Children’s Center for Language and Culture, Inc.

Specialties

The Children’s Center for Language and Culture (ChiCeLaCu!) is a language immersion educational center with locations in Vienna and Oakton Virginia offering Spanish, French and Chinese (Mandarin). Our programs fuse language, performing and visual arts to provide a well rounded, effective and fun learning experience. Our students learn to speak, read and write in their language of choice and acquire a deep appreciation and understanding of the many cultures represented in our center.

History

Established in 2007.

Initially established as a Spanish Immersion school, ChiCeLaCU! has expanded its services to include French and Chinese /​Mandarin.

Meet the Business Owner

Maureen S.

Business Owner

A native of Nicaragua, Mrs. Santamaria is the founder of the Children’s Center for Language and Culture, Inc. As well as being part of the teaching staff, she manages the Center’s day to day operations. She has over 35 years of teaching experience in Latin American and the United States. She worked as an elementary and high school Spanish teacher in Maryland and Virginia and was the Director of the Spanish Reading Program at Bailey’s Elementary School in Fairfax County. For 7 years she served as International Consultant and Educational Researcher for the United Nations (UNICEF) in Latin America. She authored and co-​authored six books on educational development and child poverty. She holds Master’s Degrees both in Education and Demography from La Universidad Autonoma de Mexico. Mrs. Santamaria enjoys reading, hiking and exploring the natural wonders of the United States, Central America and Mexico.