In today’s rapidly changing educational systems, students often face many unique challenges, one such challenge is the absence of a permanent teacher in the CCHS Spanish program. While this is not an ideal situation, it can also be taken as an opportunity for students to develop life skills. These life skills include independence, resourcefulness, and overcoming obstacles they may face.
When facing the absence of a permanent teacher, students must adapt and find other ways to learn. This includes using online resources such as a language learning app, having students take it upon themselves to study as best as they can. Sophomore Brinley Beson learns Spanish best by, “repeating the sentences and breaking them down so I can learn the words.” Embracing these new ways to learn shows Spanish students are resourceful enough to adapt to shifts in the program and the change that comes with it.
In the absence of a long-term teacher, students come together to form a supportive community. Junior Cristina Carulli says the absence of a Spanish teacher has students become more of a community. “A lot of us have been working together, trying to understand the class and to just do our work so we can better understand and better prepare for our EOC exam.” By connecting with fellow learners, students can share academic resources, practice speaking, and provide mutual support. This will create an environment that promotes academic growth, learning, and friendships.
Without an established Spanish educator, students take ownership of their learning journey. They set personal goals, create study schedules, and explore topics of interest within the Spanish language and culture in a way that helps them learn as best as they can. This level of investment in the Spanish culture allows students to change their learning experience to a way that best fits their learning style or their specific interests. For example, if a student was interested in art, they could take the extra time to educate themselves on Spanish/Hispanic art that is relevant to the culture. This will help students further connect to the language and culture in a way that is personal to them.
The challenges of not having a teacher can be beneficial because of the resourcefulness that can develop in the students of the CCHS Spanish program. Not having access to set classroom materials and resources challenges students to find their own learning materials and opportunities. This may involve seeking out authentic Spanish content such as movies, books, music, as well as participating in language immersion programs or cultural events. By actively seeking out these resources, students develop resourcefulness skills while further immersing themselves in the Spanish language and culture.
Experiencing the CCHS Spanish program without a permanent teacher is no easy task. Still, students should celebrate their academic accomplishments that they’ve made along the way. Senior Lundon Williams says that despite not having a permanent Spanish teacher, she has “performed well surprisingly without a permanent teacher, which is pretty surprising given the fact that I do not have a set curriculum to follow or practice worksheets.” Sophomore Ryan Forgas feels that he is now ready to use his Spanish knowledge to “practice conversing with others.” and to “use Spanish in any future job that I may get.”
While the absence of a permanent teacher in a Spanish program may present many challenges and obstacles, students of CCHS were able to overcome these challenges by being resourceful, owning their education, and coming together as one community to learn
