Content: Spanish
School: Passage Middle
Years Taught: 17

What do you love most about teaching?
I love being a part of my students growth and making a difference in their lives.

What word describes you as a teacher and why?
Good listener, because if I know my students needs, it is easier for me to provide my help, guidance and adjust my teaching to meet them.

Content: French
School: Booker T. Washington Middle
Years Taught: 9 (5 overseas, 4 in the US)

Why are you passionate about supporting fellow teachers?
Teaching is a profession where continuous learning is crucial. By helping each other, teachers can exchange ideas, strategies, and experiences, which fosters professional growth and improves teaching practices. Support significantly eases the transition for new teachers, helping them build the skills and confidence they need to succeed in the profession. I remember my first year of teaching and the challenges I faced, from managing classrooms to meeting diverse student needs, but I also remember how my mentor supported me by providing different classroom management techniques, time management tips, and helping me build the skills and confidence I needed to succeed in the profession.

What is the best way to describe your classroom on a typical day?
A typical day in my world language classroom is vibrant and engaging, filled with a blend of structured learning and interactive activities. As students enter the classroom, they are greeted by displays of cultural artifacts, multilingual posters, and language resources that set the tone for immersion. The day often begins with a warm-up activity designed to get students thinking and speaking in the target language. This could include having a quick conversation, playing a review game, or watching a video in the target language and discussing it.

As the lesson progresses, students are actively involved in various activities that promote language acquisition. These might include small group discussions, listening and repeating activities to practice pronunciation, or interactive exercises focusing on new vocabulary and grammar.

Cultural exploration is a key component of the day, with activities that introduce students to the traditions, customs, and practices of the language-speaking world. This might involve celebrating cultural holidays, virtual tours of countries where the language is spoken, and learning interesting facts about those countries. Throughout the day, the atmosphere is supportive and collaborative. Students work together and help each other practice speaking and listening skills. By the end of the day, they leave with a sense of accomplishment, having practiced new skills and deepened their understanding of the language and its associated cultures.