OUR STORY

What began as two women’s dream on a bike ride one fateful night in Gràcia, blossomed into a dynamic learning community.

Collage was founded in 2005 as a creative learning space offering multi-disciplinary, hands-on English language learning programs. Collage’s goal has always been to remain small and dedicated to each and every student. We recognize the individual learning styles of everyone, regardless if they are 1 year-old or 65 years-old.

OUR MISSION & VISION

Our programs were created with the students in mind. A teacher:student ratio of no more than 1:8 coupled with maximum of 12 students in a class means that we are always able to individualize the learning experience for every student and allow them to progress at their own pace.

Our programs have been developed over a decade of hands-on experience, building programs that have proven effective to both learn English and respect every student’s learning style and rhythm. Our goal is for our students to assimilate English naturally and learn it fully, as well as having fun with it! Loving it. Seeing it as a tool, not as simply a line on their future CV.

OUR TEAM

At Collage we only hire dedicated and experienced teachers, however this is only the tip of the iceberg of what makes our teachers so amazing!

Collage teachers come from many different walks of life, but what brings us all together is a deep, shared feeling about the importance of hands-on learning; the love of teaching and learning alongside our students. A true belief in the benefits of real connection, of empathy, of taking the time to find what works for each and every one of our students. The energy, time and dedication that goes on behind the scenes speaks volumes to the success of our programs and to the smiles that happen in all of our classrooms!

Our teachers are the embodiment of “Do what you love” and, alongside teaching, they have rich and varied backgrounds and passions – fine arts, theatre, music, cooking, photography, sewing and much more – and we believe this adds to the richness and community aspect of Collage.

Find out more about our team

Eleanor Sterk

Co-director

Hi! My name is Ellie and I am very excited to take the next step in my Collage adventure! Over the years it has become such an important part of my life and now I am so happy to take on this great challenge.

I have always had a wonder for the world that has taken me to many places and down many roads. Initially I chose to explore and express this through film and the arts, studying Film in Bristol. The years following my degree I explored many options, and although my interest and involvement in the arts remains to this day, I found nothing as rewarding, interesting and important as allowing children to discover and experience that same wonder and excitement about the things around them.

I have worked in schools in India, on farms and forest schools in the UK, and summer camps across Europe before completing my primary PGCE in Bath. After many years of working in schools, I formed a strong interest in alternative education.

I moved to Barcelona 7 years ago and have worked with children of all ages; teaching, caring for babies, working in a bilingual Montessori school, taking teenagers on adventures in the Alps, and babysitting for many families. I have been at Collage for 6 years, teaching in the Little Faces, Little Actors and Mini Makers programs, as well as working as the Program Coordinator and school Coordinator. I continue to be amazed and inspired by working in education, both the children and myself are constantly learning and exploring, and having a lot of fun at the same time!

Rafaela Diogenes

Co-director

Hi! I'm Ela and I'm super excited to embark on this journey with Ellie as Collage directors after working here in different capacities for 7 years. Collage has been a home to me ever since I moved to Barcelona in 2013, but the road that brought me here was winding and long.

I was born in Brazil and as a teenager I moved to the U.S. This opened my eyes to how big and diverse the world is and it sparked my curiosity for different cultures. I've been a creative soul since I was very young, I started doing theatre in my childhood and never stopped. When I was 19 I started drama in University and began to teach children as a creative English educator, linking ESL teaching, the art world and early childhood education. I later studied film and Arts and Education.

I came to Barcelona to study physical theatre. I've also studied contemporary dance and movement and storytelling, but I ended up learning much more. That's when I became truly fascinated by creative teaching and alternative education, especially Waldorf and Montessori. Apart from working at Collage as a lead teacher in all programs, Coordinating the theatre program (Little Actors) and managing the school during Emilie's maternity leave, I also worked in a trilingual Montessori school for four years, cared for babies, took teenagers in adventures through different Catalan pueblos, babysat and did storytelling sessions for all ages.

I deeply believe in creative education as a way to help children explore their imagination and truly learn from within. Collage has always offered children just that, and that's why it has not just been a home to me, but to lots of kids who come here to learn in a fun and artistic way. I am extremely happy to have the opportunity to continue doing this incredible work!

Emilie Delcourt

Founder

I’m Emilie, co-founder of Collage. Originally from the US, I arrived to Barcelona in 2002 fresh out of Haverford College, where my studies centered around urban spaces and community development, and specifically about the role of art in education and building communities.

When I met Kate Simer in 2003 I found a kindred spirit. We quickly discovered that what we really wanted was to create a community-focused, hands-on educational space where we could teach English the way we saw really worked: through art, through play, through fun - inspiring our students to be curious and letting that be what propels them into true language learning.

In 2005 we founded Collage. Since then I have worked with hundreds of teachers and educators, moved our innovative English programs into over 20 schools, and, most importantly, had the joy of teaching hundreds of students what I love most: a love of language, self-expression, curiosity and creativity.

One of the things I enjoy most about Collage is watching the growth that happens. Our programs don’t live in a vacuum; learning is never static and I don’t believe methodologies should be either. This means that as the years pass and our teaching community shifts and changes, the world around us shifts and changes, we do as well. Constantly adapting to the needs of our students, letting them lead their own learning process; always trying to be attuned and open to the knowledge and resources that the whole team is bringing into Collage year after year, and learning alongside our students.

Creating Collage, and then witnessing it take on its own life, has been one of my greatest joys. For me, the joy is in being able to be present for that process; create a space for it.

Along with Collage my other passion is words. I am a writer, translator and editor, and have the great pleasure of co-editing Barcelona’s only English-language literary magazine, @parenthesesmagazine . The writing community that has grown up around Collage has been one of my cornerstones in Barcelona.

Last, but not least, I am Pau’s mama and Joan’s partner, both of whom I love to get lost with!

Anna Davis

Program Coordinator & Lead Teacher

Hello! I'm Anna and this will be my sixth year working at Collage. I am the Dynamic English program coordinator which I really, really love doing.

I am from Brighton in the south of England, but have travelled extensively before settling here in Barcelona. Travel and creativity have always been my passions and it is these things that I naturally bring to the classroom.

I have been teaching English for 10 years, both here in Barcelona and before in Argentina. I teach not only children but adults too; all ages, levels and professions, with the constant goal of making learning enjoyable and specific to each student’s needs.

I have always been involved in the arts, from photography and film, to painting and illustration; my current personal project is @_paint_and_stitch_ , bespoke clothing and bag designs.

Despite the recent strange times we have all had to face, I’m confident that this new year is going to be a great one, looking forward to seeing you all soon!

Sophie Grove

Lead Teacher

Hello! My name is Sophie and this is my second year working at Collage.

I spent my childhood growing up in a village surrounded by the beautiful countryside in the South of England. I attended Art classes from the age of 6. Art, craft and upcycling are my passions. I started an IG page with some crafts I made during quarantine - @sophie.artsandcrafts

I also have a big heart for people and show this through my various voluntary roles over the years in local charities. I have studied foundation degrees in Art and in Art Therapy and then went on to achieve a degree in Social Sciences.

My teaching experience includes giving English classes to adults with learning difficulties, assisting in Art classes for people with Cerebral Palsy and teaching Creative English classes to kids of all ages. This year I am excited to teach Dynamic English, Little Faces and assist in Little Actors!

I feel it's so important for children to be able to express themselves through creative means. With art there is no right or wrong; it allows freedom; it knows no boundaries.

I moved to sunny Barcelona seven years ago and live with my two adorable adopted cats called Mango and Maki. I look forward to another year at Collage!

Diana Salcedo

Lead Teacher

I’m a Mexican American who has lived in Barcelona for 13 years. I’ve taught English to students of all ages and backgrounds for twenty years now. I started giving private English classes to children when I was in high school; later on I obtained my degree in Hospitality Management in Miami, Florida. I worked in tourism for a while, but life drew me back to teaching.

I obtained my Cambridge Celta Certificate at International House Barcelona. I worked at the IEN-North American Institute for 11 years teaching children ages 4-9 year-olds, juniors and teens. I’ve also taught adults basic, pre-intermediate, intermediate, upper-intermediate and advanced levels.

I love to cook and try new recipes. Listening to music, singing and making some beats is something I enjoy doing in my free time. I appreciate art, I take pleasure in creating fun crafts with kids. This is my second year at Collage and I am delighted to be part of this creative, ingenious, originative team.

OUR SCHOOL

Located in the heart of Gràcia, Collage is a warm, friendly and welcoming space with a strong community feel and three large rooms adapted to each of our programs needs: the Little Actors theatre room, the Little Faces art room and the Dynamic English room.

COLLAGE IS...

Collage isn’t just about teaching English; it’s about bringing English to life!

COLLAGE IS... imagination, kindness, empowering, discovering, finding your voice, sunny, building, messy fun, bottled clouds, creativity, experiments, theatre and so much more!

Click on the photos below to find out more about how we bring all of these values into our teaching and encourage them in our community

Would you like to join us at Collage?

Are you a native English speaking educator with a passion for teaching Young Learners in a creative, dynamic and respectful way? If so, we'd love to hear from you!