TEACHING SPANISH LANGUAGE USING ON-LINE TECHNOLOGIES

Maria Eugenia De Luna Villalón, University of Western Ontario
Ana María García-Allén, Universitiy of Western Ontario

Abstract

The main objective of this work is to give University students in a Canadian University the best learning experience as second language learners. For that reason, it is essential to introduce Graduate Teaching Assistants (TAs) to their duties as Second Language Instructors before they begin their teaching role.

In Canadian Universities the TA’s role, in Languages’ Departments, is to teach a second language course as instructors at the beginner and intermediate levels. Most TAs come directly to teach from another cultural and geographical background and have no experience in the North American University teaching setting and even maybe, have no experience as teachers at all.

Facing this problem, we have proposed an on-line tutorial to help Spanish TAs to cope with this important responsibility as Graduate Students by acknowledging their lack of experience and that they have to face their students without any training or preparation since they arrive. Our on-line tutorial proposal will help TAs to get familiar in advance with their teaching role, the methodology used at this particular Hispanic Studies department, as well as with all the University facilities available to teach Languages. It also provides them with a wide variety of tools and ideas that TAs can integrate in their lectures, and that in consequence the language students can get the benefits in their learning experience of the Spanish Language.

Further more, the on-line tutorial gives to the TAs the opportunity to be in touch with other TAs who have previously been in the same situation and share their concerns and ideas.