Sonia Garcia-Jany

Depending on what the goal is for my student, I adapt my lesson plans to best prepare them. In the past, I have taught GCSE students and younger years who needed extra support with Spanish. Hence, I would work around their syllabus and create interactive classes that would help them learn their assigned vocabulary and grammar structures.

I always accompany my lesson plans with a presentation and use visual aids to help with learning. Also, I try to create a revision sheet following the lesson so that my students can go over what was covered before next class.

Something that I find crucial in teaching is to really understand what the student needs. Oftentimes, I randomly create exams to check for progress so that I can adapt my classes based on their strengths and weaknesses. Plus, it is important to understand their level to set realistic goals so that learning does not become too overwhelming.

Lastly, a huge priority of mine is creating a non-judgmental space for students to learn without being scared of making mistakes. At the start of every class, I usually begin with a vocab test and then end with the same questions so that the focus is on improvement and learn from their mistakes. I also try to immediately encourage participation, rather than giving long-winded lectures, which will help build confidence because of all their practice.