Experiencias Intermediate Spanish - PROGRAM SAMPLER

ABOUT THE AUTHORS ix K ATHY BARTON, PhD It was a six grade trip to watch the Pittsburgh Pirates play baseball that would later spark my passion for the Spanish language, people and culture. Sitting in my bleacher seat I was dazzled by the performance of right fielder, Roberto Clemente and from that afternoon I carried the dream of meeting him one day. My passion for teaching became evident during choice of Spanish Education followed by an MA in Hispanic Literature at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) and a PhD in Spanish Applied Linguistics and Teaching Methodology from the University of Pittsburgh. My professional life had been the main focus of my years and, until my retirement, had revolved around 32 years as a faculty member in the Department of Foreign Languages at IUP teaching Spanish language courses, conversation, and methodology along with observing student teachers and supervising interns in Mexico and Costa Rica. I always considered the time well spent and so very worthwhile and fulfilling, knowing they would be bringing to fruition their years of study. In addition, two special experiences have brought me great professional fulfillment: the initiation and development of an after school Spanish program for the benefit of 2nd graders at a local elementary school and, the opportunity to work with the Experiencias team. Although I never had the opportunity tomeet Roberto Clemente and still, at times, mourn his untimely death, he would never know the impact his life, his God given talents and his humanitarian gifts have had on my life path. I have much to be thankful for and IUP, my students, my colleagues many travel experiences over the years have added much to my fulfillment in teaching and my happiness. I dedicate Experiencias to Morgan and Scarlett, both a constant source of joy in my life. May they grow to love and experience the Spanish language and culture as much as their grandmother. AL AN V. BROWN, PhD I was raised in Southern California by a Spanish teacher though I rarely got to see my father in the classroom. I knew he was rather well liked by his students and his colleagues, and a bit loony in the classroom as compared to how he was at home. It never crossed my mind as a child and teenager that I might follow a similar path as my dad. But when I got my first taste of teaching Spanish in 1995 working as a part-time instructor of small groups of volunteer missionaries during college, I fell in love. It was then that I realized that language teaching, specifically Spanish language teaching brought out the parts of my personality that I enjoyed most. I then became certified as a secondary Spanish teacher at Brigham Young University, received a Master’s in Spanish Pedagogy from the same university, and subsequently completed a doctorate in Second Language Acquisition and Teaching from the University of Arizona. All during this time I taught Spanish, and ESL at times, at the post-secondary level. I am currently on faculty at the University of Kentucky as a member of the Hispanic Studies Department and enjoy teaching and learning about all things related to Spanish applied linguistics, Spanish language teaching and learning, and Spanish second language acquisition. I have published my research in a variety of journals on language pedagogy, curriculum development, and assessment. I also co-authored a book with Greg entitled The Changing Landscape of Spanish Language Curricula: Designing Higher Education Programs for Diverse Students . I want to thank my co-authors for inviting me to form part of the team and for their patience with me as I learned, at times hesitantly, the rigors of writing a language textbook. I dedicate this work to those tireless, underpaid Spanish teachers, regardless of level, who truly believe in the transformative power of multi-lingualism.