teaching
Courses taught at the University of Florida organized by course level.
SPN 3700: Introduction to Hispanic Linguistics
Role: Instructor of Record/Lead Instructor
Semester(s): Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Spring 2024
About: The objective of this course is to offer an introduction to the principal areas of Hispanic linguistics. Several themes are covered, including the sounds of Spanish (phonetics and phonology), the formation and internal structure of words (morphology), the internal structure of phrases and sentences (syntax), the history and evolution of Spanish, language variation (dialectology and sociolinguistics), and the acquisition of first and additional languages.
SPN 3573: Immersion in a Hispanic Community (UF in Costa Rica)
Role: TA
Semester(s): Summer A 2025
About: This course offers a structured academic experience in Costa Rica, combining community-engaged learning with cultural immersion. Students participate in organized service activities that address identified community needs, collaborating with local organizations in fields such as education, healthcare, arts, environment, and community development. Through direct interaction and cross-cultural dialogue, students gain firsthand insight into Costa Rican society while contributing meaningfully to community initiatives. Students are required to complete a total of 45 service hours over the six-week program. Students will connect their experiences with academic content, develop a deeper understanding of global and intercultural issues, and critically engage with social challenges. By integrating service with learning, students broaden their appreciation of the host country and discipline while strengthening their sense of civic responsibility—both locally and globally.
SPN 3036: Spanish for the Health Professions
Role: TA
Semester(s): Summer B 2024
About: The objectives of this course are to learn the terminology and expressions related to the human body and its functioning, medicine, and the patient-healthcare professional relationship; to develop linguistic and communicative competence by practicing oral production and listening comprehension skills; and to recognize/discern cultural cues that distinguish the attitudes, expectations, and point of view of Spanish speakers regarding medical emergencies, illnesses, treatments, and interactions with healthcare professionals. Learning outcomes will include being able to articulate and understand conversations using medical expressions and terminology; performing basic healthcare professional functions such as conducting interviews, taking medical histories, performing physical examinations, taking family medical history, and communicating diagnoses and treatment; and being able to articulate, analyze, and apply their knowledge of intercultural issues.
SPN 2340: Introduction to Reading and Writing for Spanish Heritage Speakers
Role: Instructor of Record/Lead Instructor
Semester(s): Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Spring 2024, Fall 2024
About: The mission of the Spanish Heritage Language Program at the University of Florida is to provide a supportive and effective learning environment that not only considers the bilingual/bicultural background of our diverse student body, but also fosters and encourages its appreciation and development. We hope to meet UF students’ specific needs by exploring topics related to their own sociolinguistic/cultural/historical (etc.) backgrounds and by offering exciting learning opportunities both inside and outside the classroom. The main goal of this course is to support and strengthen the cultural and linguistic knowledge of Spanish heritage language learners with a focus on reading and writing development.
SPN 2271: Intensive Intermediate Spanish (UF in Costa Rica)
Role: Instructor of Record
Semester(s): Summer A 2025
About: The primary goal of SPN 2271 is for students to acquire effective intermediate communicative skills in Spanish by consolidating the skills learned at the introductory level and by learning structures, vocabulary, and cultural competency required for service work in an immersed setting abroad. The course covers two semesters’ worth of academic content in a six-week intensive program.
This course focuses on the development of 21st Century Skills to equip students with competencies and tools needed to succeed in both personal and professional endeavors beyond the classroom. 21st Century Skills are categorized into three core areas:
- Learning skills (including critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication)
- Literacy skills (including information, media, and technology literacy)
- Life skills (including flexibility, leadership, initiative, productivity, and social skills)
Thus, with these objective development areas in mind, Intensive Intermediate Spanish expects students to:
- Communicate and collaborate in Spanish
- Demonstrate the flexibility and social skills necessary to navigate diverse communicative situations
- Apply critical thinking and creativity to interpret and produce written, oral, and multimedia texts in Spanish
- Use digital tools and resources to develop media and information literacy in Spanish
- Take initiative in their learning by setting personal language and participation goals and reflecting on their progress
- Develop leadership and productivity skills through group work, peer feedback, and classroom engagement
- Strengthen their intercultural awareness and competence to function effectively in a global society
SPN 2200: Intermediate Spanish I
Role: Instructor of Record
Semester(s): Fall 2022
About: SPN 2200 sees students build on the skills developed in beginning Spanish courses and work towards Intermediate-Low proficiency. That means that students will communicate using simple to sometimes complex sentences to talk about everyday life (including universal themes like family, love, social roles and issues, etc.). In their own and other cultures, students will make comparisons between products (things people create and use) and practices (what people do) to understand perspectives (what people believe and value). Such cultural competence and understanding will allow students to more effectively interact in Spanish in multilingual communities at home and around the world.
SPN 1131: Beginning Spanish II
Role: Instructor of Record
Semester(s): Spring 2022, Summer B 2022, Summer B 2023
About: By the end of SPN 1131, students will communicate using practiced words and phrases to talk about familiar topics related to school, home, and the community. Students will further develop 21st Century Skills to function appropriately in Spanish in basic personal, academic, and career-related situations in multilingual communities at home and around the world.
SPN 1130: Beginning Spanish I
Role: Instructor of Record
Semester(s): Fall 2021
About: By the end of SPN 1130, students will communicate using practiced words and phrases to talk about familiar topics related to school, home, and the community. Students will communicate and interact with cultural understanding, using Spanish to function appropriately in basic personal, academic, and career-related situations in multilingual communities at home and around the world.