Teaching
I have been teaching Spanish for roughly sixteen years and I am currently an Associate Professor. I was named the Graduate Instructor of the Year of the Department of Languages, Philosophy, and Speech Communication at Utah State University and truly enjoy guiding students through the perils of learning Spanish.
I also teach foreign and second language teaching methods courses and work with student teachers in foreign language classrooms. I enjoy seeing these students develop their understand of second language acquisition and how they can apply SLA theory to their classroom practices. I also enjoy seeing them develop their teaching skills as they join cooperating teachers 'in the trenches' of second/foreign language education.
I also teach foreign and second language teaching methods courses and work with student teachers in foreign language classrooms. I enjoy seeing these students develop their understand of second language acquisition and how they can apply SLA theory to their classroom practices. I also enjoy seeing them develop their teaching skills as they join cooperating teachers 'in the trenches' of second/foreign language education.
Philosophy and Approach
My role as a teacher is to guide, mediate, and motivate my students as they work toward a higher proficiency in Spanish and, in the case of linguistics content courses, a greater knowledge of how the Spanish language system can be analyzed and acquired. Spanish proficiency and knowledge about Spanish linguistics are critical for students to participate in a global society.
My language teaching methodology is communicative, with a focus on forms. In the classroom I mediate language acquisition by helping learners notice their own correct language usage as well as their language deficiencies by asking questions that lead them to compare and contrast the linguistic patterns of Spanish with English and guide them towards greater grammatical proficiency. I also help them to develop aural and oral fluency and to improve their reading and writing skills by allowing time for students to interact with one another so that they can be creative in their language production and use their newly acquired language skills in meaningful ways. Developing learners’ cultural competence is also an important aspect of my language teaching.
The same principles guide my methods in teaching linguistic content courses as well. I present material in an accessible way through visuals and authentic examples taken from my research in second language acquisition and have students interact with each other to discuss linguistic theory and concepts of the course. I am also very aware of the level of comprehension of my students while I teach and frequently ask comprehension questions and prompt student questions. Using these methods, I aid students in honing their analytical and synthesizing skills to master concepts covered in my courses. I always make myself available to my students through office hours and other appointments. I have been successful in clarifying difficult concepts and suggesting plans of study for students in my upper-level courses so that they can be successful in mastering the content in the courses I have taught.
My language teaching methodology is communicative, with a focus on forms. In the classroom I mediate language acquisition by helping learners notice their own correct language usage as well as their language deficiencies by asking questions that lead them to compare and contrast the linguistic patterns of Spanish with English and guide them towards greater grammatical proficiency. I also help them to develop aural and oral fluency and to improve their reading and writing skills by allowing time for students to interact with one another so that they can be creative in their language production and use their newly acquired language skills in meaningful ways. Developing learners’ cultural competence is also an important aspect of my language teaching.
The same principles guide my methods in teaching linguistic content courses as well. I present material in an accessible way through visuals and authentic examples taken from my research in second language acquisition and have students interact with each other to discuss linguistic theory and concepts of the course. I am also very aware of the level of comprehension of my students while I teach and frequently ask comprehension questions and prompt student questions. Using these methods, I aid students in honing their analytical and synthesizing skills to master concepts covered in my courses. I always make myself available to my students through office hours and other appointments. I have been successful in clarifying difficult concepts and suggesting plans of study for students in my upper-level courses so that they can be successful in mastering the content in the courses I have taught.