Dear parents and students,

My name is Andrea Coulson, and I’m delighted to teach your children Spanish. I want to introduce myself and let you know my curriculum plans, the methodology I will use, and my expectations.

About me, I was born in Argentina and raised in Buenos Aires. I attended the Instituto Nacional de Maestras en Lenguas Vivas in the bilingual system. I have a teaching certification in the State of California. I attended Cal State Chico and took several graduate courses at UCLA, Stanford, and the University of Indiana. I also attended courses in Mexico and Spain. My experience includes 20 years of teaching in K-12 schools and adult education. I live with my husband Daniel, my little beagle called Freddie (for Freddie Mercury), and two very spoiled cats: Ronnie and Sofía. We have a son called Zac, and he is a software engineer. I love to cook, hike, read, and write in my free time. Of course, I love to travel.

About the class, my goal is to teach your children Spanish fun and practical. I want your children to feel confident about their new language and focus on their self-esteem and willingness to use new vocabulary. When learning a second language, there is a “silent” period in which students acquire a language. The hardest part of language acquisition is output. Students will begin to reproduce the language when they are ready. I teach in Spanish. Structure to the vocabulary is provided through explanations naturally, allowing for internalization of rules, as happens during first language acquisition. We do this by reading and creating fun stories about ourselves, imaginary characters, and our friends. While communication in Spanish is a top priority, it is also vital to understand different cultures. Whether for future studies, work prospects, travel, or fun, learning about Hispanic cultures is an integral part of the class.

So, we will have fun in Spanish!

Con mucho cariño y con la gracia de Dios,

Andrea Coulson