Teaching Spanish with generosity and openness

Since 2011, Héctor Estrada has been teaching languages with a passion that transcends borders. Trained as an engineer, specialized in telecommunications management, and an avid academic traveler, he eventually chose to share his mother tongue, Spanish. He wanted to contribute to linguistic diversity and to the international success of people in the province of Quebec.

« J’adore enseigner l’espagnol et j’apprends en même temps grâce à l’interaction avec le groupe », he explains. To strengthen his pedagogical skills, Héctor Estrada completed in Montreal a graduate microprogram in postsecondary teaching.

A journey across several countries

Before arriving in Quebec, Héctor Estrada coordinated training programs for the Ministry of Defense in Venezuela for several years. He also worked as a visiting professor at the Universidad Mayor of San Andrés in Bolivia. It was an experience that had a significant impact on his teaching approach. His pedagogy today is structured, open, and deeply international, shaped by his extensive academic journey.

The richness of human connection

What he enjoys most is sharing his knowledge and experience, but also learning from the students:
« Je suis surpris que l’apprenant, en cherchant des mots ou des significations équivalentes à l’espagnol, ouvre parfois des espaces de réflexion pour les autres… et pour le professeur ! »

Teaching Spanish in Quebec brings stimulating challenges: welcoming learners with different mother tongues, backgrounds, and goals. One of his greatest strengths is his ability to adapt both his materials and his teaching style to the needs of each group.

Pride and motivation

Héctor is deeply proud to see his students’ progress. In class, they open themselves to new cultures, and experience the richness of the Spanish-speaking world. For him, learning a language means expanding one’s horizons… sometimes in unexpected ways.

For example, he recalls studying French at university almost by chance, before being selected to work on the Caracas metro project in France: « Cela pour dire qu’apprendre une autre langue ouvre des opportunités professionnelles aux gens. »

A teaching approach rooted in culture and motivation

To keep his groups engaged, Héctor relies on variety: songs, short films, listening activities, writing assignments, and authentic exchanges. He connects course content to each learner’s personal and professional goals, fostering motivation and enjoyment.

For Héctor, Spanish is a language that opens professional doors, stimulates memory, and strengthens connections within an increasingly multicultural Quebec.

A simple and effective vision of learning

Héctor’s best advice for learning Spanish is to create real opportunities for practice: language exchanges, conversation partners, and meetings with Spanish speakers. Above all, he claims that interaction is the key to meaningful learning.

Héctor Estrada teaches Spanish in UQAM’s Non-Credit Language Courses, where he shares his passion, international experience, and strong pedagogical sense with learners from all backgrounds.

Discover our evening Spanish courses: to learn, to travel, and to open yourself to the world.