Elisa de los Ríos

Name:    Elisa de los Ríos

School:    Dillon Middle School

Language(s) Taught: ESL, ELA, French, and Spanish

Years of Experience: 15

​Education: MA TESOL, B.A. English Literature

What is the most rewarding part of your career as a language teacher?
The most rewarding part of my career is when students start to connect the pieces of language and use it communicatively... When I see them in the grocery store and they wave and speak to me in Spanish!  It’s exciting!

What is one personal or professional goal that you have for yourself, your school or your department?
I would love for our school to implement a foreign language program that begins at the primary level.  Students are so ready at this time to learn a second language. I would also love to teach ESL in a post-secondary school environment.

What is one of your favorite travel experiences?
My favorite travel experience was with my husband on a trip to northern Spain. We were in Valladolid and we stayed at a family country house. We rode our bikes to a little restaurant and drank wine and ate chuletas. Then, we rode home in the dark on cobblestone streets. It was scary but exciting!

Do you have any advice for other world language teachers?
My advice for other world language teachers would be to reward your students for any attempt to use the L2. Talk to them about interlanguage and about how using it means they’re crossing the bridge to communicating in another language. It seems to really motivate students and acknowledge their efforts. Also, show your passion for the language you are teaching; Excitement is contagious!