Janice Vazquez

My most impactful moments as an educator occur when my students discover that I, too, was once a learner of Spanish. Although I come from a Spanish-speaking background, I did not initially speak, read, or understand the language. While I recognized a few basic words, I lacked the ability to comprehend or engage in meaningful conversation.

It wasn’t until I spent eight formative years fully immersed in the language that I developed the skills to read, speak, and write fluently in Spanish, ultimately becoming bilingual in my early twenties. This personal journey resonates deeply with my students. Knowing that I once stood where they are now makes them more willing to take risks in their learning. They trust that I will always break concepts down into accessible, relatable terms, often by connecting new material to the skills they already possess in their native language. I consistently encourage them to “use what you know” and to never fear making mistakes, because I will always be there to support and guide them through the process.