VALERIA SOLANO RODRÍGUEZ
San Vicente
Summary
Experienced Language Coordinator with expertise in managing language projects and programs. Proven leadership in coordinating teams to achieve language proficiency objectives. Proficient in curriculum development and training facilitation, resulting in improved efficiency of language learning processes.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Global Language Coordinator
Smith+Nephew Costa Rica
07.2023 - Current
- Led global language training coordination, serving as primary contact for all S+N employees and vendors.
- Designed annual communication campaign to enhance awareness of language benefits among managers and users.
- Provided onboarding training for language license users, ensuring effective system utilization.
- Monitored platform usage and coordinated license reassignments to optimize resource allocation.
- Established regular communications with stakeholders to report on user progress and engagement.
- Developed Data Report Dashboard to track language license usage, progress metrics, and ROI analysis.
- Delivered customized Business English workshops, enhancing specific skills like effective email writing and presentation delivery.
- Coordinated learning and development events, managing schedules, participant registration, and feedback collection.
Professor, School of Modern Languages, English Department
Universidad de Costa Rica
San José
08.2016 - 12.2023
- Taught courses for three different departments of the School of Modern Languages: English Literature, English Composition, and Sección de Inglés para Otras Carreras (SIPOC).
- Courses taught: Oral Communication II, English Composition I, Reading Strategies I and II, Chicana Literature, Women and Literature, American Literature Survey, British Literature Survey, Comparative Literature, Children’s Literature, Literature of the Commonwealth, Introduction to Drama.
- Developed the course syllabus, course packet and supplementary materials for all the literature courses guided by the objective to increase student interest and engagement in the language learning process.
- Collaborated with department coordinators and professors to ensure the quality and quantity of course materials met the School’s expectations.
- Taught in-person and virtual classes through lectures, reading guides, open discussions, individual and group work based on anthologies and literary texts.
- In each course taught, student evaluations indicated that student interest in the subject matter increased as a result of their participation in the course.
- Received top marks in the student evaluations of the professor and course.
- Gave workshops on writing academic argumentative essays on literary texts and on the use of academic databases, which strengthened the students’ formal writing skills.
Learning and Development Specialist
Smith+Nephew Costa Rica
Alajuela
11.2022 - 07.2023
- Responsible for developing, coordinating, and monitoring the quality of the Learning and Development Program at Smith+Nephew Costa Rica Manufacturing site according to the business strategy approved by the People Steering Committee, to attract, retain and develop the talent of the Manufacturing site.
- Conduct L&D Program Needs Analysis for Production area, including the specific needs of every department in the administrative branch of the manufacturing plant, as well as Line leads and Assemblers. Conduct meetings with all main stakeholders.
- Communicate outputs of L&D Program participation and feedback by means of data reports and presentation to all Directors from People Steering Committee through meetings and townhalls every quarter.
- Be the main point of contact with all administrative employees at the Manufacturing Site and providers, maintaining a prompt and effective communication with the two. Follow up and revise employee participation and attendance, conduct satisfaction surveys, recognize learners’ progress and success.
- Coordinate all L&D Program Training events for the Production area related to technical courses, soft skills, and English language skills. Coordinate the logistics behind every course launch, such as setting up schedules, allocating invites, register participant attendance, collect satisfaction survey input, provide internal customer service, etc.
- Monitor quality of training by accurately selecting external vendors and complying with all system requirements for S+N Vendor Creation. Process due payments in a timely manner, complying with quality and finance procedures. Communicate with all current and future suppliers to ensure good quality and successful course coordination, launch and wrap-up.
- Design and elaborate communication materials when needed.
- Provide support to the Training department by facilitating English language workshops.
Business English Language Teacher
Fundación Tecnológica de Costa Rica (FundaTEC) / Smith+Nephew Costa Rica
Alajuela
03.2020 - 07.2022
- Taught elementary, upper-intermediate and advanced language courses for Smith+Nephew Costa Rica employees (Global Business Services and Operations).
- Customized lesson plans and pacing guides to accommodate the business’ needs in terms of content and time.
- Monitored student attendance and participation in compliance with the business’ requirements and expectations.
- Developed and administered oral and written exams to assess students’ progress.
- Standardized final exams for all the English courses taught at Smith+Nephew, thereby enabling an accurate assessment of the students’ progress across levels and teachers.
- Developed administrative material including general guidelines and attendance dispositions for Smith+ Nephew employees/students to facilitate compliance with the academic and administrative expectations.
- Collaborated with the Learning and Development department at Smith+Nephew by attending the 2022 job fair to promote the English Program.
Exam Author and Administrator
Programa de Evaluación en Lenguas Extranjeras (PELEX), Universidad de Costa Rica
San José
01.2016 - 01.2022
- Elaborated the Examen de Diagnóstico de Inglés 2022, which was taken by approximately 3,000 university students nationwide.
- Responsible for the entire exam development process including: picking and editing the reading for the exam, creating 60 multiple choice items with their corresponding answers, and modifying the exam after an external peer-review process.
- Administered the yearly Examen de Diagnóstico de Inglés to freshmen since 2016.
- Provided the workshop Preparación para el Examen de Inglés para Posgrado twice; workshop for postgraduate students taking the English exam.
English Language Teacher (basic, intermediate and advanced levels)
Centro Cultural Costarricense Norteamericano
Heredia
01.2020 - 07.2020
English Language Teacher (basic, intermediate and advanced levels)
Intensa Instituto de Idiomas
Heredia
01.2014 - 12.2017
Assistant, Spanish Department
Colorado College
Colorado Springs
01.2011 - 01.2012
- Spanish as a Second Language (SSL) tutor: provided assistance with course contents and homework.
- Collaborated with the Spanish Department faculty by grading student assignments and exams.
Trainer: Communication Skills and English Language Customer Service Representative
Bell Canada, IBM
Heredia
01.2009 - 01.2010
Customer Service Representative / Spanish-English market research interviewer
Datascension Inc.
San José
01.2006 - 01.2007
Education
M.L. Candidate - English Literature
Universidad de Costa Rica
San José, Costa Rica12.2025
B.A. - English, Translation
Universidad de Costa Rica
San José, Costa Rica02.2016
Skills
- Spanish and English proficiency
Basic Portuguese and Italian
Academic writing and research
Learning management systems
Video conferencing platforms
Spreadsheet management
Cloud storage and scheduling
Interpersonal skills
Results-oriented approach
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Global Language Coordinator
Smith+Nephew Costa Rica
07.2023 - Current
Learning and Development Specialist
Smith+Nephew Costa Rica
11.2022 - 07.2023
Business English Language Teacher
Fundación Tecnológica de Costa Rica (FundaTEC) / Smith+Nephew Costa Rica
03.2020 - 07.2022
English Language Teacher (basic, intermediate and advanced levels)
Centro Cultural Costarricense Norteamericano
01.2020 - 07.2020
Professor, School of Modern Languages, English Department
Universidad de Costa Rica
08.2016 - 12.2023
Exam Author and Administrator
Programa de Evaluación en Lenguas Extranjeras (PELEX), Universidad de Costa Rica
01.2016 - 01.2022
English Language Teacher (basic, intermediate and advanced levels)
Intensa Instituto de Idiomas
01.2014 - 12.2017
Assistant, Spanish Department
Colorado College
01.2011 - 01.2012
Trainer: Communication Skills and English Language Customer Service Representative
Bell Canada, IBM
01.2009 - 01.2010
Customer Service Representative / Spanish-English market research interviewer
Datascension Inc.
01.2006 - 01.2007
M.L. Candidate - English Literature
Universidad de Costa Rica
B.A. - English, Translation
Universidad de Costa Rica
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