Profesora Andrea makes Spanish accessible and fun for Saint Columbkille’s youngest students in grades Pre-K to grade 5. A new teacher this year at STPCS, she sees Pre-K, K1 and K2 twice each week and teaches grades 1-5 once per week, for 45 minutes each. For each class, she focuses on speaking, listening and for older students, writing and reading.
Songs, games, flash cards and more are utilized to ensure students retain the information they are learning and to make it exciting. Rosita, a toy parrot, repeats what students say, but only in Spanish. To encourage participation, Profesora Andrea incorporates songs to warm up, movement to keep students engaged and lots of repetition to help students learn and enjoy the language.
Even at a very young age, learning a second language increases empathy for others. It also increases a child’s comfort level when dealing with new situations.
“The students develop various social skills as well as a tolerance for others,” says Profesora Franco. “When you learn another language, you learn about another culture and it expands your view of the world.”
For Profesora Andrea, teaching Spanish is an adventure and over time her students will learn the language in an enjoyable and memorable way.
“I love the creativity and beauty of Spanish,” says Profesora Andrea. “I enjoy the process and seeing children learn. The greatest joy is seeing the result of your work when they demonstrate the learning.”
Profesora Andrea is originally from Colombia and enjoys spending time with her daughter and dog, Nacho.