I have been a Spanish as a Foreign Language teacher for many years and have taught Spanish to all ages, from preschoolers through Advanced Placement students.
I am passionate about linguistics and culture. I love learning and teaching. Of course, I'm also a fan of anything to do with Castellano (the Spanish language), and all the countries where Spanish is spoken.
Recently, I decided to expand my repertoire; I just completed my ESL and Bilingual endorsements. and Master's degree in Curriculum & Instruction.
I was born with a love of language. My parents said I started talking at such a young age that when strangers would come up to my buggy and ask my mom, "How old is she?" I would be the one to answer, causing jaws to drop! People exclaimed that they had never seen such a young baby speaking so clearly.
My grandparents came to America from Italy in the beginning of the 20th century. I am a classic example of how heritage languages are commonly lost by the third generation in this country. I did, however, grow up listening to grandparents and relatives speak Italian, and I remember my grandfather reading Italian newspapers with me. I was very interested in language and was enthusiastic about learning Spanish when I started high school.
As a high school student, I had the opportunity to participate twice in a short-term exchange programs with a sister school in Spain. I attended classes and lived with a family, experiencing life through the eyes of a student my age, in another culture. It was an opportunity that changed my life. It became my dream to provide a similar experience to my own students one day.
Six years ago my dream was fulfilled when I initiated a similar exchange program at Joliet Catholic Academy, where I was teaching at the time. We hosted the Spanish students, and then went to their town and lived with their families. I was able to do this trip three times, giving approximately 65 students the opportunity to live like a Spaniard.
I tell all this background information because I believe that my aptitude for language, my exposure to the Italian language and culture, and the opportunities to live abroad, all made me who I am today.
I am no "spring chicken", but I'm also not too old to aspire to new challenges and find new ways to help more students; specifically those who struggle with language issues and/or cultural adjustment. This population continues to grow, and I believe I have what it takes to help train more teachers so they can become more understanding, accommodating and better-equipped to teach them. I also want to make sure those students don't lose their heritage language the way I did.
I am passionate about linguistics and culture. I love learning and teaching. Of course, I'm also a fan of anything to do with Castellano (the Spanish language), and all the countries where Spanish is spoken.
Recently, I decided to expand my repertoire; I just completed my ESL and Bilingual endorsements. and Master's degree in Curriculum & Instruction.
I was born with a love of language. My parents said I started talking at such a young age that when strangers would come up to my buggy and ask my mom, "How old is she?" I would be the one to answer, causing jaws to drop! People exclaimed that they had never seen such a young baby speaking so clearly.
My grandparents came to America from Italy in the beginning of the 20th century. I am a classic example of how heritage languages are commonly lost by the third generation in this country. I did, however, grow up listening to grandparents and relatives speak Italian, and I remember my grandfather reading Italian newspapers with me. I was very interested in language and was enthusiastic about learning Spanish when I started high school.
As a high school student, I had the opportunity to participate twice in a short-term exchange programs with a sister school in Spain. I attended classes and lived with a family, experiencing life through the eyes of a student my age, in another culture. It was an opportunity that changed my life. It became my dream to provide a similar experience to my own students one day.
Six years ago my dream was fulfilled when I initiated a similar exchange program at Joliet Catholic Academy, where I was teaching at the time. We hosted the Spanish students, and then went to their town and lived with their families. I was able to do this trip three times, giving approximately 65 students the opportunity to live like a Spaniard.
I tell all this background information because I believe that my aptitude for language, my exposure to the Italian language and culture, and the opportunities to live abroad, all made me who I am today.
I am no "spring chicken", but I'm also not too old to aspire to new challenges and find new ways to help more students; specifically those who struggle with language issues and/or cultural adjustment. This population continues to grow, and I believe I have what it takes to help train more teachers so they can become more understanding, accommodating and better-equipped to teach them. I also want to make sure those students don't lose their heritage language the way I did.
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