About Us
Who we are
Common Ground International Language Services is a Colorado-based organization dedicated to strengthening bilingual communication across the United States and throughout Spanish-speaking regions abroad. Since 2001, we’ve helped students, educators, healthcare professionals, and community leaders build real-world Spanish proficiency through training programs, immersion experiences, and professional language services. With a dedicated team of language professionals, we empower individuals to connect, communicate, and make a meaningful impact in multilingual environments.
What We Do
We specialize in Spanish for specific purposes, offering programs and services designed to meet the needs of professionals working in bilingual settings. Our work combines language education with industry expertise, real-world practice, and cultural immersion.
Our core services include:
Spanish Language Training for healthcare, education, and professional environments
Immersion programs in Spanish-speaking countries across Central and South America
Professional translation and interpreting
By providing both training and certified language services, we help clients gain the skills, tools, and confidence they need to serve diverse communities effectively.
Who We Serve
We work with students and professionals across the country who want to engage more meaningfully with bilingual populations. Our participants include:
- Healthcare professionals
- Educators and school staff
- Students preparing for bilingual careers
- Community workers and nonprofit organizations
- Corporate teams and service providers
Whether our clients want to communicate with Spanish-speaking patients, support bilingual students, or expand their professional reach, we help them develop the language proficiency they need to create positive change.
Where We Work
We are proudly based in Colorado, and we serve clients nationwide through virtual and onsite training.
Our Spanish immersion programs take place across Central and South America, where structured language study meets real-world cultural engagement.
Our Story
Common Ground International was founded in the fall of 2001 by Rory and Leslie Foster, two educators who were teaching Spanish at a college preparatory school in Colorado. They recognized a growing need for practical, purpose-driven Spanish instruction that prepared people not just to learn a language, but to use it confidently in real bilingual settings.
What began as a small initiative rooted in classroom teaching has since evolved into a national provider of Spanish training, immersion programs, and professional language services. Over the years, our programs have expanded, our team has grown, and our mission has deepened — but our commitment to accessible, impactful language learning has remained constant.
What Makes Us Different
- Spanish for Specific Purposes
- Our programs aren’t generic. We design training for real professional environments — healthcare, education, social services, business, and more — ensuring immediate practicality and long-term impact.
- Immersion With Intention
- Our international immersion programs are structured, supportive, and purpose-driven. Participants don’t just travel; they grow, practice, and engage in meaningful ways with local communities.
- Professional Language Services
- Our certified translators and interpreters support organizations with accurate, professional communication — offering education and language services under one roof.
- Mission-Driven Approach
- Every program, service, and curriculum is tied to our mission: Impacting communities through language.
- Experienced, Dedicated Team
- With a dedicated team of language professionals, we combine linguistic expertise, real-world experience, and a passion for service.
Our Mission
Our mission is simple and powerful: Impacting communities through language.
We believe that communication strengthens relationships, improves outcomes, and opens doors. We build programs that help people develop the skills they need to serve, support, and lead in bilingual environments across the globe.
Our Core Values
- Excellence: High-quality instruction, curriculum, and services rooted in expertise.
- Practicality: Real-world, industry-specific training that transfers immediately to work and community settings.
- Service: A commitment to helping people make a difference through language.
- Cultural Respect: Programs that honor the communities and cultures we engage with.
- Connection: Building bridges between people, professions, and cultures.
Why Clients Trust Us
Clients trust Common Ground International because we provide training and language services grounded in experience, practicality, and real-world relevance. Our programs have supported thousands of professionals nationwide, and our immersion trips have transformed learners’ Spanish fluency and cultural understanding for more than two decades.
Testimonials
We regularly receive feedback highlighting the depth, leadership, and transformative nature of our immersion programs, including praise for our program structure, cultural engagement, and supportive onsite leadership.
Spanish Immersion Trip for Adults
Mastering Medical Spanish with Common Ground
Start your Spanish learning Journey with us
If you’re ready to strengthen your Spanish, improve your professional communication, or join an immersion experience that changes the way you use language, we’d love to support your journey.
Explore our programs, connect with our team, and discover how language can empower you to make an impact.
Meet the Common Ground Team
Leslie Foster
CEO
When I was 16 years old, we hosted an exchange student from Spain. At the time I was annoyed because she would smoke out my bedroom window. But my perspective quickly changed when I had a chance to live with her family in Spain for the summer. This experience opened my eyes and ignited my love and passion for learning Spanish, experiencing and learning about other cultures and seeing different lifestyles. This passion continued into college where I had the opportunity to live and study abroad in Costa Rica. The day I left Costa Rica, I wrote in my journal “I have got to figure out a way to make Costa Rica a part of the rest of my life and share my passion for language and cultures with others” This experience led to the birth of our Spanish Immersion Programs.
These days, I spend a lot of time involved in the planning and coordinating of our Spanish immersion programs and creating new Spanish learning opportunities for the Common Ground Community. I’m honored to lead our team of incredible teachers and Spanish Immersion leaders as well as continue to spread the mission of Common Ground International: Impacting communities through Language whether that is in the United States or abroad.
Rory Foster
COO
Rory began studying Spanish in middle school and always enjoyed learning the language. He took a brief pause in high school when his only upper level Spanish options were with the teacher that he didn’t enjoy. So he started back over with Spanish in undergraduate. He met Leslie in a masters program in Colorado and the Common Ground story began to unfold from there.
Today, Rory loves leading the Common Ground team of linguists and support staff and helping Common Ground’s community members achieve their Spanish goals. He enjoys encouraging learners to speak more, which in turn impacts communities across the country.
Our Immersion Leaders
Hi! My name is Caleb Foster, and I am studying Business & Economics and Spanish at Westmont College. I am from Erie, Colorado and some of my favorite activities are fishing, skiing and beach volleyball. I grew up living in Costa Rica over the summers, and have been able to study in Spain and Colombia the past few years. I love immersion programs and the opportunities they provide to learn about cultures and people.
I love continuing to improve my Spanish, and hope to be able to use it in a future career. The opportunities that the Spanish language has given me to connect with people of other cultures are remarkable. I will graduate from college in May 2026, and am very excited to lead programs over the summer! In the future, I hope to use Spanish to bridge communication gaps in business settings.
Caleb Foster
Immersion Leader
Fia Foster
Immersion Leader
¡Hola! I’m Fia and I’m a student at George Fox University studying Nursing. I love to play soccer, hike, ski, and be outside.
I also love working and leading trips with my family. Some of my favorite parts every summer is getting to know you guys and learning with you. In the future, I hope to work as an ER nurse and help lead the CGI medical programs.
Hi! I’m Lily Zichichi and I’m a student at Westmont College studying Social Science and Spanish. I am from Healdsburg, California and love to run, read, and enjoy time outdoors. I studied abroad in Sevilla, Spain, which grew my passion for living and learning in new cultures.
I love learning Spanish and getting to use that second language to be able to communicate and form relationships with people who I otherwise wouldn’t be able to. I hope to go into non-profit work serving underserved and under resourced youth in my community. Language learning has deeply influenced my life and I’m excited to offer that opportunity to others through Common Ground International!
Lily Zichichi
Immersion Leader
Britta
Adult & Families Immersion Leader
Hello! My name is Britta. Throughout my career as a bilingual educator and instructional coach, I have had countless amazing opportunities to support both students and teachers on their journey as continuous learners. My love of travel and language learning has deeply influenced my work, fueling my commitment to promoting bilingualism and helping people see language as a bridge to opportunity, empathy, and global understanding.
For the past five years, I have had the honor to travel with CGI. I am excited to be part of work that brings people together across cultures and languages, strengthening human connection through communication and shared understanding.
Mrs. Kelly Damare is an enthusiastic educator of the Spanish language and Hispanic cultures, with a lifelong passion that has led her to live, study, and work in various Hispanic countries. Among her favorite destinations is Sevilla, Spain, where she spent a year immersed in both academic pursuits and basketball. Additionally, she holds a special affinity for Costa Rica.
With seven years of experience with Common Ground International, Kelly has been instrumental in leading trips and is now eagerly expanding her role to include the development and management of immersion programs tailored for high school students. Complementing her work with Common Ground International, Kelly has also been a high school Spanish teacher in Raleigh, NC. She finds immense fulfillment in her role, cherishing the relationships she builds with students and the opportunity to guide them through transformative experiences.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Kelly finds joy in spending time at the beach with her family, indulging in audiobooks, and coaching the women’s basketball team at Cardinal Gibbons.
Kelly Damare
High School Immersion leader
Our Professional Spanish Teachers
Alexandra’s passion for teaching began when she moved to Nicaragua in 2010 to undertake an internship at a non-profit Spanish school. Following several years working in the non-profit sector, she opened a Spanish language tutoring program in a coastal Nicaraguan town. In 2018, Alexandra branched out to online tutoring and currently teaches Spanish and English online, as well as works as a freelance translator, interpreter, and copywriter. Additionally, she has contributed content to Spanish language learning platforms, and written YouTube video scripts, e-books, blogs, and curriculums, all with a focus on learning Spanish.
Alexandra loves teaching because she gets to interact with people from all over the world, and in the process, help them to achieve their language goals.
Alexandra MacPhee
Medical Spanish Instructor
Johanna Dima
Medical Spanish Instructor
Hi! My name is Johanna Mercedes Dima Negri and I’m from Buenos Aires, Argentina. I’m married to Mariano and have two wonderful boys, Francisco and Santiago.
Teaching is a passion I enjoy since I was a child. I can still recall when my godmother gave me as a present like a little briefcase full of chalks and a tiny blackboard to play with my teddy bears where I spent hours pretending I was a teacher. That little blackboard was not enough, and now, as an adult, I can find new ways to teach and have lots of fun, making learning a new language a pleasant moment for others.
Patience and perseverance are really important for me, because many times in life, I could accomplish things when I chose “the longest and the hardest way”, but I always look back and feel proud about it because, even though it was so difficult, I could make it. So, that is my commitment with my students, with patience and perseverance, we, as a team, are going to enjoy learning a new language.
Hi there. I’m Diana and I’m from El Salvador, a little country in Central America. I’ve been working as a teacher on different platforms since 2020. I’ve been working in CGI since 2025 as a teaching assistant. Enjoying each class helping teachers as well as students.
I like continuous professional development so at the end of this year I will complete my master’s degree in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language. Also I like to learn and practice languages, I speak three languages and now I’m trying to learn mandarin. I like reading fiction story books. Also in my free time I like to complete puzzles.
Diana Fuentes
Spanish Instructor
Carlos Tomás
Spanish Instructor
Hi everyone! My name is Carlos Tomás, I’m from Veracruz, Mexico. I am a dentist and I work in private practice, where I help patients improve their oral health, something I’m truly passionate about and that gives me a great sense of fulfillment. I also have a degree in foreign languages, since I’ve loved languages ever since I was a kid. In addition to being a dentist, I work as a Spanish tutor. I really enjoy teaching languages because it allows me to help people communicate, connect with other cultures, and reach their personal and professional goals — and seeing their progress is incredibly rewarding for me.
In addition to my education and professional life, I love traveling and believe every trip is an adventure where you learn something new. I’ve visited several countries across South America because I enjoy discovering new places and experiencing different cultures. In my free time, I enjoy listening to music, playing the piano from time to time, going to the movies, and of course, trying new foods and flavors.
Our Dedicated Staff
Hi my name is Vanessa, I’m from Mexico and I currently live in Guadalajara, Jalisco. I’m a communications graduate and since 2016 I’ve been working in social media marketing and graphic design to serve online communities and promote products and services I believe in.
I love traveling and enjoy learning about different cultures and learning new languages. I also studied some photography and in my spare time I like listening to music, watching movies and reading all types of books.
In addition to social media, I also manage our translation projects here at Common Ground.
Vanessa Hernandez
Social media & translation project manager
David Riveroll Fuster
Webmaster
Hi! I’m David. I was born in Mexico City and I’ve been living for more than 15 years in a beautiful small traditional town an hour and a half away, in the state of Morelos, called Tepoztlan. It’s a magical place surrounded by mountains, with wonderful weather, great hiking tracks, waterfalls and a nice cosmopolitan community that blends with the native deep mexican culture. I live with my wonderful wife and our two daughters. We enjoy arts (music, ceramics, painting…) being in touch with nature and in the company of good friends. Recently we opened a countryside restaurant and I’m the chef and manager 😉
I love learning languages and expanding horizons through them, by allowing us to meet in between cultures and different experiences and visions. In a way, I see web development as translating and communicating with machines as well. I like to work with our wonderful team and support behind the scenes in our mission.
hello I read an article that Rory had installed and used Word Magic Unabridged Dictionary. I have used this dictionary for the past 12 years and now it is not supported on the app store. I wondered if Rory has found another app like it or something to substitute. I have found it invaluable in my quest to keep learning. Any help would greatly be appreciated. I am lost without this app.
Hello, How can I know if my Medical Spanish is good enough for your advanced course?
Thanks,
Carolyn
¡Hola, Carolyn! 👋🏽
Good question! We have a placement test to see your level and have a better idea ☺️
Hello, my name is Noemi Cardona-Sibley. I was going over your site and are really happy there are sites like yours to help those needing assistance in various areas. I’m a Spanish Linguist and would like to know if you have any openings within your company, as I would like to become part of your team. I’m also looking into the programs you offer which I may be seem interested in.
Respectfully, Noemi Cardona-Sibley
Interested in improving my spanish
¡Hola, Ricardo!
We are happy to help you! 👏🏽😊
I am interested in a Spanish Immersion trip to either Equador or Costs Rica for the dates approximately December 21st to December 30th of 2”24 for my family: 2 parents and a daughter who will be $ and a half. Our daughter is an intermediate to advanced Spanish speaker, but we adults are beginners . We would love to engage in all you offer : Spanish classes, volunteering, and exploration of the culture of the area. Are those programs available during those dates? Do you anticipate having any other families participating at that time as we would love to join with other families. Thanks and looking forward to hearing from you , Abigail
Hi Abigail,
We’d love to help you plan an immersion program for you and your family! Our programs are available year long but in those specific dates you’d be looking at an “off” program trip. We’d love to explain and discuss this further with you but the easiest thing would be for you to reach out via email, so please make sure to reach us either via chat or write to [email protected] so we can start planning 🙂
Hi,
I leave in Canada. I need more information for a family trip. Do your prices include a flight ticket?
I see you have immersion programs for different healthcare professionals. I’m a chiropractor in Colorado and many of us have a significant number of Spanish speaking patients. Some of us belong to integrated practices that often include a medical provider, physical therapist and others. Have you considered including chiropractors in your travel programs–with a focus on orthopedic/rehab facilities? BTW–I’m enjoying your YouTube videos.
Hi Mike, thanks for the note! Yes the medical Spanish immersion program is open to all who work in or are studying healthcare. We’ve worked with many PTs, some Chiropractors as yourself and a student or two headed toward PM&R. Immersion is the absolute best way to learn! While on program, the community outreach work we do is typically community health education – so we don’t set up or assist clinics and see patients. We do the language-rich work of educating vulnerable populations on health. In the daily classes, you would certainly have the time, opportunity and support to work on specifics around your work with patients. Thanks for checking in – we’re hoping our first post-covid trip will be July ’21. Hope you can join us!
Hi this is Gene Mandell. I am a retired teacher, still very active that lives in Central Point, Oregon. Years ago, I use to order some of these wonderful booklets(I still have a few left), and I would use them for my adult Spanish classes when I was teaching medical professionals. I am very interested in some of your programs. I will leave you my email address so you may contact me. Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
Gene Mandell
Hello Gene, thanks for the note! I’ll reach out over email.