Experience Summary
After having studied Journalism for three years at Colorado State University, while also taking Spanish as a second major, I decided for the latter as a career path and went to Mexico to study Hispanic-American Language and Literature. After a year of international studies, I returned to Journalism as a reporter for a Spanish-language daily in San Diego. It was not until March 2007 that I finally was given the opportunity to teach as a tutor and later as a substitute at Denver School of Science and Technology in Spanish. I enjoyed that opportunity so much that have since been looking to continue in that field. Having served a mission in Spanish-speaking Chicago, done voluntary work in Ecuador and worked in many Spanish-speaking environments, I am fluent in Spanish and have a better grammatical command than many who call it there first language.
Teaching Style
My teaching style starts with the class. I follow manuals as far as they can take me, but I like to get a feel for the class, learn there interests and disinterests and use those as teaching tools. My philosophy is: you learn a second language to help you advance in life and in the global economy. I think most students understand that, and if they don't I like to take the time to let them know the importance of a second language in this current global spectrum. I use music, clothes, food and shopping as key themes as well as some colloquial terms, nothing graphic, to lighten the mood every once in a while. I know it is not linguistics, but I enjoy emphasizing pronunciation as well, because regardless of how much you know, if you pronounce it poorly no one will understand you.