My Experience in Teaching the Spanish language
The Spanish Language has been a
vital component of my professional and
pedagogical career. Spanish is my mother
language and also my first language;
therefore, I received both my Primary and
Secondary education in the Spanish
language. Being specialized in teaching
Spanish as a second language (L2), and
Spanish as a foreign language (FL), I have
gained remarkable experience in training teachers/educators to teach and
implement the Spanish as a second language in both the Primary and
Secondary schools in Belize. After obtaining experience in the field and
elaborating didactic material for teaching in the classroom setting,
teaching Spanish as a second language has become my ideal strength in
my professional career.
As a fundamental component of my specialization in the teaching of
Spanish as L2 and LE, I successfully completed a Bachelor’s Degree of
Science in Spanish Education at the University of Belize. Consecutively, I
have completed my Master’s Degree in the Training of Teachers to teach
Spanish as a Foreign Language at the European University of the Atlantic,
in Spain. I am currently pursuing a Doctorate in Education in the research
line of Didactics of Foreign Languages and the Acquisition of Second
Languages at the International Ibero-American University (UNINI), in
Mexico.
As a result of acquiring a great deal of knowledge and experience
in teaching Spanish as a second language, I have had the opportunity to
teach the language at international entities throughout Belize. These
include: The Venezuelan Institute for Culture and Cooperation “Simón
Bolívar and Philip Goldson”, at the Venezuelan Embassy, and The Peace
Corps Belize from the United States of America. Furthermore, I have had
the opportunity to impart knowledge in various Secondary level
Institutions. For instance, I have had the honor to teach at the Belmopan
Baptist High School, Belmopan Methodist High School, and St. John’s
College. At the Tertiary/Higher level Institutions, I am currently a Spanish
Lecturer at the University of Belize with the responsibility of teaching
language courses to students from all programs, including Teaching
Method courses to students pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Spanish
Education and Associate’s and Bachelor’s Degree in Primary Education
Programs. Having the opportunity to impart my knowledge, I am able to
teach the Spanish Language as a secondary language to the educators at
the Primary School Level.
As a developer and publisher of educational didactic material, I
have published the Spanish Book series, Mi Nuevo Mundo, that is directed
for Primary Schools in Belize. Also, I have published a Spanish
newspaper in Belize known as Prensa Latina. Furthermore, I participated
in the development of the Spanish Program at the University of Belize.
Presently, I am publishing the first Spanish Curriculum, along with four (4)
different programs and their corresponding workbooks. The publication, Mi
Nuevo Mundo, is intended to enforce and guide educators by
demonstrating how to properly teach Spanish as a second language in
Secondary Schools in Belize.
The teaching profession has provided me with the opportunity to
become more specialized in this field of study, acquire vital knowledge,
experience, and confidence to produce Spanish didactic materials that
fulfills the linguistic needs of our country. Certainly, the content, teaching
methods and strategies will enhance the knowledge of Belizean
educators, allowing them to become versed in teaching Spanish as a
second language at the different levels of the Belizean education system.
Attentively:
Orlando Portillo
