Meet Your Instructors
Spanish and French Instructor
Chelsi Milsted, Owner
Chelsi has dedicated much of her life to learning languages. Beginning with American Sign Language interpreting, her passion for languages quickly spread to Italian, Spanish, French, Hindi, and others. She graduated from Portland State University in 2017 with bachelor’s degrees in Spanish and French and a minor in Linguistics, and then went on to earn a masters in Education the following year. Endorsed to teach both Spanish and French in Oregon secondary schools, Chelsi worked as a high school language teacher for over six years. In 2020, she was accepted as a candidate for the Doctor of Modern Languages at Middlebury College, a highly esteemed institution in the language world. This program, which requires doctoral level fluency in two languages other than English, focuses heavily on language acquisition and pedagogy research. Chelsi is an innovative teacher who’s instruction reflects both current research in pedagogy as well as her experience teaching in the high school classroom. She started Sepia Language Study as an outlet to teach language as effectively as she is able without the limitations of the public school and university systems.
Simón Holowatz
Spanish Instructor
Simon loves to learn about culture, history and languages. He started learning Spanish at home with his mother and grandmother who immigrated from Nicaragua. His father is half Mexican and half Polish. Simón holds a Master’s of Education from the University of Oregon with an endorsement in teaching Spanish. He has also studied at a bilingual school in Eugene. He studied at La Universidad de Oviedo in Spain for a semester and lived with a host family and graduated with a degree in Spanish and a degree in Communications from the University of Portland. He studied Spanish at Cemanahuac Spanish School in Cuernavaca, Mexico and lived with a host family for two months. He lived and taught English in Managua, Nicaragua for a year. Overall, he has taught Spanish for about 18 years with students from kindergarten through high school. For a year and half, he taught a Spanish medical terminology and cultural competency course for medical personnel in Eugene through Centro Latinoamericano as part of a federal pilot grant. He has taught adults at Penn State University as a member of their University Health Services. Aside from living and traveling in Spain, Mexico and Nicaragua, he has traveled in Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama and non-Spanish speaking countries. In addition to traveling, Simon enjoys playing soccer, painting, writing fiction and playing with his two-year-old daughter. He has learned a bit of Turkish and Portuguese and loves to learn about languages.
Sydney Portela
English Instructor
Sydney is a dedicated and experienced English as a Second Language (ESL) instructor with a passion for helping students of diverse backgrounds build confidence and fluency in English. With a strong foundation in language instruction and a student-centered approach, Sydney designs and delivers engaging lessons that focus on communication, grammar, and cultural fluency. Bringing years of experience in ESL education, Sydney has worked with learners at various proficiency levels, tailoring curriculum and instructional methods to meet their unique needs. In addition to classroom instruction, Sydney integrates real-world applications and interactive activities to enhance language acquisition, ensuring that students gain practical language skills that extend beyond the classroom.
In addition to her work at Sepia Language Study, Sydney has provided individualized English instruction through Grade Potential Tutoring and served as an ESL Teaching Associate at Portland Community College. Her expertise spans remote, hybrid, and in-person learning environments, making language learning accessible and engaging for all students.
Sydney holds a TQUK Level 5 Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language from the International TEFL Academy and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Her background in counseling psychology further enriches her approach to teaching, fostering a supportive and inclusive learning environment where students feel empowered to grow. Whether teaching grammar fundamentals, refining conversational skills, or assisting with professional communication, Sydney is committed to guiding students toward their language learning goals with patience, enthusiasm, and expertise.