Our Teachers
At the heart of Let's Talk are our Language Instructors. They bring their languages, cultures, and life stories into every class. Instructors offer classes based on availability and community interest, so our schedule grows and changes each quarter.
When you join a class at Let's Talk, you're learning from a neighbor who shares a piece of home with you.
Claritza Paulus
Spanish Teacher
Bringing over 15 years of experience in conversational Spanish, Clari taught at the original LT school. She also teaches Spanish at Kent's High School
Ina Alvarado
Spanish Instructor
Native speaker of Spanish, Ina brings in the energy and care that our Spanish kids adore! Ina is finishing her last year at Colby as an Education major and writing an honors thesis on Children's Literature in Spanish.
.jpg)
Katya Shevchenko
Russian Instructor
A native speaker of Russian, Katya has taught Russian at the University of Missouri while completing her MA in Russian and Slavonic Studies. She also manages the admin side of things at LT.
.png)
Nathalie Choquette
French Instructor
Passionate about sharing Francophone culture through her online offerings, Nathalie brings experience in adult education and curriculum design.
Aqeel Mohialdeen
Arabic Instructor
Passionate about sharing diverse Arab culture through experiences and conversation, Aqeel brings extensive experience in adult education and cultural exchange.
Caroline Ridout
French Instructor
With MA in Education and experience leading a variety of classes, Caroline is an expert in linguadidactics with a focus on practical daily communication for all ages.
Join our team!
Interested in teaching with us? Email info@letstalkme.org and let’s talk about new classes and languages we can offer together.
Let's Talk Journey
Founded on a vision of accessible language education for all ages, Let's Talk Language School began as a community initiative,
led by Gina Coppens and Steve Bachsbaum in 2003.
From its home on Temple Street in Waterville, ME, the school welcomed learners from across the state — offering small-group language classes, ESOL programs for local communities, and partnerships with nonprofits to celebrate the diverse cultures of Central Maine.
Closed in 2012, Let's Talk Language School reopened in 2026, over a decade later, with the same passion for knowledge sharing and new ambition: to foster a vibrant hub for multilingual learning in Central Maine once again.
We are committed to creating a welcoming space where every student can thrive — and where language brings us closer together.
Our Why:
message from Managing Director
I grew up in Saratov, Russia, where I studied English, Spanish, and German before moving to the United States to teach Russian at the University of Missouri. Later I went on to teach English at a charter school in Austin, TX, worked as a project manager for a couple of design companies in Florida and San Francisco, and earned two Master's degrees — one in Literature and one in Art History.
My husband, Jose Martinez, is a Colombian-born musician and composer. We moved to Waterville in 2021, following Jose's appointment as a professor of music at Colby College. He is also a fellow Let's Talk board member! Together we are raising our trilingual daughter Olga, whose love of Spanish, Russian, and music fills our lives with purpose.
For us, Let's Talk is both a family endeavor and our way of serving this community. As educators and parents of a multilingual learner, this is our answer to the need for more accessible language education and culture in Central Maine.
This initiative is built by people who know firsthand what it is to learn a new language as adults.
Katya Shevchenko
Get in Touch
info@letstalkME.org
Phone
+1 (207) 579-4635
Location
70 Pleasant St, Waterville, ME 04901
Parking on Gilman street or behind the Sacred Heart Church (through Middle street)
