BIENVENIDOS
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¡Hola! Me llamo Sra. Ratcliffe y soy maestra de español aquí en la escuela Beacon. ¡Bienvenidos a un nuevo año escolar!
Welcome to my class and the 2016-2017 school year. This is my ninth year at Beacon and I love being a part of this community. Since we are meeting for the first time, I would like to tell you a little bit about myself. Prior to teaching at Beacon, I spent five years teaching Spanish and ESL at schools in New Orleans and DeRidder Louisiana, New Brunswick NJ and JHS 104 in Manhattan.
I started to study Spanish in fifth grade. The summer after my junior year of high school, I had the opportunity to live in Costa Rica for the summer. I spent my time volunteering in the rain forest at Monteverde and doing a community service project in the town of Ceibo. The family I lived with did not speak a word of English! This is when I developed my love for the Spanish language and Latino culture. I studied Spanish and Latin American Studies at Tulane University. With the Tulane Cuban Studies Institute, I had the opportunity to spend the summer after my junior year of college, learning in Havana, Cuba. I went on to earn a Master’s degree in TESOL at NYU.
Since my first trip to Costa Rica, I have been back four times as a Beacon chaperone. I have also taken Beacon students to Nicaragua. On my own, I have traveled to Mexico and Spain (each twice). Learning to speak, read, write and understand Spanish--in other words being able to really communicate in another language--has been one of the most important things I have done in my life. Being able to speak more than one language has opened up many doors for me. It has helped me to see, learn and really understand other cultures and other people who I would have not otherwise been able to know and learn from. That is why I am here teaching Spanish! I know that learning Spanish can open up doors and experiences for you.
Please contact me with any questions and/or concerns. I will respond within 3 work days. [email protected]
Welcome to my class and the 2016-2017 school year. This is my ninth year at Beacon and I love being a part of this community. Since we are meeting for the first time, I would like to tell you a little bit about myself. Prior to teaching at Beacon, I spent five years teaching Spanish and ESL at schools in New Orleans and DeRidder Louisiana, New Brunswick NJ and JHS 104 in Manhattan.
I started to study Spanish in fifth grade. The summer after my junior year of high school, I had the opportunity to live in Costa Rica for the summer. I spent my time volunteering in the rain forest at Monteverde and doing a community service project in the town of Ceibo. The family I lived with did not speak a word of English! This is when I developed my love for the Spanish language and Latino culture. I studied Spanish and Latin American Studies at Tulane University. With the Tulane Cuban Studies Institute, I had the opportunity to spend the summer after my junior year of college, learning in Havana, Cuba. I went on to earn a Master’s degree in TESOL at NYU.
Since my first trip to Costa Rica, I have been back four times as a Beacon chaperone. I have also taken Beacon students to Nicaragua. On my own, I have traveled to Mexico and Spain (each twice). Learning to speak, read, write and understand Spanish--in other words being able to really communicate in another language--has been one of the most important things I have done in my life. Being able to speak more than one language has opened up many doors for me. It has helped me to see, learn and really understand other cultures and other people who I would have not otherwise been able to know and learn from. That is why I am here teaching Spanish! I know that learning Spanish can open up doors and experiences for you.
Please contact me with any questions and/or concerns. I will respond within 3 work days. [email protected]