Teacher Spotlight: Ms. Duque
What made you want to be a Spanish teacher?
Well at first I did not wanted to be a Spanish teacher I just wanted to be a teacher. In my country, I was a English teacher. I wanted to be an English teacher in the United States but I couldn’t because the speak English so I had no other choice then to be a Spanish teacher since English is the main language here. My degree was an English teacher and here the 2nd language is Spanish so what I did was get certified as a Spanish teacher.
What is it like teaching a whole new language to the students?
I love teaching another language because its giving something that the students don’t have. It gives you a knowledge of the different cultures and have the possibility to talk to other people and people can use this language for anything for their jobs and more so it's important to me.
Where are you from? Do you like it here and are you planning to go visit your country sometime?
I am from Ecuador and I always go back and visit my family. All my family is there I don’t have family here every year or every other year I go, or they come, I’m always going to be connected with my country. Yes, I do like this area I love the nature here and it attracts me so much. I wouldn’t want to live in a state where it looks like a dessert and possibly here I can earn more then in my country and I can do many more things.
What is one of your favorite teaching memories?
One of my favorite memories was when I taught kindergarten immersion program in High Point working with little kids and hearing them speak Spanish as if they were Spanish speakers and I loved it, it made me so proud and I didn’t have to force them to speak Spanish because they learned themselves.
What do you look for everyday?
Those moments where the kids show me they have learned, and it makes me happy and I know its hard for people to speak another language and it rewards their effort.
