High School Spanish Teacher with 12 years in-person experience

Michelle T.

Hi, I'm Michelle. In 2009 I graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Spanish Education with a minor in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. I studied in Mexico and Spain in 2007 in order to gain the required proficiency to teach the language. Through my experiences abroad, I realized how much I wanted to share the ability to communicate with a wider array of people!

I have taught at two different high schools in West Central Illinois. I have spent most of my career teaching the traditional/grammar approach, but in the last two years switched to using Comprehensible Input which is a more communicative approach. This change has revolutionized my career. I absolutely love seeing how fast students gain proficiency in listening, reading, writing, and speaking Spanish!

In 2020 I gained some experience teaching online through the COVID 19 shut-down of schools. I am excited to start this new adventure and to help your children learn a new skill!

One of my favorite activities to do as a class is to create stories together using the language. This activity allows me to get to know students, see their creativity, and build community. Another activity I enjoy doing is called "Movie Talk" during which I describe scenes and ask questions about a short video in Spanish, and then we watch it! I also really like to use music and songs to learn the language and culture as well!

My goal is to make my classes fun and a safe environment. I truly hope to make learning Spanish an enjoyable experience for everyone! Please contact me if you have any questions or would like to schedule lessons.