Information About Maria Victoria - Coleraine teacher

Personal Description:

I am a native Spanish speaker with more than 20 years of teaching experience. I was born in Huesca province, and I was educated in Zaragoza where I graduated first in Contemporary History and later in Geography. During my studies in geography, the Erasmus programme brought me to Northern Ireland where I am currently living.
I maintain very close contact with Spain, where I spend part of the year, and I am deeply interested in the transformation of Spanish society and the political processes behind it. My studies in geography have taken me all around the country, giving me a profound understanding of the evolution of modern Spanish.

Teaching Experience:

I started teaching Spanish in Zaragoza with CODEF, a charity involved in teaching the language to immigrants. In the UK, I have worked in a wide range of settings, teaching adults at both conversational and GCSE levels. I also have 14 years of experience teaching Spanish to primary and secondary school students, covering every stage from KS1 to KS4 and preparation for both GCSE and A level qualifications. This experience has given me a wide understanding of the UK modern languages curriculum, as well as the expectations of English speakers learning Spanish and the linguistic challenges that they face.
I now run my own business, designing and delivering courses for adults from complete beginner to advanced levels. I believe in the importance of continuous professional development, and in order to improve and refresh my resources, I regularly participate in teacher training courses with the Cervantes Institute.

Teaching Approach:

During classes, I follow the communicative method of language teaching which emphasises the use of the language in practical everyday situations that are relevant and interesting for my students. Afterwards, we reflect on the structures used to communicate. I place a high value on the importance of repetition as a tool for reinforcing language acquisition, and I guide my students to find learning strategies that are best suited to their individual learning styles.