ABOUT ME

I have been a Spanish as a Foreign Language teacher for many years (to give you an idea of how many, a clue is that my first job was at a small Catholic school in Chicago where we actually typed lessons on carbon paper to make our copies on duplicating machines).  I have taught Spanish to all ages including preschoolers through Advanced Placement students.

I am passionate about linguistics and culture.  I love learning and teaching. Of course, I'm also a big fan of anything to do with Castellano (the Spanish language), and all the countries where it is spoken.

Recently, I decided to expand my repertoire; I just completed my ESL endorsement and will be completing my Bilingual endorsement as soon as this blog is complete (more or less).  I will then continue my Curriculum and Instruction courses and in May of 2018 I will have my master's degree.


I was born with a love of language.  My parents said I started talking at such a young age that when strangers would come up to my buggy and ask my mom, "how old is she?" I would be the one to answer, causing jaws to drop at the sight of such a young baby talking!

My grandparents came to America in the beginning of the 20th century from Italy. I am a classic example of how  heritage languages are commonly lost by the third generation in the country.  I did, however, grow up frequently listening to grandparents and relatives speak Italian, and I remember my grandfather reading Italian newspapers with me.  I was very interested in language and was enthusiastic about learning Spanish when I started high school.

As a high school student, I had the opportunity to participate twice in a short-term exchange programs with a sister school in Spain.  I attended classes and lived with a family, experiencing life through the eyes of another culture. It was an opportunity that changed my life.  It became my dream to provide a similar experience to my own students one day.

Six years ago my dream was fulfilled when I initiated a similar exchange program at Joliet Catholic Academy, where I was teaching at the time.  We hosted the Spanish students, and then went to their town and lived with their families.  I was able to do this trip three times, giving approximately 65 students the opportunity to live like a Spaniard.

I tell all this background information because I believe that my aptitude for language, my exposure to the Italian language and culture, and the opportunities to live abroad, all made me who I am today.

I am not young (I'm 52), but I'm also not too old to aspire to new challenges and find new ways to help more students; specifically those who struggle with language issues and/or cultural adjustment. This population continues to grow, and I believe I have what it takes to help train more teachers so they can become more understanding,  accommodating and better-equipped to teach them.  I also want to make sure those students don't lose their heritage language the way I did.