Sonia: 4th Grade Spanish Immersion Teacher

Meet Sonia—a Spanish immersion teacher at the International School of Louisiana in New Orleans.

We need to create classrooms where students are community builders.

Language(s) you currently teach: I am from Spain and I teach Spanish, Social Studies and Science in Spanish.

Other language(s) you know and/or are learning: English

Degrees held: Bachelor's Degree (earned in Spain) with a major in teaching English as a second language

Additional training: English courses in California, Toronto, Ireland and England

What first inspired you to become a language educator? What motivates you today?

I have been working as a teacher for more than 15 years and I still have that passion, inspiration and curiosity to invite students to be part of their learning journey, too.

When I was a kid, learning English as a second language, I had a teacher who ignited me to be curious about learning about another culture. I remember the feeling that I had when she was offering a bunch of opportunities to open a new world to my eyes. She enlightened me and pushed me to do the same today, to make a difference in someone's life.

What is the best or most fulfilling part of teaching language and culture?

I found that the most fulfilling part of teaching language and its culture is that it makes you realize how big the world is and the importance of having a different perspective of what you have around you.

We, as teachers, have to provide our students with the language they need to communicate, but also to inspire curiosity and create global awareness and cultural competence. We need to create classrooms where students are community builders. Working as a language educator in the USA made me realize that the magical thing about teaching is that we continually discover new things.

Have you got a favorite word or expression in another language? What is it, what does it mean, and why did you choose it?

Words of cheering can be a powerful instrument to overcome challenges and fears. Words of encouragement can help students see their own values and talents. Those words can be with them for the rest of their lives. It becomes their inner voice. It helps them connect with their interior strength.

¡YO PUEDO! It means I CAN DO IT! I encourage my students to repeat those two words every single day. It lends a hand to make them stronger, braver and more confident.

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