School or Place of Work |
University of Texas at Austin
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What Level Do You Teach? |
Introductory and Intermediate Spanish for Heritage Learners
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Approx. Percentage of Heritage Spanish Students at Your Institution |
22%
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How Has Spanish Played a Role in Your Personal and Professional Life? |
I grew up on the Brownsville-Matamoros border. I only spoke Spanish until I entered first-grade. Although I quickly learned the language, I was fortunate in having my parents insist on our only speaking Spanish at home and in their providing us with books to read in Spanish. In college I was a natural science major; however, I wanted to study abroad and had two choices at that time: Germany or Spain. Needless to say, I chose the latter. I met my husband there, eventually married and lived in Spain for about 17 years. In 1981 my family returned to the States and I got a job teaching Spanish. Later I began to teach AP Spanish Language and AP Spanish Literature. As a result of teaching the latter, I decided to get a PhD, which I did once my youngest daughter finished her undergraduate studies. In the Spanish Department at UT I supervised the first-semester course and was General Language Program Coordinator. Two years when I stepped down as coordinator, I was asked to redesign our Spanish heritage-language track. It’s been a lot of work, but so very rewarding!
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How Long Have You Been Teaching? |
Seems like forever, but I was a stat-at-home mom so it's been about 25.
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More About Me |
I love to read. Thought I would never like Kindles, etc., but I must admit, I love them. Nonetheless I still glance longingly at them in bookstores and when people are reading them. One of my favorite things: walk through the book stacks at PCL or Benson Libraries.
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