young child and was always doodling, drawing, or painting as a tween and teen. I started out professionally in graphic design and later moved into advertising and marketing. As a native Spanish speaker, I was often able to step into new opportunities because I was bilingual. Spanish was always woven into my work whether it was translating campaigns, creating bilingual materials and content for Spanish-speaking audiences, or simply connecting with others.
When my son was born 18 years ago, I knew I wanted more flexibility and time with him, and my marketing job at the time required long hours and travel. That’s when I was offered the opportunity to teach Spanish to high schoolers and I took it. I realized pretty quickly how much I loved teaching, and that this might be the path I was meant to be on all along.
A few years later, our family moved to Guatemala, where my husband is from. While we were there, I taught English to local kindergarteners and Spanish to expat children. Seeing how naturally young kids picked up language in an immersive, playful environment and how easily our son was becoming bilingual as well made me want to offer that opportunity to children here when we returned to the U.S. I started to work on the business plan, curriculum, website and materials while we were living abroad over the course of two years until we moved back to the U.S.
On November 5, 2010, I officially launched Bilingual Beginning, a program rooted in play-based, age-appropriate Spanish learning for young children. I started by offering small community classes to family and play groups and it grew organically, mostly through word of mouth.Over the years, I’ve had the joy of teaching through mommy & me groups, at preschools, in after-school enrichment classes, homeschool co-ops, and more. While I primarily work with children aged 1 to 12, I also teach homeschooled students who have been with me for years and are now taking high school-level Spanish in middle school. It’s been such a joy to watch them grow not just in their language skills, but in their confidence.
About 10 years ago, I decided to pursue further education to grow as an educator and better support my students. I completed a Master’s in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language from the Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca in Salamanca, Spain which is widely recognized as the birthplace of the Spanish language. That experience was deeply enriching and helped me refine my teaching approach with the most effective, research-based methods. I’ve also been able to blend my design background into everything I do. I create all my own materials like posters, flashcards, lesson visuals, and hands-on crafts and activities specifically tailored for young learners. I even wrote and illustrated my own children’s book. It’s been incredibly fulfilling to combine my creative side with my passion for teaching and language, as well as my love for working with children.
Watching young children light up when they recognize a word in Spanish, hearing from parents that their kids are singing our class songs at home or saying a word in Spanish before they even say it in English, or hearing older students tell me about how they were able to speak Spanish to someone at a restaurant or while on a mission trip is very fulfilling.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Definitely not a smooth road but I think that’s part of of building something that matters to you. There have been many rewarding seasons and some really challenging ones as well.
One of the biggest, ongoing challenges has been figuring out how to structure classes around families’ constantly changing schedules. Every semester looks a little different. Sports seasons shift, kids change activities, families move, etc. I try to remain flexible while still offering consistent, meaningful experiences. It’s a puzzle every few months to determine which classes to offer, when, and where and even then, it often comes down to the last minute to see who all will be joining. That uncertainty can be stressful, especially when I’m trying to decide whether to cancel or reschedule a class that isn’t full yet. As the business grows, figuring out how to scale sustainably has been another challenge. It’s a constant balancing act between staying true to what I do and exploring new ways to serve more families.
Another challenge has been helping families understand that language learning is a journey that takes time and needs to continue outside of the classroom. Kids pick things up so quickly, but they need exposure, repetition, and practice at home to really make it stick. I try to equip families with tools and encouragement, but ultimately, it’s a partnership.
Saying goodbye to kids and families is also never easy, even when it’s a natural transition. It’s also hard to let kids go when they outgrow the program, move away, or their schedules no longer allow them to attend. I get attached as I’ve taught some of them for years and seen them grow up.
Balancing work and home life has also had its moments, but I feel deeply grateful that this path has allowed me to be fully present for my only son. I’ve been able to homeschool him since 6th grade, which is something I don’t take for granted especially now that he is starting college. It’s hasn’t always been easy to juggle everything, but the flexibility this work has given me has been a gift.
It hasn’t always been smooth but it’s always been worth it. Every struggle has taught me something and at the end of the day, watching a child say their first words in Spanish, or seeing a shy student grow in confidence, reminds me that I’m right where I’m supposed to be.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Bilingual Beginning ?
What sets Bilingual Beginning apart is the mix of everything I love. Teaching, culture, creativity and the language itself all coming together in every class and resource I create. I design all of my own materials and tailor the classes to make sure they reflect how young children learn best: through play, music, movement, and meaningful, hands-on activities.
Over the years, I’ve found that families aren’t just drawn to learning the language itself, but to the connection and love for learning we help build in class. It’s never a one-size-fits-all approach. It’s personal, thoughtful, and rooted in how each individual child learns best. I pour a lot of thought and heart into everything I do and I’m especially proud of the trust families have placed in me over the years. Many of my students stay with me for a long time, and watching them improve and grow has been one of the greatest joys of this journey. I take a lot of pride in creating a space where kids can truly fall in love with the Spanish language and learning in general from an early age. It’s never just about vocabulary or grammar. It’s about sparking curiosity, joy, and helping children connect to the language in a way that feels fun and meaningful.
In addition to my classes, I also offer Spanish learning materials – printable resources and engaging activities that can be used at home for reinforcement. Now that my son is heading off to college, I’m entering a new season where I’ll have a bit more flexibility and am excited to grow this part of the business. I will be creating and sharing more of the materials I’ve designed over the years to help families bring Spanish into their daily lives and other educators to utilize them in their classes as well.
One of my bigger goals moving forward is to make language learning more accessible to underserved communities and children around the world, especially those who may not otherwise have access to high-quality Spanish or English instruction. I truly believe that language opens doors not just for communication, but for opportunity, confidence, and understanding and I want more kids everywhere to benefit from this.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I think we’re going to see a continued shift toward earlier, more immersive language learning, especially for young children. Families are becoming more aware of the benefits of bilingualism cognitively, socially, and even professionally and they’re looking for programs that go beyond just memorization. There’s growing interest in experiences that are playful, culturally rich, and rooted in real connection. That’s exciting to me, because it’s exactly how I believe language should be taught.
We’re also seeing more demand for flexible, hybrid options not just in-person classes, but also digital materials, at-home resources, and workshops that can support both parents and educators. I think the future will include a lot more collaboration between language educators and families with tools that make it easier to integrate language into daily life.
As technology evolves, I also think there’s a growing opportunity to bring language learning to communities that haven’t had access before whether that’s through downloadable materials, community partnerships, or creative outreach initiatives. Making high-quality, joyful language education available to more children especially those in underserved areas is something I hope to be part of in a bigger way moving forward.
As the conversation around education continues to evolve, I see more room for customization, creativity, and diversity in teaching approaches especially in early childhood. I think families will continue to seek out programs that are both meaningful and personal, not just academic.
Pricing:
- Pricing for enrichment and parent and child classes is between $170 and $225 for classes meeting once a week for 12-15 week session depending on age group and session length.
- Classes offered at school can be school sponsored for a set hourly rate depending on number of children included, parent funded where parents have the option to register their kids for class and have them participate or a combination of both.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.BilingualBeginning.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bilingualbeginning?igsh=MWxmcnk2cjJqM2I2aQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Eb2dV8pd6/?mibextid=wwXIfr
