Foreign Languages

Our language teachers provide immersive, communicative instruction that goes beyond vocabulary lists. Whether studying Spanish, French, American Sign Language, Japanese, or Chinese, students develop practical language skills while exploring other cultures.

Our foreign language faculty emphasizes conversation, cultural understanding, and real-world application—preparing students for travel, ministry, and global citizenship.

Mary Rebecca Bell

Teaches

Mary draws on two years of living in Japan and studying the language there to bring authentic cultural perspective to her Japanese classes. Throughout the year, she draws deeply on her very happy memories of numerous, extensive road trips from England to France and her long-term fascination with languages.

With a Bachelor’s and Master’s of Science (with Honors) and 16.5 years as an Air Force nurse reaching the rank of Major, Mary brings discipline and excellence to language instruction. She’s been homeschooling since 1994 and teaching at THEO since its inception.

“I have enjoyed learning languages for as long as I can remember!” Mary also teaches Starting Points Worldview and Saxon 6/5 math, ensuring students are grounded in their faith while developing language proficiency.

Note:

Mary happily makes time to help any student who requests extra language tutoring.

Julie Smith

Teaches

“It is my honor and privilege to serve the THEO family, and I cannot wait to dive into the Spanish language alongside a new group of learners!”

Julie’s love for Spanish began as a freshman in high school when her family hosted a foreign exchange student. She couldn’t believe how much she learned just from her exchange student, and worked hard in Spanish classes to keep in touch. When she began studying language theory in college, the light bulb came on! What she had received from Paola was so natural they didn’t even know it was happening—similar to how babies learn their first language.

“I knew this was how I would teach Spanish, and I’ve been blessed to use this method with hundreds of students over the last 25+ years.” By Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling (TPRS), language comes alive! Students find themselves immersed in language that they understand, can produce, and want to keep learning more.

Julie's Goal:

For every student in her class, at every level, to leave with the ability to use what they have learned in the real world and to continue building on the language skills they acquired. “It’s my job to make learning fun, accessible, and unforgettable. Join me!”

Education:

Teaching Experience:

Related Experience:

Robert Clover-Brown

Teaches

Throughout the year, Robert draws deeply on his very happy memories of numerous, extensive road trips from England to France—”the ‘Chunnel’ under the water between England and France is indeed an experience”—and his long-term fascination with the country and its mellifluous language.

Robert’s French classes use lively, comprehensive textbooks supported by a variety of ancillary materials. Students engage in verbal and written exercises, interact with web-based French language programs, read and translate French stories, watch travel DVDs, translate French recipes and menus, play French board games, and share French-themed food (when attending in person at THEO).

Note:

Robert happily makes time to help any student who requests extra language tutoring.

Tina Cook

Teaches

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry’s standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.

Anna Gibson

Teaches

Miss Gibson attended RHSA (Richardson Homeschool Association) all through elementary and middle school, then attended Town North (The Green Roof Co-op) for all 4 years of high school, graduating in 2018. She also attended THEO her Junior and Senior year.

After graduating, she became a student at Collin College, joined the Sign Language Interpreter Program, and graduated in August 2021.

Miss Gibson has always loved working with kids. She has helped at a summer Bible camp, taught piano, worked in childcare at her church, assisted at a Vacation Bible School for deaf kids, and been a nanny for several families.

She taught at Friday Adventures last year and is teaching again this year. “She can’t wait to see what the Lord has next for her!”