AUTOBIOGRAPHY

 MY AUTOBIOGRAPHY

Some people usually have a clear idea of what to study or do in the future since their childhood or their elementary school. That's not my case. I remember having a passion  for music and sports, and I was good at most of the school subjects, but I hadn't chosen what to do in my future life until something interesting happened. I studied my secondary in a public school and I was in 8th grade where an American girl came to study. She sat next to me and I was fascinated with the idea of having a "gringa student" in my class. Since then, we became good friends and I tried to communicate with her in English all the time, making speaking mistakes (which made me feel embarrased) but now I realised it was a good way of learning. 

This experience made me get more engagement and commitment with my English classes. Aditionally, my English teacher played a crucial role on my motivation because she was very resourceful, creative, organized. All this encouraged me to love English even more. However, at the moment of deciding what to study in the university, I wasn't sure of studying for being a teacher. 

Some moths after graduating from school I entered the English Licenciatura Undergraduate Program of Universidad Surcolombiana. As I said before, I wasn't totally convinced of being an English teacher; Nevertheless, as I started taking different courses and having interesting experiences, I realized how much I could contribute to the society, and specially children and adolescents. In light of the above, my passion for teaching began to grow. 

As one of the most enriching experiences I had was a trip to the United States. I worked as a Camp Counselor in Fresno-California for 3 months. At the beginning, I felt overwhelmed by the amount of differences with my language, culture, people, weather, food, etc. It took me more than a month to accustom to this place. I felt very frustrated because I didn't understand what they said and I thought I hadn't learned anything in the University, However, with the pass of the time the things started to change and I could improve my English proficiency level, make friends from different parts of the world and know more about other cultures. 

I completed my undergraduated studies in 2010 and the following year I started working as a full time teacher in a Private school called Piaget. I had worked in an English Institute and also in small schools before so I felt I was prepared to take this step. During that year I had to teach English to 4th, 6th, 7th and 8th graders which was a challenge for me to lead both primary and secondary English lessons. It was also an enriching experience because I could learn more about being organized and supportive with my students.

In 2012 I was hired to the biggest private school in Neiva called Comfamiliar los Lagos, which was a real privilege. There, I had to teach English to secondary students that is what I really liked. I had to take a course of a different methodology they use called the Holistic Approach. There, in that school I could understand I was born to be a teacher. Moreover, I love working with teenagers, because while I teach English, I advise, support, and help my students to deal with all their adolesence issues. On top of that, I'd like to highlight that in that school I met wonderful people, I made real friends who are a very important part of my life. They have helped me grow as a teacher and as a person.

I'm aware being a teacher is a never ending process. you always learn something new...