Personal statement.

One of the most important values is tolerance and respect, this is the main model that I use to
communicate with people and it is the main model that I teach my students. 20 years ago when I
trained in language and computer programming, I thought about how to improve people's lives
through software. Now with this same model, principles and knowledge acquired I have managed
to start a new stage in my life and currently starting an online education project www.tertulia.ru
for the Russian market.

Traveling more than 14,400 km from a country as far away and different as Chile and starting a
new life project in Russia is very impressive at first, then the change is assimilated.

I apply for this position, with the intention of delivering dedication and talents to inspire the lives
of my students.

My proposal for a curriculum.

1. Backward Design:

I will, teach with the End in Mind.

With backward design, I will set big teaching objectives before planning lessons and organizing
materials.

So instead of unit around concepts like “introductions and greetings vocabulary,” “business
vocabulary” and/or “conjugating verbs in the Usted (you, formal) form,” I would begin with an end
goal like “Students will be able to conduct a job interview in Spanish.” I would then structure the
lessons accordingly, incorporating the concepts/skills students need to master that objective.

Implementation

I will consider working within the basic tertulia´s model. In a nutshell, this model starts with the
identification of the objectives and how I will measure student mastery (types of formative and
summative assessments I will use), then planning lessons that take both the goals and assessments
into consideration.

For example, role-play at the end to assess their learning using a rubric. With that goal in mind and
a clear idea of what students need to do to show mastery. One lesson might include introducing
vocabulary, and another, perhaps, has students writing a practice dialogue using professional
language.

“Essential Questions: Opening Doors to Student Understanding.”

2. Task-based Instruction: I’ll focus on Practical Opportunities to Communicate in Spanish; it is
planning lessons that allow students to learn by completing tasks in Spanish. With this approach,
teachers emphasize real-life scenarios and situations that resonate with students on a personal
and practical level.

So instead of asking students to learn a list of vocabulary words about nature, students might
present a news report about the effects of pollution on their local park. Or, instead of watching a
video about folk songs in Mexico, students will actually learn the songs themselves and sing them
in class.

3. Text-based Instruction: Prioritize Spanish Reading Materials

Text-based instruction emphasizes reading comprehension skills by giving students different kinds
of texts, like newspaper articles, and trusting that deeper learning will take place as the students
learn for themselves how different kinds of texts work.

Implementation

In the beginning Spanish classroom, students might read a Spanish short story or another lower-
level text, while advanced Spanish students might read book reviews in El País. Students may also
read song lyrics or poetry in Spanish, so they can learn how the rhythms of these kinds of texts
vary and have different purposes.

4. Technology-based Teaching: Use Technology to Enhance Learning means planning lessons that
incorporate all the different educational material in www.tertulia.ru, videos, and online resources
that are available to students.

Parents will have access remotely to review the content, statistics, and reports.

Sincerely,

Juan Luis Hernandez.