Kate, Eva y Rey...we were celebrating after the comps. Why am I not overjoyed with happiness in this foto...hmmm...let's see...I was just about to leave the house...I had done my hair and make-up, dressed up for a change...and when I stepped out the door on my way to the post-comps event, I saw my car and Debbie's car submerged in a mini lake in front of the house. What did I do? I rolled up my pants, waded through the mirky water in sandals, in the pouring rain and moved both cars (Debbie was in Cali)...then I changed and voila...a pisco sour or two later and some IHOP and the night was salvaged...good times.

A lil gator kiss Alberto and Joy, sois los mejores!
Princess x 2

Joylandia y Kate que no es Joy

Nayi, Patricia, Fernando, Belinda en Francia...I can't wait to see them (and Iris and Fer) again soon...Viva el cachondeo espanol!!!

In the spirit of Jennifer Gray and Patrick Swayze: the lift. Love this foto.

Audioblog Project:

After a trip or two around the ODEO handout to re-acquaint myself, I had a blast creating audio posts and a little activity for the L2 classroom centred around the above painting "Las Meninas" by Diego Velazquez and questions that incorporated relevant chapter vocabulary for the students (in my case, Spanish-SPN1131) to respond to. Play the ODEO audio below to try it for yourself!
Or follow this link.




Holaoooodeoooo!

Mini Project #3
“The purpose of education is to bring out the best in you” – Gandhi

My life plans changed after a successful year-long exchange experience in Spain. I decided that I was going to major in Anthropology AND Spanish at University…I also decided that teaching was in my future. Interestingly enough, my teaching journey during the past two years of my M.A. degree has followed a similar path to my second language acquisition process. That is to say, I had almost no previous knowledge but armed with a positive attitude, the appropriate environment and a large period of time in which to learn and progress, voila, I have become a Spanish teacher.

During my M.A., I have been privileged to take courses on foreign language methodology and technology in the foreign language classroom while simultaneously teaching beginning level Spanish classes. This shock method for how to become a teacher has proved to be a valuable learning experience all on its own. Both the material from my foreign language teaching methodology class and the daily trial and error class time forced me to continuously evaluate and modify my teaching style and approach. When I became comfortable in the classroom with my greatest resource, myself, I began to integrate technological tools that suited my teaching style, my needs and served to enhance my lesson plans. Overall, I have benefited extremely from this learning/teaching process because it has helped me to become a dynamic teacher.

However, in order for this dynamicity to be effectual, I believe that every trained teacher who wishes to be a great teacher must also acquire and develop a personal approach to education. In forming this conceptual approach I recognize that students must be engaged and challenged academically in a positive environment created by the teacher who educates by engaging and challenging the students.

As an expressive and energetic person, my personal teaching style and work ethic is infused with my passion for the Spanish language. I strive to instruct in a highly communicative, interactive and contextual manner while incorporating cultural sensitivity and real-world relevance. In the classroom I exude a positive nature and encourage academic excellence while seeking to create an environment conducive to equitable education. I promote the learning of language and culture in a societal ‘real world’ context as it helps the students to foster a broader social concept of Spanish speaking countries and can increase the interest level in the target language. I also integrate my linguistic expertise with the lessons learned from my personal experiences to assist and motivate students in the often daunting process of second language acquisition. I believe that it is fundamental to share my enthusiasm for education while encouraging students to set personal goals for academic development.

In the classroom, I enjoy incorporating technology into my lesson plans and I welcome the integration when, and only when, it will assist and/or improve the objectives of the lesson. I think that technology can greatly assist teachers as a tool, but it is important for me that it remain a tool and that it does not become a classroom crutch. At the moment I most often use power point as a visual aid and to relay information quickly as it can greatly save time (i.e.: review sessions). I also use a blog occasionally to post audio files for my class.

In the future however, I want to incorporate the more innovative technology that I have spent the past semester learning about and fawning over into my classroom (i.e. the Cultura Project, specialized chat tools etc.). Computer mediated communication has a place in the foreign language classroom, justified through Social-Cultural theory, helping both the teacher and the students to achieve new possibilities and make new cultural connections that include guest speakers from half way around the world – projected on a screen, chats with ‘key-pals’ in other countries and question and answer periods with professionals in other states through discussion boards. Technology is a part of my educational and foreign language teaching journey and I plan to use it, maintain it and advance with it.

Ultimately, I have chosen the teaching profession because of my desire to contribute to the educational and personal development of students. As a teacher I want to encourage my students to enjoy the learning process (+ to love Spanish!) and I want to see them shine! Education should inspire just that, as Gandhi said, it should “bring out the best in you”.

BLOG/DB Evals:

(above) The Bowler hat of Bolivia
(above) El baile de la Jota, Espana

The WIKI and its use in the classroom:
-Since the Wiki is of a collaborative on-line nature and can foster a sense of responsibility and community, I would try a class 'cultura' project: Students would be put into smaller groups (4) and they would be responsible for contributing information on a specific cultural practice/element of their choice from an assigned country - to avoid repetition. This repository of information, built by the students (cross-checked by the teacher...), could then serve as a group presentation to the class at the end of the semester.
Potential ideas:
-Baile de la Jota, Spain
-Los tejidos de Guatemala
-The bowler hat and tradition of Bolivia
etc...
Considering there are many organizational/grading/individual participation wiki factors to think about...this would hopefully be a good starting point to test wiki boundaries in the L2 classroom.
I think that grading of the final group presentations and student group member evaluations would be an integral part of the success of the wiki project.

Practica para el examen oral

SPN1131: La vida social

Preguntas de: 'Puntos de Partida' pagina 468

B. Entrevista #1

To listen click here or use the ODEO media player below.

Practica para el examen oral

SPN1131: Las profesiones y el dinero

Preguntas de: 'Puntos de Partida' pagina 490

D. Entrevista # 1-3

(Check comments section for questions)

To listen click here or use the ODEO media player below.

Practica para el examen oral

SPN1131: El arte y la cultura

Preguntas de: 'Puntos de partida' pagina 411

D. Entrevista #1

To listen click here or use ODEO media player below.

This commercial was very popular for a long time...and now that I'm living outside of Canada, I can laugh a little louder...yes the Beaver is a mighty animal and I am Canadian!!

Bloggity blog...
Response to MP2 ideas. TIFLErs are creative, I tell you...:
http://russellwusctifle.blogspot.com/
http://mariatifle.blogspot.com/

CHATHAM, ON CANADA- my hometown...
The former city of Chatham began as a naval dockyard in the 1790's, as it straddles the Thames River.
In the War of 1812, the Battle of the Thames took place at Moraviantown, near Chatham on October 5, 1813.
During the 19th century, the area was part of the Underground Railroad. As a result, Chatham is now part of the African-Canadian Heritage Tour.
In 1998 the former Chatham city government merged with that of Kent County to form the Municipality of Chatham-Kent. In 2003, the population within the boundaries of the former city of Chatham was 43,348.
The Municipality of Chatham-Kent consists of 23 communities.

Dre for Prime Minister!

(could you imagine!? I'd move home if you were PM!)

...you know what they say about those Chatham girls...

Straight out of Nintendo...

A snapshot of pre-comps studying...too bad I don't have a pic of friday afternoon post-comps activities...same deal but alcohol induced.

I'm taking Shasta to the airport tomorrow, she's going to Germany to do an MA in Linguistics! I'm so happy for you Shas...I'll work on living close to the ATL airport so you can fly in direct
hahaha. love that Alison Krauss song, you picked the perfect one for me!

The Comps? Less than pleasant.
Day 1: disaster.
Day 2: much better.
Day 2 afternoon: The five of us, the Swamp, a pitcher to myself...followed by the best nap I've ever had and then a sleepless night.
This week: I'm betting on a hot date at the orals...
Big picture: graduation*/moving!/working!/life or something like it!

Thinking of a happy place before the comps:

Patones, Espana. Pueblo no encontrado por Bonaparte durante la invasion francesa...

Even Frisbee superstars fall, awww

FYI: FOUND MY PHONE
(it was on top of the fridge....sad, I know).
Bloody Comps...
turningmybrainintoonebigpileofmush...*gasp of air*...
soallicanthinkaboutisspanishliterature....ayayay...