Conversational Spanish for Real-Life Interactions: Online Conversation-Driven Sessions for Adults

Find out more about Bianca

• Do you speak this language fluently because of your origins or because a teacher inspired you to learn?

  I speak Spanish because it is my native language.

• Can you name a living, historical or fictional character that you think is the emblematic representative of the language's culture?

  Spanish is spoken in more than twenty countries around the world. While it is not possible to refer of a single culture, we share some cultural and historical traits. At the same time, this diversity is reflected in the language; all Spanish speakers understand each other and can communicate, but there is a great variety. Therefore, it seems to me that the teaching of Spanish should present a pan-Hispanic vision without ignoring such diversity. In this sense, an emblematic character for me is Andrés Bello: a Venezuelan intellectual who had a great impact on Latin America and who wrote one of the first works of Spanish grammar, still a reference on both sides of the Atlantic. Those of us who teach Spanish today must also build bridges between speakers around the world. I believe that one of the advantages of speaking Spanish (as a native speaker or not) is precisely to be able to access the diverse cultures that are built on this language.

• Is there a typical word, phrase, tradition or behaviour in the language that you particularly like?

  Although it seems complicated at first for many learners, I like the difference between the verbs "ser" and "estar" (both the verb "to be" in English). I find that this contrast leads to reflections on existence, our way of being in the world, and so on. While it may sound a bit abstract, one of my favorite moments in class is when a student who is beginning to acquire the distinction between the two verbs shares their aha moments and reflections. It really exemplifies how learning a language impacts the way you think.

• Why does speaking this language matter to you?

  Speaking Spanish and teaching it allow me to share a particular kind of joy with others. Learning to speak a language allows you to explore new worlds, but it requires a willingness to listen to the people who speak that language first. It's a unique kind of listening with the added humility that comes from not having the words to say everything you want to say yet. In the process, you discover new ways of seeing things; you are transformed and become part of a new community. I think the world needs more of those types of understanding and connections between people. That's what matters most to me.

• What is the main difficulty in learning this language and what can help the process of learning?

  In my opinion, one major difficulty in learning any language is not understanding how the acquisition processes occur. I don't believe that all learners should be subject matter experts. However, it is true that some of our experiences with traditional education have led us to believe that learning a language means adding blocks to be memorized in a specific order and that until we have each block in place, we cannot communicate. Fortunately, the process is much more dynamic and flexible than that. Not only is there room for fun but enjoying it and engaging in authentic and meaningful communication is indispensable to the success of the process. Remembering this helps us overcome moments of frustration.

• Provide a valuable anecdote related to your language learning or your days at school.

  After my studies and several years of teaching experience, I realized that I needed to better understand the language learning process from the student's perspective. Although I remembered some things from my school English classes as a child, it seemed to be not enough. Today, I am a French learner myself. Every day I find new challenges and new joys. I observe more and less successful strategies employed by my tutors, and I reflect on what I do in my lessons. I believe that being on the other side of the classroom has transformed the way I teach, and my students appreciate it.

• How has travel or a specific trip helped you to increase your skill and knowledge of the language?

  As a native Spanish speaker, this language has been present in all stages of my life. Also, I have had the opportunity to live in other Spanish-speaking countries, have Hispanic friends from different places, meet heritage speakers in the US, and do a master's degree at a Spanish university. All these experiences have given me a broader vision of the language and sparked my interest in its varieties, the different ways of saying the same thing, and the historical and cultural richness expressed in our choice of words.

• What makes you a Superprof in language?

  I believe that my students can reflect better than I can what characterizes me as a teacher. Therefore, I would invite anyone who wonders if I am the right fit for them to check out the reviews other learners have left for me. However, I would like to add that I value the trust someone gives me when they allow me to accompany them in the learning process. I will always continue studying and taking into account the feedback I receive to do the best job possible.