Meet David: Teacher profile of the month

We go behind the scenes with David, our down-to-earth member of The Language Academy teaching team.

Read his interview below to find out what he likes most about teaching, his favourite food, and what he wants his students to remember about him.

Name: David
From: Calle, Colombia
Currently teaching: Spanish

 

➱ LIFE AS A LANGUAGE TEACHER

🅠 Who or what inspired you to start teaching?

Ⓐ “I went to university to study linguistics, French and English, but never thought I had the passion and patience to teach. I originally wanted to be an engineer, but I started teaching linguistics in Colombia and France and somehow my classes were nice, my students were happy, and they understood what I was teaching. It worked for me.”

 

🅠 What prompted you to move to the Gold Coast?

Ⓐ “Believe it or not, I’m not a beach boy [laughing]. I got a scholarship to study linguistics, and one of the options was Australia. So, I came here to study my Masters in TESOL.”

 

🅠 What do you like most about teaching?

Ⓐ “My classes are pretty much organic. I teach grammar of course, and control the class, but I’m also trying to focus on communication skills. They need to speak to learn, and my approach is asking questions and listening for answers; letting them think what they want to think and say different things. I am there to provide them with the resources and tools that they need to learn.

I was teaching Spanish before when I was in France. I had around 26 secondary school students which is very different to here at The Language Academy. Here, teaching is done in an intimate setting with you know, up to six students, and I can see how the students react to the material and I can change my teaching method to what they need. Everyone has a different purpose for learning, but most all to travel and go to a Spanish speaking country. So I adapt what they need for the different countries they will travel to. It’s great to be able to prepare them and expose them to that foreign reality.”

 

🅠 What do you find is the most challenging thing about teaching?

Ⓐ “In Australia – it’s motivation. Students here don’t need to speak Spanish, so learning a foreign language is a huge thing. Trying to raise motivation is the most challenging. I always say to students, listen to my process, I’m not a magician, but I will give you all the resources you need to learn. Another would be encouraging students to start learning by themselves.”

 

🅠 What is your teaching motto or philosophy?

Ⓐ “Go out there, research, listen, talk and ask questions, and use that as part of your meaningful knowledge”.

 

🅠 Describe a successful lesson. Tell us why it would be successful.

Ⓐ “I always try to predict what students will need by listening to the students, so I can use what they know, for themselves. Here I am very well connected to the students, I know what they’re talking about. I know their skills and always relating that back to them.

So as long as they know how to use it in a real context, I am happy with that. I tell them all the time, ‘do not be afraid, what you said is not wrong, just speak and let me know what you have to say’. Then I’ll listen, and we can learn from there. That would be a successful lesson.”

 

🅠 What is the next language that you want to learn, and why?

Ⓐ “Japanese. I was learning Italian before, but I was too busy. I grew up watching Dragon Ball Z, and then I was teaching Japanese students for a while. Also, I like how complex it is.”

 

➱ UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL

🅠 Where have you travelled?

Ⓐ “The States, Turkey (it’s awesome, such a nice country), Italy, France, Spain, Netherlands and Australia.”

 

🅠 Do you have any hidden talents?

Ⓐ “Patience? [laughing]. I’m trying to study a PHD in Virtual Reality and AI in relation to language education. That requires patience – is that a hidden talent? I’m a teacher, I have to be patient [laughing].”

 

🅠 What is your favourite food?

Ⓐ “Salchipapas – it’s a popular dish from home. You cannot get it here. It’s like French fries with sausages and sauce. I miss that. I’ve tried making it at home, but it doesn’t work.”

 

🅠 How would you describe yourself in three words?

Ⓐ “Patient, persistent, altruistic.”

 

🅠 If you could be any animal in the world, what animal would you be and why?

Ⓐ “A dog – I grew up with dogs. Our family rescued them, because there are a lot of stays over there, just in the streets, you know. We all had the feeling and connection with them. So I would want to be a dog, to try and understand what they feel.”

 

🅠 Describe your perfect day. What would it look like?

Ⓐ “My perfect day, if it’s not raining and its sunny, that would be amazing, I’d be out with my friends for a couple hours, I like teaching, so if I can teach and my class is successful, that would be amazing as well. And to eat a good meal, that’s really, really important.”

 

➱ LAST BUT NOT LEAST…

🅠 What is one thing you want your students to remember about you?

Ⓐ “Probably the attitude in class, the charisma and that the teacher was nice. I would hope they knew that ‘he wasn’t the regular teacher’ and that he went beyond what he was supposed to do, you know, and think ‘that guy was committed’.”

 

If you want to learn Spanish, view our Spanish course, or call us on (07) 5578 6838 to find out more.

Get in quick – spaces are limited as we ensure small class sizes for the best learning outcomes!