MEET OUR EXPERTs

Meet The NaTakallam Language Partners

Our Mission

NaTakallam leverages the global digital economy to provide income to displaced persons & conflict-affected communities, by hiring them as online tutors, teachers, translators, interpreters & cultural exchange partners, regardless of their location & status. We deliver high-quality, curated language services to both individual and organizational clients worldwide. Along the way, NaTakallam fosters understanding, builds bridges and changes the narrative around refugees.

OUR LANGUAGE PARTNERS

Global Stories & Experiences

Our Language Partners’ stories are at the heart of our impact. Each individual we work with has a unique journey and contributes to our mission in meaningful ways.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  • Spanish
  • Arabic
  • French
  • Ukrainian
The Ripple Effect:

Noor’s Story

Refugees work with NaTakallam to gain income, which they in turn spend in their host country.
NaTakallam tutors and translators become economically enabled, form community and strengthen their social capital and networks.
Displaced and conflict-affected tutors and translators find pathways to resettlement and job opportunities through the NaTakallam student community.
Zoom in on: Noor

NaTakallam Language Partner, Noor – a Syrian Language Partner in Lebanon – resettled to Italy, was granted asylum, able to fully restart her life and secure her pathway to EU citizenship.
Now, Noor shares her story and advocates for change…

The Ripple Effect:

Noor’s Story

Refugees work with NaTakallam to gain income, which they in turn spend in their host country.
NaTakallam tutors and translators become economically enabled, form community and strengthen their social capital and networks.
Displaced and conflict-affected tutors and translators find pathways to resettlement and job opportunities through the NaTakallam student community.
Zoom in on: Noor.
NaTakallam Language Partner, Noor – a Syrian Language Partner in Lebanon – resettled to Italy, was granted asylum, able to fully restart her life and secure her pathway to EU citizenship.
Now, Noor shares her story and advocates for change…

Upward mobility: the opportunities don’t stop at freelance language leaching

We’re committed to offering our Language Partners, tutors and translators a career growth pathway – by offering them opportunities within NaTakallam and connecting them with our networks.

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Name: Marianela
Language: Spanish
Origin: Venezuela
Current Location: Argentina
“It’s a great feeling to feel part of a community like NaTakallam. It is a sense of belonging and the security of a good job that I really like and am proud of.”
STORY: Marianela Núñez Patiño is the former owner of an adventure tourism agency in Venezuela. She was forced to abandon her business and leave her country due to Venezuela’s economic collapse, political turmoil, and her involvement in student protests.

But even in leaving Venezuela, the path to safety was anything but simple. From a two-day bus ride to the border, walking long distances to cross into Colombia, and sleeping on sidewalks and airport floors, the journey spanned a grueling five days filled with physical and emotional challenges. Despite showing signs of hypothermia and immense exhaustion, she pushed through, traveling through Bogotá, Panama, and finally reaching Costa Rica.

NaTakallam became a source of hope for Marianela during this time. Referred to NaTakallam by a connection, she joined as our first Spanish Language Partner in 2020, finding a renewed sense of purpose, belonging, and impact. Since then, Marianela has taught over 100 students, sharing her language, culture, and passion for ecology with learners from around the globe.

Marianela was able to return to Venezuela but was forced to live in hiding. She has recently relocated to Buenos Aires, Argentina, where she continues to teach, inspire, and connect with people worldwide through NaTakallam.
LEARN spanish WITH TUTORS LIKE marianela.
Name: Iryna
Language: Ukrainian & Russian
Origin: Ukraine
Current Location: Romania
“What I like most about working with NaTakallam is that the organization truly understands what it means to be a refugee in a foreign country. They provide all the support they can, and that makes a huge difference in my life.”
STORY: STORY: Iryna, a former Ukrainian Language and Literature teacher, lost her job and was forced to flee her home due to the war on Ukraine.

For nearly a year prior, she endured the harsh realities of life in a war zone – air raid sirens, explosions, and an ever-present sense of uncertainty. The experience reshaped her perspective, teaching her to value life’s fleeting moments and cherish those who stood by her side.

When she left Ukraine in 2023, Iryna faced the daunting challenges of rebuilding her life as a refugee, testing every limit she thought she had. In Romania, she found a source of hope and stability through NaTakallam.

Iryna’s story is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the power of education to rebuild lives. In her free time she enjoys jogging, spending time with her children, and studying English.
LEARN UKRAINIAN & RUSSIAN WITH TUTORS LIKE Iryna.
Name: Shrouk
Language: Arabic (Egyptian & Modern Standard Arabic)
Origin: Egypt
Current Location: United States
“My journey through conflict has not only shaped my career but also reinforced my commitment to using language education for connection and empowerment. My NaTakallam classes are interactive, fun, and full of laughter – helping students learn to speak, listen, read, and write from day one.”

STORY: Shrouk is originally from Cairo, and has over 12 years of experience teaching Arabic. She honed her expertise through roles at the Arabeya Language Institute and as a private tutor for foreign diplomats.

In 2013, a political incident involving a family member left Shrouk feeling unsafe in her own country. Around the same time, she met a dual Egyptian-American citizen online. As their digital connection grew into love, the couple married, and Shrouk left Egypt to start a new chapter of her life in the United States.

Now based in the US, Shrouk continues her work as an Arabic educator while pursuing a Master’s in Arabic Language and Linguistics at California University of Pennsylvania. Her qualifications include certifications in teaching Arabic, print media translation, simultaneous interpreting, and business administration.

While Shrouk finds life in the US more promising than in Egypt, there are moments of challenges, especially as a woman who wears a hijab. Yet, her determination, passion, and expertise continue to drive her forward – and Shrouk has built a meaningful life in a new country, inspiring her students and bridging cultures through the power of language.

LEARN ARABIC WITH TUTORS LIKE Shrouk.
Name: Shahd
Language: Arabic (Palestinian Dialect)
Origin: Gaza, Palestine
Current Location: United States  
“I now am the sole provider for my family of six: my mother, two sisters, and two brothers. As the only source of income, the responsibility of our survival in Egypt falls to me since we are not granted any of the social services available to Egyptian citizens – and there is little assistance for refugees. Through my freelance work as a journalist and with NaTakallam, I hope to sustain myself and my family and keep up hope for a brighter future.”
STORY: Shahd Safi, a former journalist from Gaza, is now pursuing a joint major in Human Rights and Written Arts in the US after fleeing the ongoing genocide. Supported by a GoFundMe campaign led by her NaTakallam student, she evacuated with her mother and siblings, while her father and other family members remain in Gaza.
LEARN arabic WITH TUTORS LIKE chahd.

Spanish is one of the fastest growing foreign languages in the world. Get access to the Spanish business world with our native tutors – tailored to your needs.

Improve your proficiency in Farsi or Dari & contextualize your learning with cultural insights from our native tutors. Language & culture go hand-in-hand at NaTakallam.

Looking to do business with Kurdish businesses? Learn with NaTakallam’s native speakers & reach new language (& business) goals – tailored to your professional needs.

Gain an edge with contextualized French learning by native tutors from displaced backgrounds. Flexible, with cultural & business insights, tailored to your needs.

Choose from Eastern Armenian or Western Armenian. Get quality teaching & unique insights from native tutors. Gain an edge with Armenian language skills.

Offer your team a smoother integration or transition with our customized English lessons delivered by bilingual tutors with extensive English instruction experience.

Choose from Modern Standard Arabic or any of our 7+ dialects offered by native tutors across the region. Take your proficiency to the next level & connect with the Arab business world.

Lucy

Lucy Davis

Communications, PR & Development Officer

Background In: Political Science and Advocacy

Languages Spoken: English, French, Spanish, and some Arabic

Based In: France and the US

Loves: Cooking, doing puzzles, and traveling to new places.