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Learn more about Juan Carlos

• Do you speak this language fluently because of your origins or because a teacher inspired you to learn?

  I was born in Colombia, and so my mother tongue is Spanish.

• Can you name a living, historical or fictional character that you think is the emblematic representative of the language's culture?

  Gabriel García Márquez is, for Colombians, the clearest reference to our language and culture. He became the most famous Colombian writer in the world by telling stories in a particular way called “realismo mágico” (magical realism), where real events are mixed with magical events, often blurring the lines between fantasy and reality. Every high school student in Colombia reads some of his novels and are usually amazed by his ability to paint such vivid scenes using a refined yet accessible language.

• Is there a typical word, phrase, tradition or behavior in the language that you particularly like?

  Our language relies heavily on tone and the way we phrase things, so the same word can have a completely different meaning depending on how someone says it. This is particularly evident in colloquial language, which is widely used in most of the 21 Spanish-speaking countries (19 of those countries are in Latin America).
  
  That also means there are big differences between expressions, slang, and idioms. In Colombia, there is one word: “chimba”, which you would use with friends or with people you know well, because it can be considered as a “swear word”, so it is better to avoid it in formal settings. I like it because we use it a lot to describe something as “cool” or “nice”, but it can have an entirely different meaning if we change the tone and want to express disagreement and annoyance, like saying “I am not going to do that”.

• Why does speaking this language matter to you?

  Speaking Spanish matters to me because it is the language spoken by the people I love the most, and it has been the most important conduit for me to gain knowledge and life experience. When I learned to speak and understand English well some twenty years ago, I gained access to a breadth of information and opportunities that helped me develop personally and professionally, and I love being able to watch series and movies and read books and articles in English. However, Spanish is an emotional and passionate language, and therein lies its greatest strength, in my opinion. Therefore, there could never be a better language to express my love, emotions, and dreams than Spanish.

• What is the main difficulty in learning this language and what can help the process of learning?

  The main difficulty in learning Spanish can vary depending on the student and their mother tongue, but for those students whose mother tongue is English, I would say that some common difficulties are the conjugations of the verbs and some aspects of the grammar, particularly the concept and use of “subjuntivo”, which is something that does not exist in English, and the differences between the verbs “ser” and “estar” that both mean “to be” in English. I have heard interviews with people from the US, who are fully fluent in Spanish, and yet make mistakes in the way they use the “subjuntivo”, so it takes time to master it.

• Provide a valuable anecdote related to your language learning or your days at school.

  I do not remember a specific anecdote, but I do remember well a teacher I had when I was 16 years old. Her name was Magda and her passion for literature inspired me to start reading books for fun, and not just because there was a school requirement. Also, I learned how to write essays correctly in her class, which was extremely helpful for my time at the university.

• How has travel or a specific trip helped you to increase your skill and knowledge of the language?

  When I spent 3 years working at a language school called Berlitz in Sao Paulo, Brazil, I had the opportunity to teach Spanish to students whose mother tongue was Portuguese. There are many words that have the same meaning in both languages, just different pronunciation in some cases; but there are also many cases where we use a word in Spanish in a situation and they use a synonym of that word in Portuguese.
  
  For example, in Spanish we use the verb “esperar” a lot, which can mean “to wait” or “to hope” in English; however, in Portuguese they use the verb “aguardar” (a Spanish synonym for “esperar”) for situations that have the meaning of “to wait”, and they use “esperar” for situations that have the meaning of “to hope”. That is just one example of many that helped me expand my vocabulary in Spanish by learning other ways to express my ideas in my mother tongue.

• What makes you a Superprof in language?

  I think that what makes me a Superprof in language is a combination of different factors. First and foremost, I am knowledgeable due to a solid understanding of the language I have been teaching since 2011 and the cultural differences between Spanish-speaking countries and the United States. To fully understand Spanish one day, you need to learn and appreciate what makes us unique and special, and most importantly, I would say, what you can learn from our way of seeing the world.
  
  Second, I am patient, understanding and adaptable. From the time I became a teacher after going through the Berlitz instructor program, I learned that I, as a teacher, need to tailor my methods and approach to my students’ needs, interests, and way of learning. Some students are more visual and interested in learning through videos and pictures, while others love to learn about grammar rules and structures, and to practice using worksheets and writing activities, so I adapt my style to find the best way to find a balance between all the different components of the language: speaking, listening, reading, and writing, because you cannot focus only on the ones the student prefers. Furthermore, I am not a particularly patient person, but I have learned to be an exceptionally patient teacher, because I understand well what it means to learn new languages, and how frustrating and difficult it can be, so you will never find anything but understanding and a friendly attitude from me.
  
  Last but not least, I strive to be as engaging and inspiring as possible to all of my students. I use a variety of teaching methods and online resources to keep my students interested and motivated. Also, I provide constant constructive feedback to help them identify their strengths and weaknesses, which is specific and actionable to help them improve. I am passionate about my language, my culture, and my country, and I really love and enjoy my profession; my students can see it clearly from the first time they meet me, so they know that I will always care about them and their learning process and do everything I can to help them achieve their goals.