The Reasons I Am Suitable For FLTA Program

Studying abroad and being able to teach others about the culture that I have been immerse in for all my life has always been my dream. Learning about the language that I have been studying since I was eight, by being inside its culture, is also another goal that I want to reach. Now I have the opportunity to present myself as a suitable FLTA for this program and it would be a remarkable experience that I would never forget. English has taught me important lessons in life and has taken me to meet awesome people and places in Uruguay.

I am good at forming bonds and keeping friendships. I may seem shy at first, but I like to know more about people, about their life story and goals in life. I started studying English when I was eight years old, at Alianza, in Migues, Canelones. We lived there until I was thirteen. Then we moved because of my mother’s job. That event determined my performance as a student and as a social being. First, it was hard to leave my friends and life behind; I was starting middle school and adapting to the system when, one day, my mother told me that we were moving 400 km far from where we were living in. Once in Paysandu, I had to look for a new English teaching institution. NET School was suggested by a friend of my mother, so, my English learning continued, with new classmates and new teachers. I adapted fast enough to cope with the course. Furthermore, I became one of the best students of my generation, sitting for TOEFL in 2013 and getting a score of 563. I was not sure if I wanted to be an English teacher, but Orlando, the principal of the institution, was an excellent teacher and he became a model to me. I wanted to be like him one day; I wanted to teach with the same passion as he did. Second, I was not welcome by my new students at middle school. I attended to a private school; they laughed at me because I always tried to keep a good pronunciation and I was the first to hand in the activities. However, through the years I became loved and could make friends.

In 2014, I started my career as a future English teacher, keeping in mind Orlando’s words when I graduated from his institution and his role as a teacher. I participated for the SUSI Scholarship in 2014 but I was not chosen. As a consequence, I learned about the FLTA program that year and it became one of my main goals when I graduated. Sharing my English and Spanish knowledge with not Uruguayan people has always amazed me. I have had the opportunity to interact with American ETA and we learned a lot. Teaching is a two way process: we teach and we also learn from the learner. I have acquired methodologies and teaching techniques from them. I also learned about their taste in music, literature and cinema, areas that are extremely interesting for me. I am a musician; I have two bands in which I play the bass guitar. We sing some songs in English. Learning the lyrics of a song teaches what was happening at the culture of that time. Therefore, it would be a great pleasure to attend some literature or history courses during this program.

In addition, I must confess that I love playing videogames. Moreover, I have made a lot of international friends thanks to speaking English. Besides that, I am really good at managing the computer and making not only funny but also creative lesson plans. There is no biggest pleasure than seeing my students learn while having fun. Many of these skills were acquired at IFD or seminars. Seminars are a great opportunity to share knowledge and effective ways of teaching. Last year I attended to the 4th Regional Seminar, in Rivera, and I delivered a presentation about the importance of warm up activities and some examples that worked for me and my colleagues. Our presentation was ranked in the top 5 and we were extremely happy for that. If I had the opportunity to participate in this program, I would share everything that I learned and taught in that period. I love seeing the face of people when they enjoy learning and are interested on what I am saying. Last year I also participated in a Fulbright scholarship, I had an interview in Montevideo, but I was chosen as a substitute in case the chosen people could not travel. I think that I am more prepared now that I have graduated and that I have more experience as a teacher, even though I am still a new born in this area. In2017, during my fourth year of career, I was chosen to be part of the honor roll of the institution due to my high grades. What is more, I never sat for an exam during those four years. My grades were always outstanding in both Spanish and English subjects. Literature and culture and civilization always were my main focus of interest, although I really enjoyed phonetics as well.

Researching about topics that I find interesting is one of my strongest qualifications. I am an extremely curious person that is never satisfied; I want to learn more, and more about everything in life. What I learn is useful not only formed, but also to help the ones needed. I love teaching and I love to share what I know with others. Having the opportunity to travel to the United States of America and to interact with native speakers would definitely have an impact in my professional development as a certified teacher. I am young and I wish to learn as much as I can in order to be not only a better teacher but also a helper when people need me. Feedback is always well received by me and I am open to suggestions and comments that make my performance improve. Furthermore, many people have taught me in life, many people have showed me what to do and what not to do, but the most important aspect is that I have learned from them all; learning is a never-ending process that should be constantly stimulated.

Being part of this program means everything and it will cause a positive impact in me. English is one of the richest languages and full of cultural and historical events that I could understand better if I am in direct contact with it. My teacher, Orlando would be proud if I become that very good teacher, as he once told me. He also told me that we, as teachers, should teach for life, because to teach is to touch a life forever.