Statement of Teaching Philosophy
Teaching Spanish presents a unique role in the United
States today. As the world becomes smaller and the Spanish-speaking population
continues to grow in our own backyard, our ability to understand the language
and the people who speak are becoming increasingly important. As an undergraduate,
my Spanish professors not only opened the door for me to a second language but
enabled me to study and work abroad in parts of the world that would have been
otherwise inaccessible to me. As a language instructor at the university, I
want my students to see Spanish as a key that can open incredible possibilities
and places to them.
In the same vein, I hope to show students that Spanish is not merely a series
of grammatical rules and vocabulary to memorize, but a living, breathing language
that will allow them to interact with actual people and places that they would
never have been able to before. Even in introductory language courses, I strive
to create a classroom environment that fosters communication and introduces
students to elements of culture that might spark their interest in the Spanish-speaking
world.
My vision for any class I teach is simply that my students would finish the
semester feeling like it was one of the best that they will have at the university.
My goal in the classroom is to create an atmosphere where students can take
responsibility for their own learning by giving them the opportunity and the
challenge to go beyond what they are learning in the classroom. As a foreign
language instructor, my primary goal is communication, so I want my students
to feel comfortable about being and exploring what they really want to say in
the language rather than limiting themselves merely to what they have learned
to say. I also strive to make sure that students feel like there is an unlimited
amount of help and resources available to them if they want to better their
performance in class or further their interests in the subject.
In the future, I would like to develop more web-based activities and projects
that will teach students to learn and gather information on Spanish-speaking
culture via the internet. I know from personal experience that if a student
can find an entry point of personal interest into another language and its culture,
they will be naturally motivated to pursue learning on the subject beyond the
textbook.