Rafael

Certified Tutor

My interest in teaching languages began at a very early age for me, even if I was not conscious of it at the moment. Due to the relationship between the United States and Puerto Rico, I was exposed to English as a second language since the beginning of my formal education. This is when it all began. As I grew up, I became aware of the incredible benefits of being bilingual. I could read, write, and speak in two languages. Fortunately it wouldn't be just two for too long.

Arriving in college naturally expanded my horizons. It was there when I realized how much I love the atmosphere in a classroom. The exchange of ideas between a teacher and a student became fascinating to me, and I was suddenly aware of how important this is for the proper function of our society. During my second year of college, I was introduced to the French language, and I was so intrigued by the possibilities offered to me by a third language that I decided to major in French Language and Literature. Thanks to this decision I have had the most incredibly enriching experiences, including a semester abroad in France. It was there when I knew that discovering another language meant discovering another culture and another way of viewing the world, which has been a very sensitizing and enlightening experience for me. I believe that this is something everyone should be exposed to, especially in the times that we live in, where globalization seems to be the order of the day. I also believe that teaching will be my way to help others expand their world as I have.

Pursuing a Master's degree, I decided to enroll on the Middlebury Language School program, which gave me not only the chance to study in a French university at the graduate level, but also my first experience as a teacher. I worked as a teaching assistant for the Department of English at a local institute of technology. Through teaching French students, I began to understand the benefits and complexities of being a teacher. How rewarding and how challenging it can be. Through the useful tool of teaching journals, which were required of me as a part of my internship, I learned to self-examine and self-criticize in the hopes of becoming a better teacher.

Immediately after, I was offered the opportunity to teach middle school French and Spanish at an excellent school in New York City. These past two years as a middle school teacher have taught me the importance of certain skills or traits that I believe are essential to any teacher at any level: patience, determination and dynamism, among others, which have proven quite effective in my classroom. Moreover, as a faculty member, I have learned the importance of teamwork when it comes to achieving collective success.

Overall, these opportunities, which I have been most lucky and blessed to have, have only solidified my interest and willingness to continue to pursue a career in teaching. Sharing of everything I have learned as a language student and teacher is a priority for me, and I believe that tutoring is a great way to achieve my goals.