What is your role at QACI, and what subjects do you teach?
I am a teacher of Spanish at QACI. I also teach IBL.
What inspired you to become a teacher, and what do you love most about working in the IB program?
I became a teacher because I believe education is the most important tool to shape the future. Every student is unique, and my job is to help students discover their strengths. My goal as a teacher is to help students become lifelong learners.
I enjoy working in the IB program as it provides students with a more global understanding of the subject areas. In Spanish, this means that students are immersed in the language as the main aim is to enable them to communicate in the target language rather than just studying for upcoming assessments.
How do you bring real-world connections into your teaching? Any exciting collaborations or projects?
I aim to include current events in my teaching where possible. I also include project-based learning to enable students to become agents of their learning. In the past, I have also helped organising school exchanges.
Can you share a memorable teaching moment or student success story?
One of my most memorable student stories was a student who was disengaged in class. I asked the student about his interests outside of school. In the following lessons, I included some topics on free time in Spanish that were relevant to the whole class. The student became more engaged in Spanish as he was able to talk about things that mattered to him.
What’s something unique about QACI’s learning experience that sets it apart?
I believe QACI sets students up to become independent learners. Students are very much engaged in their learning as they are studying subjects that enable them to fulfil their creative potentials.
Do you have any interesting career highlights, achievements, or passions outside of teaching?
I am very passionate about teaching. I have taught a range of subjects including Spanish, German and Humanities over the years, but Spanish is the subject I most enjoy teaching.
In my free time, I love to travel and see family and friends. Next year, I am planning to travel to El Salvador to see some of my family. Furthermore, I also enjoy playing tennis.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give students for their future?
Find out how you learn best. Some students find it easier to remember a certain topic by using visual stimuli. Other students may find it easier to learn with audio stimuli. In general, knowing yourself is pivotal in making the right decisions for oneself in life.
Which IB Learner Profile resonates the most and why?
For me it is the fact that IB encourages students to become inquirers that are agents of their own learning. Students connect ideas rather than just memorising facts.