My family moved to Cd. Juarez, Mexico when I was 2 years old, after my parents finished language school. Juarez was my home until the age of 18 when I left for college. At home, we spoke English to each other, but outside the home we were surrounded by Spanish. Being immersed in Spanish at such a young age allowed me to develop the language and accent easily. Though raised in Mexico, I was educated in English through home school and by attending schools across the border in El Paso, Texas. I moved to the metroplex to attend college.
I started working for Waxahachie ISD in 1999. I taught 3rd grade in the bilingual program for six years at the Dunaway and Wedgeworth campuses. While in bilingual education, I taught students in Spanish and English, working to transition them to English-only instruction. All communication with parents was in Spanish.
In 2005, my husband and I were blessed with our first child and again with our son last February. Watching them grow is such a delight. Knowing that my long hours would make me miss much of that growth, I decided to take some time away from the classroom to be a full-time “Mommy.”
This has allowed me the opportunity to pursue an interest that up until then, I had never had time for—teaching Spanish. I now teach Conversational Spanish at The Lighthouse for Learning, and have contracted to teach Firefighter & Paramedics Spanish to the Waxahachie Fire Dept, as well as TCLOESE Intermediate Spanish at the Midlothian Police Department. In addition to these adult programs, I also teach 3 levels of Spanish to 2nd-6th grade children out of my home. Each level consists of 30 hours of instruction, and the classes are held once a week during the school year or twice a week during summer sessions. I have also been putting together a plan for 4-6 year olds that would incorporate crafts and songs.
In every job I’ve had, my bilingual fluency has been a huge asset. For me, learning Spanish required little effort, but it is not so for most of those who want to learn. Why is it so difficult? It is because most learners struggle to learn from a textbook, through memorization, which is not only highly stressful, but unnatural.
When I teach English or Spanish, I want my students’ experiences to be the positive. That is why I use the TPR (Total Physical Response) method—a right-brain, instructional strategy based on the kinesthetic sensory system developed by Dr. James J. Asher in the 1960’s.
The 3 critical elements of TPR follow the model of how children learn their first language. These key ideas, very simplistically, are: 1. understanding spoken language should be developed far before speaking, 2. that the foundation of comprehension should be developed through movement, and 3. that students not be forced to speak—as they internalize the target language by understanding what is heard, they will reach a point of readiness to speak. The TPR method allows students to acquire language in an enjoyable, stress-free way.
The bilingual advantage is definitely within reach!
I may be interested. Do you know how many weeks the course is for??? I am really interested in learning to speak spanish. It has really been on my heart to learn another language.
do you ever teach spanish to adults???? I need to learn some seriously. REally has been on my mind to learn it lately. Joyce Let me know if you can teach me.
Thanks for the add! My friend & I are planning on taking your class at the Lighthouse for learning. Hopefully you can teach old dogs new tricks! lol Have a great week! Bonnie
He is in 7th grade do you teach 7th graders? I can't remember what you told me. We are homeschooling him this year with Abekka Academy out of Florida. It is going really well so far. Anyway just let me know about the grade level. I may still be interested. It would probably be good for him. Being when he gets into High School level he has to take a foreign language anyway. Would be very helpful. JOyce
