Tatiana has been passionate about Spanish language and literature her whole life, and ever since she learned to read and write in her home country of El Salvador, she wanted to become a teacher. Her passion for the culture of Spain and Latin America, and for teaching, led her to complete her higher education in the United States, where she earned a Bachelor’s in Education as well as a Master’s and a Ph.D. in Spanish. She has taught Spanish at all stages, from beginner to advanced, and across school levels including Middle School, High School, College, and adult learners. She is comfortable switching between teaching environments, including traditional classrooms, language academies, and virtual settings, for both group and one-on-one classes.
Her teaching experience spans more than 20 years, first as a college professor in El Salvador and the United States, and later as a Spanish teacher at international schools and language academies in India. She is a certified IGCSE facilitator and taught the curriculum in Chennai for more than five years. She is also a certified IB teacher with experience teaching Spanish ab initio and Language B. In addition, she is a certified DELE examiner for all six levels from A1 to C2. She views her courses as a vehicle to introduce students to Hispanic culture and teaches each student to the best of her ability to meet their varying needs. She considers herself satisfied as a teacher when students leave her classroom with a new appreciation for the Hispanic language and culture.
She strongly believes, and research has shown, that students embrace learning when they actively engage their own experience and apply it to the subject. Based on her observations throughout her teaching career, she has found this to be particularly true in foreign language education. In practice, she encourages students to connect new information to what they already know, making them more successful learners. Her educational philosophy emphasizes a student-centered learning experience that draws from students’ own experiences and strengths. She strives to create total immersion in the target language and culture within an atmosphere that supports critical thinking. Her courses are designed to involve students through practice and application of their skills. Students are expected to consistently apply the critical thinking and problem-solving skills they develop in her classes, which also serve them in other subjects.