STATEMENT OF TEACHING PHILOSOPHY
My two main teaching goals for all Spanish language classes center on the development
and practice of conversational language skills and the development of an appreciation and
understanding of cultural topics. Underscoring these goals, I want to provide a class that is fun,
engaging, and inspires students to reach beyond their language and cultural comfort zones.
I believe that in all my classes, no matter the level, students should spend at least twenty
to thirty minutes in active conversation. My goal in every class is to provide the students with the
conversational direction and tools from the outset. From the very beginning, even when students
have but a small Spanish vocabulary, I believe in empowering them to be the protagonists in
their own conversations and development. In all my lessons, whether it is grammar or cultural, I
encourage students to practice what they have learned immediately in a conversational format.
The success of this program hinges on lots of positive praise and encouragement and the
acceptance of errors in the learning process. In fact, for me, the most important principle of
second language learning centers on the process more than the result.
Specifically, I believe in providing a basic skeleton of a conversational activity at the
beginning and end of each class. These activities encourage rapid and free flowing Spanish
communication between students. As an instructor, I am actively engaged in encouraging
students to communicate in Spanish during these activities and gently correcting errors and
providing input or responding to questions. The point of the activities is to encourage the process
of active Spanish language communication in the classroom. These activities set the tone for the
beginning of the class and provide a level of energy. The same types of activities at the end of
class encourage Spanish communication beyond the confines of the classroom.
Additionally, I use a variety of grammar, listening, reading, writing and cultural
techniques within the classroom in order to encourage effective Spanish language learning. For
example, if I am teaching a grammar topic, I will cover a short portion of the topic and then
empower the students to integrate that topic into their conversational exercises and their free
conversation at the beginning and end of class.
Moreover, I am committed to providing my students with many cultural learning
opportunities in the classroom. I use a variety of multimedia technology including videos,
pictures, audios and in-class demonstrations to introduce cultural topics and awareness to my
students. I then immediately empower my students to take the initiative and think outside the
cultural mindset that they are accustomed.
Finally, I provide a comfortable and open learning environment with the only stipulation
being that the class in conducted completely in Spanish. I believe firmly that the students learn
best in a complete Spanish immersion environment. I strive to ensure that my students
communicate completely in Spanish. Again, I underscore the process rather than perfection. It is
better that my students try to communicate in Spanish with errors rather than communicate in
English in order to achieve perfection in their Spanish. Second language learning is an on-going
process than never stops. In the process both student and instructor build language learning.