Teaching is one of the most rewarding and enriching careers when chosen by vocation. In the field of education, teaching requires a strong sense of ability and personal motivation. As a carrier that involves interacting with students on a daily basis, teaching presents new challenges, experiences, and learning opportunities in each class. It is important for teachers to approach their job with determination, working hard and giving the best effort. Feeling passionate about their work is also crucial, as it helps teachers to stary motivated and engaged in their teaching. For those who teach language, and Hispanic literatures, sensibility, knowledge, and responsibility are key components of effective teaching. Therefore, the teacher must not only be prepared in the subject he teaches, but also must have a comprehensive understanding of the humanities and methodological trends.
During my time as a graduate student at UBC, I have learned about the different methodologies in teaching a second language by observing and collaborating with more experienced professors. Also, one of the most exciting courses I had was “Research and Methods in Second Language Learning and Teaching”. We discussed and learned the different methodologies and factors involved in learning a second language, such as the linguistic, cognitive, affective, cultural and practical factors. Finally, I realized that all these learning methodologies were tools that could be used intuitively, depending on the class of student or the type of classroom (virtual or in person).
My philosophy of teaching Spanish as a second language and literature courses has developed over nine years of teaching experience. During this time, I have taught Spanish to Beginners, intermediate, and advanced students, as well as literature courses such as Introduction to Hispanic Literacy Studies, The Spanish-American Novel, and The Spanish-American Poetry.
In order for students to feel safe and inspired to engage in class, I think it is important to first establish a good and engaging classroom environment. I make an effort to always be upbeat and considerate towards the students. I strive to put students at ease when I ask questions in class. Students must believe that their teacher is there to support their learning. If they choose not to participate, I won’t force them.
Additionally, I’ve always been able to empathise well with others, especially with my students. I want to keep the classroom atmosphere casual because I am a very accommodating and patient teacher. I’m always ready to hear what each student has to say. Everybody learns differently, thus I am always willing to assist them because I am aware of this.
I always give a recap of the prior class at the start of the next one. Since concepts need to be reinforced before new ones are introduced, I believe that reviewing material is crucial to keeping students interested. In order to do this, I always use Kahoot as a tool to summarise the prior vocabulary and grammar, and I attempt to write on the board a series of questions that summarise the prior class, so that the students can practise answering them among themselves before responding aloud in a laid-back setting.
I’ve learned the value of technology more fully throughout the Pandemic period. Therefore, technology is becoming a crucial component of my teaching. It is one of the best instruments for teacher teaching and student learning, in my experience. I’ve mastered using the various tools that Moodle, Canvas, Brightspace provides. Additionally, I am familiar with Zoom and Teams, a superb tools for online instruction. Along with this, I discovered that OneDrive, Blackboard, and Kahoot are excellent platforms for peer interaction and feedback. The purpose of employing these tools in the classroom is to motivate the class and enhance student learning. Is my interest in class to give to the students a cultural context about Latin-America and Spain. For example, I tend to use videos, short films, music and visual arts to introduce students to the Hispanic culture. I believe using cultural elements in my lesson plan are instrumental in creating a positive and engaging classroom atmosphere. My cultural-technological approach to teaching enables my students to acquire language skills in a manner that keeps them interested and motivated.
Another important aspect of my teaching is to constantly use Spanish unless it is absolutely necessary to switch to English. I believe that establishing Spanish as the only language for classroom communication is key to its acquisition and retention by students. Students need to hear and use the language in order to eventually confidently speak the language. I see the language classroom as a space where language and culture are intertwined: language cannot be taught or learned independently of the culture within which it is embedded. That is why is important to me to use Spanish all the time and integrate culture into my lesson plans thoroughly.
This philosophy of teaching and empathic approach to teaching reflects an important part of me as a teacher, as a member of society, and, at the same time, as an eternal student.
Please feel free to contact me at your convenience. I would be more than happy to provide any further information or clarification you may need. Thank you for the time you have put aside for me. I am looking forward to your response.
Marcos Moscoso Garay
