My teaching Philosophy
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I am a firm believer that a key element in the foreign language classroom is keeping the students engaged and motivated. My style of teaching brings enthusiasm, cultural elements, and technology into the classroom to increase learning motivation. I know that when emotions and information are combined long term retention is acquired.
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I teach with an infectious smile and open personality that helps me to interact with my students as I create and foster trusting relationship with them. Teaching my native Spanish language allows me to draw upon my own culture and personal experience as a foreign language learner as I teach my students to effectively communicate with me in my own language and, perhaps more importantly, to gain an appreciation, tolerance and respect for another language and culture.
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My objective as a teacher is to inspire my students toward a level of independence where they develop a thirst to learn and think for themselves. To make this possible, I depend on upon many activities that involve a total physical response (TPR) by the students.
Instead of just reading about latin dances and listening to the music, my students dance the steps and sing the songs, engaging in the action as they learn both Spanish language skills and elements of Hispanic culture. Through this type of active participation, students learn and form their own opinions and base of knowledge. I encourage critical thinking, a desire among my students to communicate and want to learn more. I tap into their interests to keep my student driven and engaged.
"I teach with a smile"
