We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tania Schettini a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Tania, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

The idea for my business began with a very personal and emotional moment in my life.

As I was preparing to get married and move to the United States, my father sat down with my future husband and me and said something that stayed with me forever: *“I hope my grandchildren can speak to me in Spanish.”*

That simple statement carried so much love, hope, and concern. It wasn’t just about language—it was about connection, identity, and family. At the time, I didn’t fully realize how powerful those words would become in shaping my future.

As the years passed and I settled into life in the U.S., I began to notice something deeply concerning. Many Spanish-speaking families—just like mine—were facing the same challenge: their children were slowly losing the ability to communicate in Spanish. Despite coming from bilingual homes, English was becoming dominant, and with that, an important part of their cultural identity was fading.

I realized that this was not just a personal situation—it was a widespread need.

At the same time, I saw another gap. As the Hispanic population continued to grow in the United States, there was an increasing demand for individuals who could speak Spanish professionally and confidently. Across industries—education, healthcare, business—bilingualism was becoming essential.

And with globalization, the world was changing. Families were traveling more, cultures were connecting, and the ability to communicate in more than one language was no longer optional—it was an advantage, and in many cases, a necessity.

Then came a defining moment.

My youngest daughter, **Isabella Schettini**, who has shown an entrepreneurial spirit from a very early age, suggested one summer: *“Why don’t we offer a Spanish summer camp for the community?”*

That simple idea sparked something powerful.

That summer, we launched our first Spanish Summer Camp in Charleston, South Carolina—and the response was incredible. Families were looking exactly for this: a meaningful, engaging, and joyful way for their children to learn Spanish.

From that moment on, everything grew.

What started as a small idea quickly evolved into a larger vision. We expanded beyond Spanish to include other languages and programs, always staying true to our core philosophy: learning through experience.

What truly sets Lowcountry Language Academy apart is our approach. We don’t teach language as a subject—we create environments where children *live* the language. Through play, movement, art, science, music, and exploration, language becomes natural, joyful, and lasting.

I also realized something very important: **the earlier children start, the more confident and fluent they become**. Starting young allows language to develop organically, just like a first language.

What began as my father’s heartfelt wish—and was later sparked into action by my daughter’s idea—has now become a mission.

Lowcountry Language Academy is more than a program.
It is a bridge—between generations, cultures, and opportunities.

A place where children can connect with their heritage, prepare for the future, and discover that **their potential is limitless

Tania, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

About Me & Lowcountry Language Academy**

My name is Tania B. Schettini, and I am the founder and director of Lowcountry Language Academy. My journey into this work is deeply personal and rooted in both my cultural background and my experience as an educator and mother.

I was born and raised in Barranquilla, Colombia, and later moved to the United States, where I continued my career in education. I hold a Spanish Teaching License from Wake Forest University and a degree in Social Communication and Journalism from Universidad Autónoma del Caribe. Over the years, I worked with several private schools in the Charleston area, but I began to feel there was something missing in how languages were being taught—especially at the early childhood level.

The inspiration for my work truly began with a meaningful moment before I moved to the U.S., when my father expressed his hope that his grandchildren would be able to speak Spanish with him. As time passed, I realized that many families—especially bilingual or multicultural families—were facing the same challenge: children were losing connection to their heritage language.

At the same time, I saw a growing need in the United States for individuals who could communicate confidently in more than one language. With globalization, increased travel, and expanding multicultural communities, language is no longer just an academic subject—it is a life skill and a bridge to opportunity.

That’s when I knew this was not just an idea—it was a necessity.

A pivotal moment came when my youngest daughter, Isabella, who has always had a natural entrepreneurial spirit, suggested that we offer a Spanish summer camp to the community. We launched our first camp in Charleston, and the response was incredible. Families were looking for exactly this kind of program—engaging, meaningful, and rooted in real-life language use.

Today, Lowcountry Language Academy offers language enrichment programs for children and adults, including Spanish immersion programs, summer camps, after-school enrichment, and private lessons in multiple languages such as Spanish, French, Mandarin, and German.

What sets us apart is our approach. We do not teach language as a traditional subject to memorize—we create immersive, hands-on experiences where language is lived. Our programs are inspired by a play-based, STEAM-integrated approach that includes art, science, music, movement, and exploration. Children learn naturally, building confidence and communication skills in a joyful and meaningful way.

We solve several key challenges for families:

* Helping children maintain and develop their heritage language
* Providing early exposure to second languages in a natural way
* Preparing students with skills that will benefit them academically and professionally
* Creating a nurturing environment where children feel confident expressing themselves

What I am most proud of is the impact we have on our students and families. Seeing a child gain confidence, begin to communicate in another language, or reconnect with their cultural identity is incredibly meaningful. We are not just teaching language—we are building bridges between cultures, generations, and opportunities.

What I want families and our community to know is that Lowcountry Language Academy is built with intention, care, and a deep commitment to each child’s growth. We keep our classes small to ensure personalized attention, and we truly partner with families in their children’s learning journey.

At its core, this work is about connection—connection to language, to culture, to family, and to the world.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

What Helped Me Build My Reputation

I believe my reputation has been built on a combination of **authenticity, consistency, and genuine care for families and students**.

From the very beginning, this was never just a business for me—it was personal. Families can feel that. They know that I truly care about their children, their growth, and their connection to language and culture. That level of intention creates trust, and trust is the foundation of any strong reputation.

Another key factor has been **the quality and uniqueness of our programs**. We offer more than traditional language classes—we provide immersive, hands-on experiences where children learn through play, exploration, and meaningful interaction. Parents quickly see the difference in their children’s engagement, confidence, and progress, and that naturally leads to strong word-of-mouth.

**Word-of-mouth referrals have been one of our biggest drivers of growth.** Families share their experiences with other families, and that organic growth has been incredibly powerful. When parents trust you with their children, and then recommend you to others, it speaks volumes.

Consistency has also played a big role. We show up every day with the same level of professionalism, warmth, and commitment. Whether it’s communication with parents, classroom experience, or program quality, we strive to maintain high standards across everything we do.

I also believe that **being part of the community** has helped tremendously. We participate in local events, collaborate with schools, and create opportunities for families to connect. This has allowed us to build relationships beyond the classroom and truly become part of the community we serve.

Finally, I think our mission resonates with families. We are not just teaching language—we are helping children build confidence, connect with their heritage, and prepare for a global future. That purpose-driven approach is something families value and remember.

At the end of the day, our reputation has grown because of the relationships we build and the impact we make—one child, one family at a time.

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

Yes—what started as a small side project truly grew into my full-time passion and career.

It all began very simply. I wanted to create something meaningful for my own children during the summer—an environment where they could have fun, stay engaged, and continue learning Spanish in a natural and enjoyable way. So I started a small Spanish Summer Camp, initially as a way to provide a fun, enriching experience and earn some additional income during the summer.

What I didn’t expect was the response.

Families in the community quickly became interested. Parents were asking if they could enroll their children, and more importantly, they began asking, *“Do you offer this during the school year?”* That’s when I realized this was not just a summer idea—it was a real need.

From there, things began to grow organically.

One of the first key milestones was expanding from a summer camp into year-round programming. We introduced language enrichment classes, and demand continued to increase. Parents saw the value—not just in learning Spanish, but in the way it was being taught: through hands-on, engaging, and immersive experiences.

Another important milestone was expanding our offerings beyond Spanish. As interest grew, we began introducing other languages and programs, responding directly to what families were asking for.

Over time, what started as a small, family-centered initiative evolved into a structured, professional program. We moved into our own dedicated space, built a strong team, and developed a curriculum that reflects our philosophy of experiential, play-based learning.

What made it scale was truly the community. Word-of-mouth, parent trust, and seeing the impact on children’s confidence and language development fueled our growth. Families weren’t just signing up—they were staying, returning, and recommending us to others.

Looking back, the growth was very organic. I didn’t start with a large business plan—I started with a purpose. And that purpose resonated.

Today, Lowcountry Language Academy is my full-time career, but more than that, it’s a mission. What began as something for my own children has grown into something that now supports so many families in our community.

And it all started with one small summer camp.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lowcountrylanguagecademy.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lowcountrylanguageacademyllc/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lowcountrylanguageacademyllc/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@lowcountrylanguageacademy1522

Image Credits

Maria Luisa Spinosa