1201 (summer session)

Of the 3 Spanish teachers I've had at Columbia, Teresa is the best. I actually looked forward to coming to class each day - 4 days a week, 2 hours a day - which is rare for me in any class and (I would have said) impossible for a Spanish class. The time just flew by everyday. Her pace in class is fast, but not too fast. She calls on everyone, gives pop quizes and challenges her slower students (eg, me). At the same time, the class doesn't intimidate nor overwhelm. My class was relaxed and a good time, but it stayed focused. The work load was light, yet I learned -- how's that for a win-win deal? In other words, she holds you accountable as a student IN her class, not outside of it. At least for 1201, she uses a lot of self-produced material, which was superior to the textbook. Her class just feels fresh. Her reading selections and fill-in-the-blank newstory exercises were interesting and contemporary - again, challenging, but not overwhelming. And if an exercise is overwhelming (the short story was a doozy), she uses extra measures to ensure her students have enough help to make it through. Personality-wise, Teresa is nice, down-to-earth, friendly, young and upbeat. She's sharp and serious about teaching. She's fair, and she'll give you the benefit of the doubt: she gave me a 2nd chance on an assignment that I didn't necessarily deserve. Plus, she's a sharp dresser. Her priority as a teacher is that her students learn. Some might say she's lenient and indulgent; I'll say she's on your side as her student. She de-emphasized vocabulary (that's what dictionaries are for) in favor of focusing our time and her teaching material on grammar and form. The way she teaches the language de-mystifies it - which from me, says a lot - and she has a good sense of where to add extra attention. She'll review 1st day 1101 material, if that's where she thinks her students need improvement. I'm not yet A-level proficient and I may never be (my fault, not Teresa's), but for the first time, I feel I can manage the Spanish language.

Tome su clase. No lo lamentará.