My name is Ashley Stickel. I am a proud graduate of The Ohio State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Spanish: Latin American Literatures and Cultures with a minor in Sociology. I love Spanish and everything about it, from the many different accents all around the world, to the different cultural nuances that come with each Spanish-speaking country.

Ironically, I did not always have such a strong love of Spanish. I took my first Spanish classes in high school as a homeschooled student and I ended up very confused and decided I did not like the language at all. Then, I had an amazing teacher who taught in a way that made sense and I began to learn to love the language. I went on to study Spanish in college and have since visited Mexico, Costa Rica, Chile and Argentina. I love to share stories of my experiences there.

I lived abroad in Chile for almost four years. Three months of that time were spent as a study abroad program where I not only fell in love with Chile, but also with one of its citizens. I met my husband in 2014 and we were married in 2017. We then lived in Chile from 2017-2020. My time abroad allowed me to live fully immersed in the Spanish language and Chilean culture. It is an unforgettable and life-changing experience that was invaluable for my language skills.

I know how important studying and practicing the language really is from first-hand experience. I expect my students to practice speaking Spanish out-loud without fear. I hope to create an environment where we can have fun studying this beautiful language.