Gomez Ximena

I studied psychology in Colombia, my native country, and made a career in language and education. After my graduation, I attended courses on writing and reading, creative writing, literature and creativity. In 1986, I started offering workshops for school teachers, community agencies, book fairs, art festivals and congresses in reading, writing and literature for children. Simultaneously, I elaborated and executed projects to promote reading and writing among children, sponsored by non government organizations such as Foster Parents Plans. Later on, I taught courses for continuing education programs at University of Valle. As a result of my interest in language and writing, I started a career in translation after I came to the USA, and successfully completed a Translation Certificate program at Miami-Dade College, graduating with Highest Honors in 2009, as well as a Paralegal Certificate from Brooklyn College. I have experience translating legal and immigration documents, press releases I am currently dealing with documents regarding human rights and refugees.

The most recent positions in my career are:

Spanish Instructor at Inilingua Languages and Berlitz Language Inc., (Miami, FL) since 2006. Berlitz and Inlingua are both international schools with branches throughout Europe, Eastern countries and the Americas. I have provided services as a Spanish language consultant for business professionals and children, and taught them Spanish conversation, grammar and writing skills.

Free-lance translator since 2000 at Miami, FL, working for non-profit organizations, attorneys and individuals. I have experience translating legal documents, immigration cases and relevant evidences, brochures, booklets and press releases. I have had an outstanding academic performance during my college studies in translation.

Proyecto Pléyade: Academic Adviser for the Education Ministry, in Cali, Colombia. Through that program I teamed with other educators to provide consultancy to public schools in the City of Cali, and advised teachers on how to build learning strategies in the classroom, to stimulate student’s creativity.

At the University of El Valle, in Cali-Colombia, I worked as a professor and workshop facilitator since 1992 until 1998. I worked for the education faculty, offering courses in education, creativity and recreation, and conducted workshops on literature for children for the continuous education program of the Education Faculty.

From 1986 to 1996, sponsored by Foster Parents’ Plan, Instituto Colombiano de Bienestar Familiar, and Fundación Carvajal in Cali-Colombia, I elaborated and executed several projects aimed at schools, families and children living in low-income zones of the city. Most of them were reading programs, traveling libraries, school libraries and training for community mothers.

At the same time I was workshop facilitator for several institutions and cultural events such as Banco de La República of Colombia, Universidad Autónoma of Cali, the Art Fair of Cali, and La Tertulia Museum among others, offering workshops in creativity, creative writing, reading and children’s literature.