Originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, Maria was first introduced to French as a young child by a caregiver at her kindergarten. That early experience sparked a lifelong connection to the French language and culture, which would go on to shape both her personal and professional life. She began her career in education at 19 as an assistant teacher working with elementary school students. She later joined the Alliance Française de Buenos Aires, where she taught French to teenagers and adults. In October 1995, she earned the Brevet d’aptitude à l’enseignement du français hors de France, a professional qualification in teaching French as a foreign language awarded by the Alliance Française de Paris. She also pursued studies in French–Spanish translation and interpretation and holds an Associate Degree in Liberal Arts from the United States. Maria went on to spend twenty years working for a French company before returning to teaching in 2019. A lifelong language enthusiast, Maria also speaks Spanish, English, and Portuguese. Her interest in psychoanalysis inspired her to study German. She has a particular passion for semiotics, the study of signs and how meaning is created, as well as a strong curiosity about how people acquire languages. As a teacher, her greatest hope is to inspire in her students the same love of French that began for her in childhood. She believes that discovering a new language should be a joyful experience, one that opens doors to new cultures, perspectives, and meaningful human connections.