Academic Title: Instructor, Spanish
Office: EA3015
Phone: 403.440.8939
E-mail: gtrue@mtroyal.ca
MEd (University of Calgary)
MSc (University of Calgary)
BComm (University of Calgary)
BEd (University of Calgary)
Scholarly Interests:
As an educator in Spanish my goal is to explore and research ways of developing opportunities for language attainment, linguistic performance and to achieve a degree of Hispanic cultural competency. This involves second language learning linked to language function within the cultural context. The key to participate in conversations in socially acceptable ways is fundamental to second language learning.
Teaching Statement:
Hermeneutics has been the fundamental basis for the pursue of my BEd, MEd and Doctoral studies. As a result my pedagogical approach is based on Hermeneutic theories of second language acquisition. The modern social Hermeneutical perspectives deal with relevant questions for explaining contemporary developments in L2 learning; the learner's cognitive factors, affective factors and personality traits. These are important elements of the second language learning process that help me to develop learning experiences that motivate the student to succeed. This approach is tied to the acquisition of the five language skills, namely, writing, listening, reading, speaking and cultural understanding to improve second language learners. In addition, the implementation of the Socratic approach in the classroom helps me integrate the L2 student's prior knowledge, cognitive and linguistic skills altogether.
Selected Presentations:
Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages Congress, Brussels, Belgium ESL Theory in the Spanish Classroom, Language.
Selected Grants, Honours and Awards:
Recipient of the Consejeria de Educación y Ciencia de España fellowship to attend the Instituto Universitario Fundación José Ortega y Gasset, Madrid Spain.
Recipient of the Foreign Student grant from the Quebec Minister of Education to attend McGill University, Montreal, Quebec.