About Me
¡Hola!
Good Day! My name is Tiffany, and I am the teacher behind la Profesora Caribeña. I live in St. Thomas, USVI and teach at an amazing independent school here. In my first seven years of teaching Spanish, I dedicated myself to instructing our Upper School students. However, three years ago, I took on the challenge of revamping our Lower School Spanish program and teaching our younger students (1st-5th).
With my extensive background in curriculum and resource development, I have authored the Spanish Language and Cultures curriculum for our comprehensive program, which spans from first grade to AP Spanish.
Outside of teaching, my passion is travel and I have lived abroad in Costa Rica, Honduras, and Argentina. I love the beach, music, good people, yummy food, and exploring new cultures!
Background
I am very proud to say that last summer, I graduated with honors from the Pontifical University of Salamanca in Spain with an International Master's in teaching Spanish language and cultures. I also hold a Bachelor's in Human Development and Family Studies with a minor in International Studies from the University of Illinois. Before moving to the Caribbean I began my teaching career teaching ELL for 2 years in my home state of IL.
Teaching Philosophy
I strive to create a lively and safe classroom environment that fosters student comfort and enjoyment. Using the ACTFL standards as a guide, I provide students with comprehensible input teaching that emphasizes global citizenship. It is essential for me to design instructional approaches that foster meaningful language comprehension and cultural understanding.
I believe that by providing students with engaging and interactive materials, I can create immersive learning environments that promote their language acquisition. I aim to ensure that these materials reflect real-life situations and diverse perspectives from around the world in partnership with our whole-school DEI goals and initiatives.
Global Citizenship
Culture is a broad word, and in my teaching, my cultural focus revolves around intercultural citizenship. By addressing global issues, such as sustainability, human rights, and cultural diversity, educators can empower learners to become responsible global citizens who are equipped to engage with the world in a meaningful and empathetic manner.
Using the UN Goals for Sustainable Development and service learning projects and strategies, I strive to empower students to develop their communication skills in tandem with intercultural competence.
