Jelisa Inoa
Hi, my name is Jelisa Inoa.
I’m from the Dominican Republic and I specialize in teaching Spanish as a second language to people interested in Dominican culture. Whether it's because their family is Dominican, they have a Dominican partner, or they simply want to move to this beautiful place, I’m here to help.
My Story
My passion for teaching started many years ago. I remember that when I was just eight years old, I taught catechism classes to children aged 5 and 6. Throughout my school years, I also helped my classmates with subjects like math, chemistry, and physics that they found challenging. I’ve always had a strong vocation for service and communication.
In high school, I volunteered to help exchange students adjust to Dominican student life and organized activities to introduce them to the culture. This was a very rewarding experience, as it was where I first connected with foreigners and intercultural exchange.
Later, in university, I continued volunteering to support international students who arrived each semester. I helped them with their Spanish, dance classes, city tours, and numerous activities. I simply loved sharing my culture with others, and I did it with great passion.
At the end of 2019, I graduated as a dentist and started working in the field. However, the pandemic changed the course of my life. While we were in lockdown, I wanted to do something productive from home that I enjoyed. That’s when I rediscovered my passion for communication and working with foreigners, leading me to start my first job as an online Spanish tutor through Preply, where I helped hundreds of students of all ages and met people from all over the world.
At first, my classes focused on conversational practice, but as I noticed the demand for a more structured program, in 2021, I began a course on teaching Spanish as a second language at Miguel de Cervantes University in Spain to acquire the necessary skills. I also joined a community of teachers called “La tribu” led by Sergio Delgado, where I learned a lot from their experiences.
This is why, in 2023, I created Jely Spanish, my independent business focused on teaching Dominican Spanish to beginners. It has been a wonderful experience to see my students progress each day and become true Dominicans.