Greetings and welcome to my teacher website!

Please check the tab for your specific class for materials and/or any specific announcements. Also, please refer to this  website throughout the year as I will update the Lesson Plans tab for each class on the Friday before each new week begins. 

All Spanish and French students are expected to memorize the Charger Way in Spanish and French; please click on the tab labeled "Charger Way" to learn it. 

Meet Your Teacher:

Profe. Anders Peterson

SPANISH, Benjamin Franklin High School

Email:  apeterson@bfcsaz.com

¡Hola! In Spanish, “Mr.” does translate to “Sr.” (Señor), but this is not the typical title used for teachers. In Spanish‑speaking schools, the word “profesor” is the standard term for anyone who teaches at the middle school, high school, or university level. For that reason, I prefer to be called Profesor Peterson or simply “Profe” (with Spanish pronunciation), rather than Señor Peterson.

This year, I am excited to teach Spanish 2, Spanish 3 Honors, AP Spanish, and French 2. Although Spanish is my first language, I also studied French at the university and earned a minor in French. I love the French language deeply, and I am very proud of my French heritage. I have traveled to France and Québec several times to visit family and to practice French, and those experiences continue to inspire my teaching.

This will be my seventh year teaching Spanish at BFHS. Before coming here, I taught Spanish at the University of Arizona for ten years. Transitioning to Benjamin Franklin High School has been a wonderful experience, especially because it has provided an amazing learning and social environment for my three sons—two of whom graduated in May 2022, and my youngest who graduated with the class of 2024.

A few fun facts about me: I am from a small town in southern Arizona called Ajo, I have visited all 50 U.S. states, Spanish is my first language, and I am a dual citizen of the United States and Uruguay, a small nation in South America. I am also an active runner—I love running with my wife and friends throughout the week, and I enjoy participating in races whenever I can.

Educational Background

A.A. in Sociology and A.A. in Languages,  Eastern Arizona College

B.A. in Spanish Interpretation & Translation with a minor in French,  University of Arizona

M.A. in Hispanic Linguistics, University of Arizona

Post Degree in Secondary Education, Pima Community College

Arizona Teaching Endorsements in Spanish, English, History, Middle School Social Studies

Educational Philosophy

I was first a student and then a teacher; however, I have never stopped being a student. As a teacher, my philosophy is based largely on my initial role and this has aided me in creating a student-centered environment where effective learning is achieved.

Favorite Quote

“Every book, every volume you see here, has a soul. The soul of the person who wrote it and of those who read it and lived and dreamed with it. Every time a book changes hands, every time someone runs his eyes down its pages, its spirit grows and strengthens...Books are mirrors: you only see in them what you already have inside you.”

― Carlos Ruiz Zafón, The Shadow of the Wind

What I’m Looking Forward to...

I am looking forward to interacting with a dedicated community of scholars and facilitating and expanding the use of Spanish in their lives. Many people think that it is not possible to learn a new language in high school, however, I have seen students progress from zero speaking  to becoming highly conversational in 2 years years. I am excited to see more students become bilingual at BFHS.