Spanish Teacher’s Encouragement: ¡Échale ganas!

By Leslie Cranford, section manager

Juan Perez came to the United States from Guanajuato, Mexico, as a child right at the start of sixth grade. He grew up in a Spanish-speaking household, so when he began attending school in the U.S., he was in an English as a Second Language class (ESL). He didn’t know then that his helpful and supportive ESL middle school teacher would become the inspiration for his future as an educator.

“Later, when I was completing my bachelor’s at Eastern New Mexico University (ENMU) in Portales, my Spanish professor made a comment along the lines of, ‘You would make an amazing professor of Spanish,’” Perez said. “From there, I decided to pursue my master’s at the University of New Mexico, and the goal at the time was to continue for my Ph.D.”

That road has always been driven by his passion for teaching the Spanish language. Now Perez has taught for more than four years in community college, is teaching ESL fulltime in a Lubbock school district and has been teaching Spanish part time for Texas Tech K-12 for about seven months. He sees the part-time position as a possible pathway to a full-time Spanish instructor career with Texas Tech.

Perez has a three-fold teaching philosophy for his classrooms. His values are to

build meaningful relationships with students, have high expectations for all students and create a safe learning environment. Along with those three components, he believes the most rewarding part of being an educator is making a positive impact on students’ lives, whether academically or personally.

However, he says the most challenging aspect of teaching online is building relationships with students, although it is not impossible. Texas Tech K-12 is not his first online teaching job, as he also taught Spanish online at community colleges in New Mexico, serving at ENMU-Roswell and Clovis Community College. Perez stresses the importance of doing constant check-ins with students, so they know he is there for support and responding to their questions in a timely manner.

Perez’s Spanish students are familiar with one particular phrase he uses to encourage them, “¡Échale ganas!,” or “Give it your all!” He also has more specific advice for all students, no matter their situation.

“I would advise them to take ownership of their own education by seeking out support from their teachers,” Perez offered. “I believe that all teachers truly have the best interest of their students in mind. However, it is also important for students to have ownership and accountability of their own learning.”

Outside of school, Perez enjoys spending time with his wife, Wendy, and their two children, as well as watching and playing soccer.

Find out more about Mr. Perez on the Texas Tech K-12 Facebook page and with these Fast Five questions.