"¿hablas español"?
¡Bienvenidos!-Welcome!
MAURICIO CASTRO
SPANISH
CLASSES: 5th -8th cycles
HIGH SCHOOL- SPANISH 1
8th-GRADE SPANISH 1
Spanish continues to be the unofficial "second language" in the United States. The ever-growing Hispanic population ensures that Spanish remains the most practical second language to learn. Job opportunities abound for bilingual employees in Health, Government, Marketing, Hospitality, Social Work, TV and Film Production,Education, Journalism, etc.
My classes are highly communicative, focusing on the practical applications of the material learned such as greeting and expressions of courtesy, asking "ice breaking" questions of name, age and origin, expressing preferences, understanding directions, ordering food, shopping, counting money, telling time , describing people, places and things, understanding weather reports etc.
A BIT ABOUT MYSELF
COLOMBIAN BORN-AMERICAN CITIZEN SINCE 2005
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI, FL GRADUATE-BACHELOR IN COMMUNICATIONS AND ENGLISH
HIGHLY QUALIFIED BY THE STATE EDUCATION DEPT. TO TEACH SPANISH
FORMER ADVERSTISING COPYWRITER AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR IN THE HISPANIC MARKET
HAVE LIVED IN ZAIRE, SPAIN, FLORIDA, TEXAS, COLOMBIA
SUMMER ESL INSTRUCTOR AT CUMBERLAND COUNTY COLLEGE
MEMBER OF TENNIS USTA
OVER 35 YR. SOCCER LEAGUE PLAYER
MARRIED WITH A DAUGHTER, DOMENICA, AN 9TH GRADER IN PITMAN MIDDLE SCHOOL
LIVE IN PITMAN
LIKE TO READ HISTORICAL NOVELS- PILLARS OF THE EARTH, MAGIC REALISM- CIEN ANOS DE SOLEDAD
ENJOY COOKING, TRAVELING, PLAYING GUITAR HERO, MAKING MINI MOVIES, WRITING SCRIPTS, DRAWING, SPEAKING FRENCH.
TPRS- (TOTAL PHYSICAL RESPONSE STORY TELLING )TEACHING METHODOLOGY
I often employ TPRS to create Fluency. TPRS is a highly communicative methodology that promotes natural fluency and lasting communication skills. TPRS is a multi-sensory method. It meets the needs of various learning styles. TPRS includes gestures and acting for the kinesthetic learners, visual images (illustrations, props, puppets, live actors etc) for the visual learners, and the tremendous amount of comprehensible input appeals not only to auditory learners but compensates for those that are not auditory learners.
THERE ARE THREE BASIC STEPS TO TPRS:
1. INTRODUCE THE NEW VOCABULARY
2.USE THE NEW VOCABULARY IN A STORY
3.REVISE THE STORY AND INTENSIFY ACQUISITION
TPRS aligns itself with the proven pedagogical principles supported by linguistic experts such as Asher, Krashen, Gardner and Hunter. It is also compatible with Blooms Taxonomy.
Knowledge-knowing the literal translation of the word
Comprehension-Understanding the meaning and how/when vocabulary is used
Application-Being able to use vocabulary appropiately in a story
Analysis-The ability to determine appropiate social setting and context
Synthesis-Creative use of new vocabulary
Evaluation: Revising, editing, paraphrasing, rewording
