A Day In The Life Of A Spanish Teacher
According to Zip Recruiter (ziprecruiter.com), a Spanish teacher instructs students in courses that teach about the Spanish language, culture, and customs of Hispanophone countries. In this role, they develop lesson plans, assign coursework, grade assignments, and administer tests centered around the Spanish language. For Roseanne Allen, a Secondary Level Spanish Teacher, it is no different. In this episode of our What’s Your Career Video Series, she provides insight into the life of a secondary level Spanish teacher.
Qualities You Must Have to Become a Secondary Level Spanish Teacher
Every teacher should be of the understanding that each student has different learning abilities and are often at different levels in how they retain knowledge. Allen also emphasises the importance of patience, being calm and collected as a teacher who will have to work with different personalities.
How to Become a Secondary Level Spanish Teacher
Having a desire to become a teacher oftentimes means finding a college or university that is equipped to train you in the area. A degree in Secondary Teacher Education can last up to 4 years and is usually completed by what is called ‘Practicum’ which allows the young teacher to enter the classroom on a probationary level and for observation that they have learnt the teaching principles well and lastly for experience. Based on Allen’s experience while studying, she mentions that the tuition for a degree in Secondary Teacher Education may range as low as $1,500,000 in total and can be heavily supplemented with scholarships that are usually made available by various organizations such as the National Commercial Bank and Hanover Charities (a scholarship foundation specifically offering help to students from the parish of Hanover). Upon mentioning suitable subjects needed to enrol into a college to study Secondary Teacher Education, Roseanne Allen mentioned that there are no specific subjects that one will need, notwithstanding mandatory courses of English Language, Mathematics and Information Technology. She also shared that the subjects you need will be heavily based on the type of teacher you want to become.
Benefits of Being a Secondary Level Spanish Teacher
Allen mentions the sense of pride that comes with students grasping concepts and applying them successfully as one of the joys of a career in Secondary Education. Another benefit is developing trustworthy relationships with students and being seen as a figure of respect and authority. A common benefit for most teachers is the ability to grow and nurture the minds of our future generation of leaders.
One Challenge Associated With Being a Secondary Level Spanish Teacher
As many may expect, having to learn and appreciate the individual personalities of each student may be a challenge. All students are cultured differently and may carry varying views. Some students will struggle more than some considering that Spanish is not the first language of our culture. Allen mentions that the workload can oftentimes be demanding- from preparing lesson plans to spending adequate time to administer and acknowledge assignments. However, none of these should deter an individual from pursuing such a world-shaping career as she also recommends this career as a strong 7.5 on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest.
Books You Can Read to Grow As a Secondary Level Spanish Teacher
There may not be a book that will adequately prepare one for the classroom as experiences will all vary. However, books versed in the art of leadership and counsel. Spanish tutoring books may also be a tremendous guide for young teachers or students with a desire to pursue a career in Secondary Teacher Education in Spanish.
Advice for Students
“I have been saying this, but I will say it again- You HAVE TO be patient! Not every student will be a fast learner or have the easiest personality to work with, but allow your temperament and your skill to work for you. Identify the uniqueness of each of your students and find creative ways to stimulate their minds. Spanish is not the first language of our culture, which makes it even more important to exercise patience.”
Watch the full interview here: