Hi, I am Alejandra, a native Spanish speaker, originally from Chile and currently living in Ireland.

One of the reasons I became a teacher is my own experience in a long journey as an English learner. Having gone through this experience has given me insight into the process of acquiring a language as well as knowing and being aware of some essential aspects of teaching. Learning a language is a complex and long-term commitment, therefore as teachers, we must consider things such as culture or personality traits when we help students. Are they introverts, extroverts, or reserved? What does it mean for them to learn the language? It is not only about grammar or fluency but also feelings and emotions which are involved when we communicate in another language.

As a result, I decided to help people to learn Spanish because I feel identified with learners. I am empathetic with my students in their own learning process. I am convinced that all of us can learn a language, but at our own pace, and more importantly, taking advantage of our own natural abilities. We can develop our language skills by focusing on our strong points and working along with them to develop the weaker skills. Therefore, we will be able to move forward to those parts of the language that are harder to comprehend for us, instead of demanding from us to achieving something that naturally we need more time for.

Understanding the student’s goals and aspirations is crucial in order to guide them and make them feel comfortable and relaxed while they learn. I believe that as students we want to feel free to ask even the most naive questions without feeling embarrassed, and a teacher has a relevant role in this.

I can highlight that I also lived in Spain for 15 years which helped me to observe and analyze the contrast and variants between European and South American Spanish. In consequence, in a more advantageous position and deeper understanding of the language, I can provide guidance to my students and expanding their knowledge, whether is pronunciation, grammar, expressions, or cultural approach to the language.

 

Hi, I am Alejandra, a native Spanish speaker, originally from Chile and currently living in Ireland.

One of the reasons I became a teacher is my own experience in a long journey as an English learner. Having gone through this experience has given me insight into the process of acquiring a language as well as knowing and being aware of some essential aspects of teaching. Learning a language is a complex and long-term commitment, therefore as teachers, we must consider things such as culture or personality traits when we help students. Are they introverts, extroverts, or reserved? What does it mean for them to learn the language? It is not only about grammar or fluency but also feelings and emotions which are involved when we communicate in another language.

As a result, I decided to help people to learn Spanish because I feel identified with learners. I am empathetic with my students in their own learning process. I am convinced that all of us can learn a language, but at our own pace, and more importantly, taking advantage of our own natural abilities. We can develop our language skills by focusing on our strong points and working along with them to develop the weaker skills. Therefore, we will be able to move forward to those parts of the language that are harder to comprehend for us, instead of demanding from us to achieving something that naturally we need more time for.

Understanding the student’s goals and aspirations is crucial in order to guide them and make them feel comfortable and relaxed while they learn. I believe that as students we want to feel free to ask even the most naive questions without feeling embarrassed, and a teacher has a relevant role in this.

I can highlight that I also lived in Spain for 15 years which helped me to observe and analyze the contrast and variants between European and South American Spanish. In consequence, in a more advantageous position and deeper understanding of the language, I can provide guidance to my students and expanding their knowledge, whether is pronunciation, grammar, expressions, or cultural approach to the language.