Spanish 2: An Interview With OSP12 Teacher Dra. Mendez-Ortiz

In this article, SASS board member Kristen A. ('22) interviewed Spanish 2 instructor Dra. Mendez-Ortiz. We hope that this article will help current and future Spanish 2 students in their academic journey!

What is your favorite thing about teaching Spanish 2?

One of the best things is seeing how much students improve in their verbal ability. Students start Spanish 2 feeling comfortable talking about things such as personal hobbies and family members. Toward the end of the first semester, students are able to analyze short texts and defend/explain their point of view. It’s nice to see them make that huge leap. Also, at the end of each semester, I talk to each student for 15-20 minutes on topics related to what we discussed. It’s great to see how much they are able to produce without the use of notes and dictionaries.

What challenges students the most in Spanish 2? How would you recommend that students overcome these challenges?

In Spanish 2, it’s very important to be an active participant in every class (a lot of this entails speaking on microphone). This can be more difficult for the shyer students. Added to that, they have to speak in a language that is not their own. I typically recommend that students meet with me to find out what I can do to help them participate more in class. In the past, this has meant having discussion questions on topics that they care about. Another challenge for students is being afraid of saying the “wrong” thing in class. I tell students that we are all learners and that I will never correct them in front of everyone. Generally, when mistakes are made, I model the correct way of expressing what was said by reemphasizing it. At times, I will send a private chat to the student. In short, I tell students not to be afraid of making mistakes and to speak as much as they can, as this is how they will get comfortable with the language and acquire it much faster.

What types of students do well in Spanish 2?

Students who spend time carefully reading the material ahead of class, reviewing grammar concepts, and studying the vocabulary tend to do well. These students also tend to surround themselves with Spanish outside of class (e.g., listening to podcasts, watching television series, listening to music, meeting with an OHS tutor), ask questions in class (via private chat or main group chat), and practice grammar concepts on a telephone app. Also, students that do well meet with me to discuss concepts that they didn’t quite understand and/or meet with me just to practice their verbal and listening skills.

What does the average workload for each week look like?

Students should spend approximately 3-4 hours per week outside of class reviewing material, reading, and completing assignments.

How do you recommend that students prepare for exams in Spanish 2?

There are no exams, but there are quizzes (five each semester) focused on grammar concepts. I recommend that students carefully review grammar concepts (in their textbook) before attending class. This allows them to follow along in class, to do the classroom activities, and to ask questions. Students should also spend time doing grammar activities (those assigned as well as extra activities) on the Supersite website. Students that have a difficult time with a particular grammar concept also benefit from meeting with me and/or and OHS tutor.

How is the participation grade for Spanish 2 determined?

Participation is measured by comments made via microphone (and text chat) while in the main room and by active participation in the breakout rooms.

How is a student’s overall grade in Spanish 2 determined? What percentage of a student’s overall grade is determined by exams, homework, quizzes, participation, etc.?

For my current Spanish 2 course, everything is more or less equally divided. For example, class attendance and participation, homework, quizzes, and compositions all count the same. Instead of a midterm or final exam, students develop two individual projects. These projects count just a bit more than the previously mentioned assignments.

What materials do students use in the course (textbooks, lectures, online resources, etc.)?

Students are required to have a textbook and use an online tool called “Supersite” for assignments, audio, video, and reference tools.

Are students expected to be on camera for the entire class?

Students are required to be on camera during the entire class. I try to mimic the traditional school experience, and I like to be able to see students’ expressions during class lessons.

Have you had any experiences with students in Spanish 2 that could encourage those who think they cannot excel at the material in this class?

One of the nice things about acquiring a new language is that students can normally expect results commensurate with the time and effort they devote to the process. I had a student two years ago who told me at the start that she was just “bad at languages.” She happened to be a very good cellist and I challenged her to approach Spanish as she’d approached cello: daily practice, keep it fun, listen to others play, etc. She took the advice and slowly but surely became one of the most successful students in the class.

What about Spanish 2 interests so many students?

It varies. Some students have professional goals that require them to acquire advanced proficiency. Others have personal or family connections to the language. Some want to travel to Latin America and get around with confidence, and others have a real passion for literature and culture. Spanish 2 is where students tend to make the leap from very basic interactions (in the present tense) to more complex forms of conversation, and this can be extremely rewarding.

#Spanish2 #OSP12