When I graduated from the University of Portsmouth with my Bachelor's degree in Spanish and Latin American studies, I was not sure about where I should go from there. Of one thing I was certain though - I did not want to be teaching Spanish to teenagers.
But when an opportunity arose to volunteer at my local high school as an EAL teaching assistant, helping foreign teenage students achieve outstanding grades in their GCSE exams. This became the main reason for my interest in teaching. It was a lot of hard work but extremely rewarding. Soon enough, I decided to start my teacher training and become a modern foreign language teacher at secondary level. This experience came with some hardships but it was nonetheless the best choice I could have made for my career. It reassured me that I can do hard things and make the most of them for my personal growth. Being involved in the learning process of a new language is thoroughly enjoyable for me, as I get to share my knowledge and my culture also.
I am passionate about teaching Spanish because it is a beautiful, almost global language that can open your mind to many different cultures, ideas and people.
During my 4 years of University, I was able to become more involved with the Latino community at the University of Portsmouth and that is when I really began to share my love for dancing with others. Whilst abroad in Mxico and Spain, I became really aware of the many linguistic differences that exist even within the same language, which made me even more interested in learning about these and experiencing them myself. A word that can be endearing in one Spanish speaking country can be offensive in another. It is a never ending journey of discovery.
I currently teach at a private school, which has been an excellent opportunity to improve myself as I learn from my colleagues and their experiences. In my role, I have been able to, not only help my students with their academic goals, but also be someone who they can approach if they have any problems. This has been a reminder that my students have lives outside of my classroom and that I need to be aware of that to make sure my room is a safe and calm environment for everyone to feel confident enough to participate and be engaged in their learning.
My purpose in teaching is not only to help someone improve their Spanish grade - it is to be able to impact someone's life positively, academically and in their awareness of the world they are yet to discover. I know that when I have shared music or films with my students to help them improve their language skills, it has also made them more broad-minded and excited to pursue their learning.
My teaching philosophy revolves around making my lessons memorable using techniques that are useful for my student - some may be visual, others prefer audio activities - but, it is all about tailoring my lessons to the needs and abilities of my students, as well as, making sure that it is an enjoyable experience for them also.