During the 2015-2016 academic year, I am a teacher at Franklin Academy High
School where I teach 2 sections
of Spanish I, 2 sections of Spanish III, and a combined class of Spanish V and AP. This year I have a total
of 108 students. All of my students will be taking the National Spanish
Exam this March.
I'm camera shy . . . . very much so. I was talking to some digital media students after class to get some tips on making a good video and I confessed how anxious I was feeling. And their response was to tell me not to worry, that they would stand behind me and give me their love and support. It's the kind of thing that reminds me of why I love what I do; my students are the best!
All the students appearing in the video are volunteers and I have
photography permission on file from earlier in the year when we did
video projects. (My fellow camera shy people can be heard in the
background on a couple of clips, even though they cannot be seen.)
I had to make some fairly severe editing cuts to keep the video to 2 minutes. So let me say a little more that didn't fit neatly into the video. In case it didn't come across clearly, I teach Spanish I, III, V and AP this year. I am in my 10th year at my school and this March will be the 10th year I'm giving the National Spanish Exam. I want to take the chance to learn more about the Spanish language, tighten up my own skills (since it has been a long time since I was able to travel), and I want to bring back my experiences to my students via photos, videos, realia, things to display in my classroom, and great stories. I hope that my enthusiasm and love for travel will be contagious and that my students will also take time to explore the world and see all the wonder that is out there to behold.
Thank you to the committee for considering my application. I send my best wishes to them for their hard work and to my fellow Spanish teachers also hoping to have the chance to study abroad.
My name is Anne and I am a semi-finalist for the National Spanish Exam Teacher Study Abroad Scholarship in Spain or Costa Rica!!
I'm trying not to let myself get too excited just yet . . . .
If I'm chosen to go to Costa Rica, I'm most looking forward to enjoying the tropical climate, eating the fresh fruits and vegetables, learning about the local ecosystems - especially the cloud forest and the marine life, and getting to know the people.
If I'm chosen to go to Spain, I'm most looking forward to seeing the architecture - especially the castles, visiting every art museum I can squeeze in, trying authentic paella, enjoying the evening with new-found friends and tapas, and finally getting to know the birthplace of the language I love.
Wherever my trail might lead me, I'm honored to be considered for this scholarship. I cannot wait to experience every little thing and document the experience with photos, video, and anecdotes.
