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Sherry and I have been discussing Spanish teachers – that is, teachers who teach Spanish.  Over the last two years, we’ve had quite a few Spanish teachers:  just 6 for me, but  22 for Sherry.  That’s a lot for Sherry, but remember, she has attended the NC School of Languages here for several semesters, also Forsyth Technical Community College (adult Spanish courses), attends a conversation group on Wednesday nights (a cambio)  AND spent 14 weeks studying in Argentina and various cities in Mexico.  Our teachers have been from all over.  We’ve had teachers from the U.S. (who had lived for years in Spain), Costa Rica, Argentina, Mexico, Columbia, Chile and Peru.  So between the two of us, we probably know a little bit about what makes a good Spanish teacher.  So here are some thoughts:

We’ve found that about 10% of our teachers have been fairly bad (just like when we were in high school and college), 80%  are okay (we learn stuff, enjoy it well enough),  and 10% are terrific.  The terrific ones inspire you and make you really look forward to the next day’s class.  Now, it’s common to finish a Spanish class (especially an immersion class) and say “that was hard”, or “I think I learned a few things today”.    But how great it is to come out of a class and say “That was FUN” or “I finally understand what those …. are all about now.”   That’s the best. And even better, a really good teacher makes you come away from a class thinking that it was about YOU – that the teacher saw YOU and spoke to YOU and wanted YOU to succeed.  Good feeling.

I Hate It When the Teacher….

…isn’t prepared for the class.  Now, usually, when the teacher says “What would you like to cover?” or “What should we discuss today”, it’s because he/she wants to know what YOU want out of the class.  But sometimes, it’s because he’s not prepared.  I’ve been in that class.  Hated it.  

….directs all questions at the class in general rather than at individuals.  Most people are too intimidated to volunteer an answer and it usually leaves long spaces of silence  to slow down the class.  I guess it depends on the class, but certainly most questions should be to individuals.

….speaks too much English.  We all know that immersion is THE best way to learn Spanish.  Sometimes it helps to use a little English (like maybe to repeat the homework assignment, or when the class just cannot understand a usage), but it’s best to keep it in Spanish.

….allows one or two students to monopolize the time.  We’ve had fellow students who would constantly get off topic and waste a bunch of time.  The best teachers know how to keep us on track without hurting the students feelings (unless there’s no other way). Sherry had one classmate  in particular who kept wanting to relate his adventures (in English) and the teacher (who was sweet but inexperienced) didn’t know how to stop him (no, telling him didn’t help).  Finally, a couple of students reported it to the main office, but by then the week was half over (and half wasted).

….gives most of her attention to the student who is obviously the best speaker in the class.  Yes, we know it’s  more interesting for the teacher, but what am I?  Chopped liver?    Equal time, please.

….reads to us.  Boring.  If I wanted reading, I’d buy a Spanish book on tape (I have).  I had a teacher in Guanajuato that would read the assignment, have us do the written exercises, then check them with right/wrong.  For this I traveled to Mexico?  Poor teacher. Lazy?  Maybe.

….talks too fast.  Yes, we need to get up to real world speed, but I’m not quite there yet and I need to understand what you’re saying.  Watch the students.  Are their eyes glazing over?  Slow down.  Try to find the average speed between the weakest and strongest students in the room.

….has us role play.  I HATE ROLE PLAYING.  And I’m pretty sure that 98% of the class does too.  And while we’re doing it, I’m more concerned about looking stupid than about learning Spanish.  I don’t hear a word of any of the other “teams”, either before or after mine, so I’ve wasted all that time on nervousness.  Read my lips:  I HATE ROLE PLAYING.

….breaks us into teams.  This is what happens:  usually, even in a team of two, one person is weaker than the other(s).  It’s embarassing.  And you feel that you’re letting down the other(s).  I would much rather be embarassed all by myself than as a member of a team (yes, I’m the weak one).  I know that it’s a good time filler for a class and is supposed to get us speaking, but guess what?  The speaking is more often than not in English.  Oops.

….uses sound or video with poor quality sound (or in a room with poor acoustics).  I remember a class in San Miguel de Allende (AHA – a very good school) that played what appeared to be a very good little murder mystery short film.  At the end of each “chapter” there was a quiz.  I didn’t get a single question right because I could not understand a single word on the film – the sound quality was just terrible.  And I wasn’t the only one that couldn’t understand it.  I would like to see the film (and take the test) in a better sound environment.

….doesn’t know when to correct the student (or how often).  We’ve seen teachers that correct every word you get wrong and others that don’t ever correct you.  I want to be corrected, but (especially for beginners) not corrected so much that I feel frustrated or stupid.  Just the major errors, please (otherwise – with me – we’ll be here all day).

So, The Best Teachers ….

Come well prepared.  At home, we’ve cut out a section of our time (precious) and a chunk of money to be here.  Away, even more so.  So, el profesor, please get to class on time, start right away and be prepared to fill the entire session with you teaching me to speak Spanish.  Por favor.

Are equipped  with a wide variety of exercises.  Each class is different.  Maybe you’ll need to switch your approach.

Make sure that everyone participates.  Don’t just call on the most advanced ones.  You can tell who’s getting it and who isn’t if you..

Make eye contact.  Some teachers seem to have an uncanny ability to understand who understands and who doesn’t.  It’s a joy to watch someone like that.

Speak clearly and at a moderate pace.

Encourage questions (but keep us on track).

Make  it personal.  I should come away knowing that you care about the learning experience I have.

Use the dry board.  The best use I’ve seen of this was in Argentina.  The teacher kept the conversation moving, but as she used words that she thought we might not know, she wrote them on the board as she talked.  She wouldn’t spend much time on them, but by the end of the class we had seen a lot of new words.  It seemed that she was writing constantly.  It was exciting (and challenging trying to keep up).

So…. there you have a few random thoughts on what we think makes a good Spanish teacher.  I see that I’ve sort of switched back and forth between the student’s and the teacher’s point of view, but either way, I’m sure you get the point.  And I guess a person could do all of this stuff and still not be a “great” teacher.  There’s the personality to consider as well – a chemistry between the teacher and the class.  And there are things that the student needs to do to be a good Spanish student, as well (but that’s another blog).

I’ll finish with telling you about Luis and Luz, two of Sherry’s favorite teachers in Oaxaca Mexico at Español Interactivo.  Now, Sherry says that she’s had some good teachers, and even has a teacher right now that she thinks is top notch, but Luis and Luz are  perfect examples of a really good teacher.  They watched everyone closely.  They knew when you were getting it and when you weren’t.  They even knew that you weren’t understanding it when you thought you were understanding it.  They would switch gears.  They would change speeds.  They did what ever it took to keep you engaged and interested.  She came away from their classes motivated and enthused.  Motivated and tired.  Hats off to you, Luis and Luz.

Tags:   Español Interactivo · Guanajuato · Immersion Schools · Learn Spanish · Learning Spanish · Oaxaca Mexico · Spanish teachers2 Comments