Teacher/Languages

In experiencing languages and realizing the importance of them throughout my life, I have decided to pursue a career in them. I have recently obtained a degree in the Bachelor's of Art with a dual Major in Spanish and Italian language, literature and culture as well as a Minor in French language, literature and culture. The decision to pursue a career in languages did not come about recently but it has been a dream of mine since childhood. Although my taking on several languages satisfies my intellectual being, my childhood is what actually sparked the personal sense of this ambition. From birth, the Italian language and its traditions surrounded me. From the pleasure I obtained from speaking and understanding the Italian language, I developed an interest to learn other languages and cultures.

My involvement in the master's program at Buffalo University, along with personal hard work and achievements, will assist me in my future plans. This future plan includes providing an elementary level of language education that is presently lacking in most school districts. It is an untouched area in language education and I feel that there is a need for an early language acquisition in the school system. Children learn any language best during a time called critical age which spans from birth to puberty. Our school system begins teaching a second language after this critical age has expired.

The realization that all students are different and have different learning capabilities is an important step in becoming a good teacher. Being aware of not only the capabilities but also the disabilities of students allows a good teacher to interact with them on various levels and with great flexibility.

In my experiences, as a teacher, a substitute, a tutor, and an independent instructor, I have come to possess this quality but more importantly, I have come to understand that this quality, along with many others, is needed when teaching.