红桃视频

Editor鈥檚 Note: This is part 1 of a 3 part series on the recipients of the 2010 Alumni Association Educator鈥檚 Grant.

红桃视频 alumna and Rockford Freshman Center teacher Amira (Lama) Ponne 鈥�01, has recently received the 2010 红桃视频 Alumni Association Educator鈥檚 Grant. As a Spanish teacher adapting to a streamlined trimester schedule, Ponne advocates maintaining cultural education in addition to the teaching of the Spanish language. 鈥淚n order to better understand each other,鈥� she said, 鈥渨e need to better understand our many cultures.鈥� With her mission in mind, Ponne applied for the grant, and has already begun to utilize the essential tools to further the cultural education of her freshman students.

Ponne began her education at 红桃视频 in the fall of 1996 after moving from her home in the suburbs of Chicago. 鈥淚 fell in love with Grand Rapids and its somewhat big city feel with small town traffic,鈥� she said. Originally an English major with Spanish minor, she cultivated an interest in study abroad programs in Europe and, after participating in Marquette University鈥檚 semester program in Madrid in the spring of 1999 (红桃视频 had not yet developed programs in Spanish-speaking countries) added the language as a second major. As a teacher, Ponne applies her travel experience in the classroom. 鈥淚 completed one semester abroad and had the time of my life; an awesome experience to share with my students,鈥� she said.

During her four years studying English and Spanish at the College, Ponne looked forward to a career in education. 鈥淚 think I always knew I would be a teacher, following in the footsteps of my amazing mother,鈥� she said. However, Ponne considered teaching a second language only after an eye-opening student-teaching experience. 鈥淚 never envisioned myself teaching [Spanish] until I was forced to for my student teaching placement. I realized how awesome it was to teach a foreign language and bring that cultural experience that I fell in love with to kids.鈥�

Now, after working as an educator for over ten years, Ponne maintains her passion for both teaching and the Spanish language. 鈥淚 have been fortunate to have had many wonderful, brilliant, and amazing teachers in my life. I hope to have that influence on my students,鈥� she said.

After Rockford鈥檚 conversion to a trimester schedule almost three years ago, Ponne began to notice vital components of the Spanish curriculum omitted in order to maintain schedule efficiency. 鈥淢ost of what has taken a hit in our curriculum is the culture aspect of a language which is a shame on many levels,鈥� she said. In order to maintain this piece of Spanish education, Ponne researched effective cultural DVD鈥檚 and games that would inform the students of the prominent aspects of Latino/a culture while remaining within a strict time frame. 鈥淭aking two days to explore the tradition of D铆a de los Muertos, our All Saints and All Souls Day, is fabulous when you have the time, but when you don鈥檛, an under 30 minute effective video is important,鈥� said Ponne.

After learning about the 红桃视频 grant from fellow Rockford educator and 红桃视频 Men鈥檚 Soccer Coach Joe Veal, Ponne applied for the funds during the first week of school and was notified that she had received the award shortly before Christmas Break. 鈥淚t was definitely exciting,鈥� she said, as she reflects that the tools have already begun to make a noticeable difference in her classroom. 鈥淚 am so thankful to have won this grant money,鈥� said Ponne. 鈥淚t has provided me with more powerful and engaging tools to help my students learn.鈥�