"What makes a Spanish Teacher Amazing in regards to Spanish Immersion" and he provided us with details on the things he looks for when choosing instructors to lead his classes.
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| Jose E. Mendez-Monge |
In the age of Internet and Playstation, keeping someone interested in learning the intrinsical aspects of a language can be tricky. Not only do teachers have to be good at explaining things, but nowadays they have to be good actors and entertainers to keep students motivated and persuaded to learn a new language.
I still remember the old methods of teaching where the teacher stood up in front of the class dictating and the students would repeat after her then copy notes. There was little interaction between the two, except for the repetitive statements... now, with the use of Blackberries, Skype, MSN and the Internet, learning Spanish has taken on a different path. However, one thing has remained constant for proper language immersion... the need to have a professional involved in the learning process.
The role of the teacher has also changed with times. Teachers have had to keep up new techniques in order to offer a more dynamic, exciting and challenging program to their students. That is where an amazing teacher separates him or herself from the rest. To me, an amazing teacher is always looking for new ways to teach, for improving his or her teaching skills, for bringing the new technologies and new elements into the classroom and for taking the time to learn about his or her student, and to adapt the class to their needs. It is so important that teachers know their student's desires and their motivations for learning Spanish. In this aspect, teachers must include a little bit of psychology in their classes, so that they can reach out and make an impact.
An amazing teacher of Spanish will help you learn Spanish but will also make you appreciate the diversity of the language, the culture and the history behind it. That amazing teacher will guide you through the complicated explanations of the Subjuntivo, while making you enjoy the lyrics of one of Ricardo Arjona´s songs or guide you through Youtube to find a song to sing along. Internet is an essential tool and an amazing teacher will take advantage of it to explore new areas of language learning, among other things.
Above all, an amazing teacher is one that understands the needs of the students, can relate to them and can bring the best out of them using the tools available to him or her. That teacher will be someone that the students will never forget, and will try to imitate in their life. The teacher will show them that Spanish is not just a language, but the representation of an amazing, exciting and incredible culture, one that they too can make their own! Finally, an amazing teacher will transform his or her students into teachers themselves, motivating others to discover the beauty of the Spanish language!
About the Author: Mr. Mendez-Monge has been the director at our school in Playa del Carmen for the past 4 years and establishes great bonds with many of the students that study at the school. He has over a decade of experience directing Spanish Schools in Mexico, Spain, and the United States.
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