When I took high school Spanish I fell in love with learning a language. I really tried to speak the language, took more courses than what was required, and traveled to Spain for spring break. I’d love to see my Spanish students share the same passion about learning a second language. When I observe in some foreign language classes I see students drudging through a required course with no interest or desire. So, how will I accomplish this lofty goal? What will I do in the classroom to encourage students to share the love of a foreign language that I possess? I believe it will be a combination of philosophies and styles, some that I am strong in now as a person and a parent, and others that I've developed during my education and will continue to develop in my early years of teaching.
William Butler Yeats is quoted as saying, “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” School is more than simply putting the knowledge of math, science, English and more into the brain of a student and being able to test that the knowledge is there. It means developing the person that the student becomes in life. As a teaching professional, I will often carry the responsibility for a student’s social and physical development in addition to developing their thinking and problem solving skills. It is a tall order to fill, and it must be delivered with enthusiasm, originality, and compassion and in collaboration with other classroom teachers, parents, and the community.
I hope that with a combination of mutual respect, passion, and planning, I will develop a classroom climate of comfort and success for my students. What better way to learn than to enter a “foreign country” for one class period out of the day?!
