STAFF & FACULTY DIRECTORY PROFILE
Carmen De Jesús
Job Title:
Spanish Teacher
Department:
World Languages
Email:
Phone: (510) 577-9100
ext.
261
Started at O'Dowd:
2022
Degrees:
Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, CalState
Learning & Instruction EdD, USF, 2023 Candidate
Originally from:
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Why I Teach:
I love developing relationships with students and supporting them in learning about the Spanish language and its rich cultural diversity. Languages provide access to getting to know people better, learning about different perspectives, and understanding that we have a lot in common as human beings regardless of our cultural differences.
Most powerful teaching technique:
After studying various languages in different countries, I believe learning languages can be fun, especially at the lower levels. Therefore, my most powerful teaching technique is to create an engaging and safe learning environment where students can feel at ease to practice developing communication skills.
Why are the subjects you teach important?:
Languages provide access to learn about people and cultures. Spanish in particular is the most common second language in the United States and California has a rich Spanish cultural heritage. There are plenty of opportunities to engage with Spanish speakers to learn about people's lives and perspectives. Furthermore, once you know a romance language, others common very easily. Fun fact: "burrito" means little donkey. Did you know that?
Favorite quotes:
"People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." Maya Angelou.
"Love and live like nobody is watching." unknown
Favorite trivia:
Cheek-to-cheek kissing as a greeting is common in many European and Spanish-speaking countries; however, the number of kisses (and which cheek side to kiss first) depends on the country and the region.
Recommended visual media:
Les Choristes (France), Cinema Paradiso and Il Postino (Italy), El Secreto de sus Ojos (Argentina), Out of Africa, A River Runs Through It, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and so many more (United States).
Recommended reads:
Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. (Anything by Malcolm Gladwell.) Psychology of Learning for Instruction by Driscoll & Burner. Currently reading Applied Meta-Analysis for Social Science Research by Card, among others, for USF.
Hobbies or outside interests:
Mountaineering (trekking in foreign countries), swimming, running, biking, skiing (water and snow), movies, meeting people from other countries, and speaking different languages. (French is my favorite language, although I don't get many opportunities to practice it.)