My name is Paula Alcalde Ruiz. I have studied Spanish Grammar & Literature Degree; a Master in Spanish Editing and I am currently studying my second Master: Spanish Teaching as a Foreign Language. Teaching my language is more than a motivation, it is vocational an also natural to me.
When I wrote my first poem at the age of five, I inevitably knew that the Spanish language would be the greatest of my academic passions and the best of all possible destinies to me; and with the same passion I am prepared to expand this enthusiasm to my students. I have previous experience in the Book Publishing Sector, in writing, as well as in teaching Spanish as a foreign language in England. I have been a teacher in public schools in the United Kingdom and I have taught students of all ages in Belgium (especially children of European Commissioners who needed to get adapted to different languages).
I speak English at level C1 and I have some knowledge of French, which can provide support for teaching students at lower levels, until they can speak Spanish and gain confidence.
As a teacher, I would like to show you some of my skills. I have the innate ability to perceive very quickly what kind of student I am dealing with: what their personality is, what interest they show in Spanish, what previous level they have, what motivations they show, and what would they like to learn. Also, I am used to detecting if they are shy or extroverted. All these elements together, shows me how should I guide each one of them to achieve their goals. I have always though that each group demands an specific methodology from me, so I have an open mind to everything they need and want to learn.
My intention as a teacher is not to stay just in the academic path, but to go beyond to perfect communicative general conditions and be able to help improve people's lives.
I consider myself as an empathetic teacher, very communicative, rigorous in the distribution of knowledge, but very patient and resilient. One of my personal skills is to create one single learning ecosystem that combines the social, personal, intellectual, and emotional environment, among other elements, of everyone who participates in class. I believe that the success of a good teacher lies in being able to perceive all the aspects that surround us and knowing how to put each one in its specific context, time, and place.
Kind regards,
Paula Alcalde Ruiz