Hi! My name is Ezdahi Lopez Pineda. I speak both English and Spanish fluently but consider Spanish my L1. Japanese at the elementary level is also a language I include in my language book. I have a Bachelor's in Linguistics and a Master's in Language Teaching Studies (LTS) from the University of Oregon. As a first-generation student achieving higher education, the LTS program has truly been a dream come true. I never imagined I’d reach this point, as the odds always seemed against me being a Mexican born in the US.

My passion for all aspects of linguistics and learning new languages while immersing myself in their cultures is what makes me dedicated to advocating for underrepresented communities. This is how my ultimate goal of becoming a language teacher to make a difference in people’s lives was born. As a future language educator, I aspire to positively influence learners to help them expand their knowledge, skills, and attitudes. I aim to make a meaningful impact through language education by fostering inclusive and anxiety-free learning environments. My experience includes leading non-academic classrooms, volunteering as a teacher assistant, and mentoring youth, each providing me with invaluable transferable skills ready to apply in my future endeavors. 

Although my goals and experience involve interaction with many people, I am actually quite introverted. I enjoy spending time alone reading, playing video games, or practicing my web development and art skills. Horror and mystery are my favorite genres, whether movies, books, or shows. Additionally, I frequently listen to true-crime podcasts or videos on YouTube. However, don’t be alarmed–I’m also a huge fan of pastel pink, Sanrio, and cats! I have a cat named Nala who has even inspired some of the assignments and projects I completed in LTS. You may come across her and the theme of cats while exploring my site. 

This portfolio presents my work from the LTS program emphasizing six key competency areas: Language as a Dynamic System, Design, DMLL, Assessment, Teaching, and Research. Please feel free to explore my LTS portfolio site in any way you’d like using the navigation bar at the top. Below are ways to get in contact. 

Email: ezdahil@uoregon.edu | ezdahi24@gmail.com

Let's connect: www.linkedin.com/in/ezdahi