Olga Chaves

I am a native Spanish speaker from Costa Rica who has certifications to teach Spanish, English and French. I'll be more than happy to learn any of these languages or translate documents for you. I am a translator too.

Experience

06/2021 - Current 

French Tutor Freelance | Costa Rica 

• Perfectly pronounced French words to students while explaining word meanings to obtain an extensive understanding of translations.
• Provided helpful and constructive feedback to students during assessments to help with learning development in French.
• Used various teaching websites and apps to assist in planning educational lessons in French.
• Motivated students to complete homework tasks through fun and engaging activities.
• Developed and taught educational, engaging, and fun lessons for students, designed to increase enjoyment in French and expand knowledge within language.
• Listened to student concerns and issues, providing helpful solutions.
• Managed virtual classes through Zoom during Covid-19 pandemic.
• Assisted in development of creative, inspiring, and exciting curriculums for French classes.

11/2011 - Current 

English-Spanish Translator Freelance | San José, Costa Rica 

• Compiled common terminology and information for legal translations.
• Interpreted and translated all information in target language precisely ensuring data confidentiality.
• Carefully reviewed completed translations to identify and correct errors or conflicts in the information.
• Consulted reference texts to choose the best-fitting word to deliver clear, accurate message in translated text.
• Factored in cultural information underlying the original information to determine the meaning of specific phrases.
• Kept to the original context, style, and message of translation as much as possible.
• Translated technical and legal documents with precision.
• Facilitated communication and translated procedural information to improve knowledge between both parties.
• Adapted translations to match the knowledge, skills, and culture of the target audience.
• Kept work area organized and clutter-free.
• Managed daily tasks consistently and sought out opportunities to go beyond requirements and support business targets.
• Proofread documents to remedy terminology and vocabulary errors.

 04/2020 - 07/2023

Professor of English

Universidad de Costa Rica | Puntarenas and Liberia, Costa Rica 

• Encouraged culture of learning valuing mutual respect and responsibility and centered on deep exploration of themes, syntax, and rules of written and spoken word.
• Helped recruit and retain program students with initiative-taking outreach and mentoring approaches.
• Implemented instructional strategies and discussions to facilitate meaningful learning of course competencies.
• Prepared well for classes with relevant assignments and fair learning assessment strategies to deliver quality instruction.
• Identified, developed, and implemented ESP and EGP lessons that integrated different English elements aligned with prescribed program curricula.
• Taught writing or communication classes
• Prepared course materials such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts
• Developed materials and syllabi to cover the required information for ESP and English teaching courses.
• Evaluated and graded students' class work, assignments, and papers
• Initiated, facilitated, and moderated classroom discussions.
• Educated students on methods for improving their writing and better evoking the audience's emotions.
• Assessed student learning and understanding of the material with tests, quizzes, and essay assignments.
• Used office hours to help struggling students with coursework and test preparation strategies.
• Evaluated materials and instructional strategies to identify the best choices for future department classes.
• Helped students of different skill levels explore assigned literary works and present themes through lectures and class discussions.

05/2019 - 07/2023 

Professor of English

Universidad Estatal a Distancia | San José, Costa Rica 

• Evaluated and graded students' class work, assignments, and papers
• Used office hours to help struggling students with coursework and test preparation strategies.
• Evaluated materials and instructional strategies to identify the best choices for future department classes.
• Assessed student learning and understanding of the material with tests, quizzes, and essay assignments.
• Educated students on methods for improving their writing and better evoking the audience's emotions.

02/2012 - 07/2023 

Professor of English

Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica | Heredia, Costa Rica 

• Used quality lectures to proactively support students' grasp of English structure, literary history, and appropriate usage.
• Translated course objectives, student learning outcomes, and course materials into appropriate learning activities to boost learning.
• Identified, developed, and implemented ESP, EGP, English Teaching and
• Translation lessons that integrated different English elements aligned with prescribed program curricula.
• Helped recruit and retain program students with initiative-taking outreach and mentoring approaches.
• Served on department and school committees to positively affect students' education and experiences.
• Assisted with development of department-wide curriculum strategies and related instructional materials.
• Advised students on educational and career pathways related to English major and minor courses of instruction.
• Encouraged culture of learning valuing mutual respect and responsibility and centered on deep exploration of themes, syntax, and rules of written and spoken word.
• Prepared well for classes with relevant assignments and fair learning assessment strategies to deliver quality instruction.
• Implemented instructional strategies and discussions to facilitate meaningful learning of course competencies.
• Evaluated and graded students' class work, assignments, and papers
• Worked closely with graduate students to promote the development of advanced abilities and knowledge.
• Evaluated materials and instructional strategies to identify the best choices for future department classes.
• Assessed student learning and understanding of the material with tests, quizzes, and essay assignments.
• Helped students of different skill levels explore assigned literary works and present themes through lectures and class discussions.
• Taught writing or communication classes
• Educated students on methods for improving their writing and better evoking the audience's emotions.
• Developed materials and syllabi to cover the required information for Translation, ESP, EGP and
• English Teaching courses
• Used office hours to help struggling students with coursework and test preparation strategies.
• Initiated, facilitated, and moderated classroom discussions.
• Prepared course materials such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts
• Served on campus committees to improve the quality of instruction.

09/2013 - 01/2019 

Professor of English

Universidad Americana | Heredia, Costa Rica 

• Used quality lectures to proactively support students' grasp of English structure, literary history, and appropriate usage.
• Advised students on educational and career pathways related to English major and minor courses of instruction.
• Helped recruit and retain program students with initiative-taking outreach and mentoring approaches.
• Prepared well for classes with relevant assignments and fair learning assessment strategies to deliver quality instruction.
• Implemented instructional strategies and discussions to facilitate meaningful learning of course competencies.
• Served on department and school committees to positively affect students' education and experiences.
• Translated course objectives, student learning outcomes, and course materials into appropriate learning activities to boost learning.
• Encouraged culture of learning valuing mutual respect and responsibility and centered on deep exploration of themes, syntax, and rules of written and spoken word.
• Worked closely with graduate students to promote the development of advanced abilities and knowledge.
• Assessed student learning and understanding of the material with tests, quizzes, and essay assignments.
• Helped students of different skill levels explore assigned literary works and present themes through lectures and class discussions.
• Initiated, facilitated, and moderated classroom discussions.
• Evaluated and graded students' class work, assignments, and papers
• Taught writing or communication classes
• Educated students on methods for improving their writing and better evoking the audience's emotions.
• Prepared course materials such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.

04/2015 - 11/2016 

Professor of English

Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica | San José, Costa Rica 

• Identified, developed, and implemented ESP lessons that integrated different English elements aligned with prescribed program curricula.
• Assisted with development of department-wide curriculum strategies and related instructional materials.
• Encouraged culture of learning valuing mutual respect and responsibility and centered on deep exploration of themes, syntax, and rules of written and spoken word.
• Translated course objectives, student learning outcomes, and course materials into appropriate learning activities to boost learning.
• Prepared well for classes with relevant assignments and fair learning assessment strategies to deliver quality instruction.
• Implemented instructional strategies and discussions to facilitate meaningful learning of course competencies.
• Used quality lectures to proactively support students' grasp of English structure, literary history, and appropriate usage.
• Taught writing or communication classes.
• Evaluated and graded students' class work, assignments, and papers
• Assessed student learning and understanding of the material with tests, quizzes, and essay assignments.
• Helped students of different skill levels explore assigned literary works and present themes through lectures and class discussions.
• Prepared course materials such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
• Developed materials and syllabi to cover the required information for ESP courses.
• Evaluated materials and instructional strategies to identify the best choices for future department classes.
• Used office hours to help struggling students with coursework and test preparation strategies.

01/2011 - 11/2012 

Kindle and Seller Support Specialist, technical support

Amazon | Heredia, Costa Rica 

• Performance records for areas of improvement and unacceptable delays, generating potential solutions for discovered issues.
• Received and addressed customer complaints, investigating root cause, and managing related corrective measures.
• Designed best practices for Kindle and Seller Support calls, creating optimized work plans to expedite successful ticket resolution.
• Diagnosed and documented technical issues, directing tickets to appropriate personnel for remediation.
• Collaborated with staff, users, and management to establish requirements for new systems or modifications.
• Supported Kindle users by quickly investigating and resolving hardware and software issues.
• Customized system, software, and hardware settings to meet specific user needs.
• Answered user inquiries regarding computer software or hardware operation to resolve problems.

06/2010 - 01/2011 

Loan Counselor

Bank of America | San José, Costa Rica

• Oversaw successful completion of mortgage loan officer training and facilitated instructional activities.
• Understood and complied with requirements of applicable federal and state lending laws and regulations.
• Explained terms of each loan product and obtained required document and disclosure signatures.
• Calculated the customer's initial payment plans and repayment schedules for delinquent customers to bring loans current.
• Reached out to borrowers with delinquent accounts to pursue payments and negotiate repayment plans.

01/2010 - 06/2010 

International Customer Service Agent

Teleperformance | Santa Ana, Costa Rica

• Researched and resolved order discrepancies to satisfy customers in international locales such as Europe, America, Africa, the Middle East, and Oceania
• Answered questions about proof of payments, money transfer, fraud inquiries and Western Union locations for international agents per day.
• Evaluated customer accounts and worked with management to devise revenue generating approaches.
• Coordinated with internal departments such as marketing, inventory control, and production to resolve customers' issues.
• Edited and processed orders received from international customers, sales representatives, and field personnel.
• Fielded telephone calls and emails from international customers.
• Completed calls and followed scripts to maintain good call control.
• Met and exceeded daily service quality and performance goals.
• Engaged with customers to understand and resolve issues and answer product questions.
• Investigated product concerns and communicated with departments to understand customer issues.
• Referred unresolved customer grievances to designated departments for further investigation. 

06/2005 - 01/2010 

International Customer Service Agent Western | Santa Ana, Costa Rica

• Fielded telephone calls and emails from international customers.
• Evaluated customer accounts and worked with management to devise revenue generating approaches.
• Researched and resolved order discrepancies to satisfy customers in international locales such as Europe, America, Africa, the Middle East, and Oceania.
• Collaborated with sales representatives, distributors, and production managers to meet the needs of international customers.
• Investigated product concerns and communicated with departments to understand customer issues.
• Processed orders and coordinated delivery schedules to meet customer needs.
• Prepared and processed forms to change customer service levels.
• Met and exceeded daily service quality and performance goals.
• Referred unresolved customer grievances to designated departments for further investigation.
• Completed contract forms, prepared change of address records, and issued service discontinuance orders using computers.
• Engaged with customers to understand and resolve issues and answer product questions.
• Completed calls and followed scripts to maintain good call control.
• Updated customer accounts with current personal and purchasing information.
• Answered questions about proof of payments, daily account limits and money transfers for international customers per day. 

Education

Jun 2011 

Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica | Costa Rica

Master of Arts: English-Spanish 

GPA: 8.81

Jan 2020 

Universidad Internacional San Isidro Labrador | Costa Rica

Associate of Arts: Primary 

Dec 2016 

Universidad Magister | Costa Rica

Licenciatura: English 

GPA: 9.37

Apr 2022 

Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica | Costa Rica

Bachelor of Arts: Spanish Teaching as L2/FL 

GPA 10

Apr 2022 

Universidad de Costa Rica | Costa Rica

Master of Arts: English as a Foreign Language 

GPA: 8.68

Apr 2005 

Universidad de Costa Rica | Costa Rica

Bachelor of Arts: English 

GPA: 8.74

2024 

Universidad de Costa Rica 

Bachelor of Arts: French 

GPA 8.68

Languages