A Love of Language
The Christ School is thrilled to offer our new Spanish Immersion program this year with our amazing teacher, Roslynn Gaitero. “My family is from a beautiful town in the south of Puerto Rico called Ponce,” she says. “I have lived throughout Puerto Rico, including Condado, Guaynabo, Dorado, and Humacao. My family and I have also lived in Potomac, Maryland, and Palm Beach, Florida. I have taught Spanish, English, and ESL for about 10 years in Maryland, Puerto Rico and Florida.”
“I have a beautiful 15-year old daughter named Haley,” continues Roslynn. “A fun story that I can share is that while living in Dorado, Puerto Rico, my daughter and I were cast to be extras in a Beyonce video! We met the singer and her daughter as well. A few fun facts about me are that my favorite color is pink and my favorite candy is anything gummy – gummy bears, gummy worms, you name it! Also, I LOVE to sing. I sing all of the time at church, karaoke, on Smule, at home, driving, anywhere and everywhere possible.”
“Language is a gateway to appreciating your own heritage and the many cultures we find throughout our community,” she says. “Spanish and English are the languages I speak at school and at home, however, I have also studied Arabic, Urdu, Russian, and Korean, among other languages. The best part about teaching students a new language, whether it is English to native Spanish speakers, or Spanish to students whose mother tongue is English, is the journey of exploration. Students are genuinely curious, excited and eager to learn a new culture and language. It always amazes me how much they truly pick up in a short period of time. By incorporating lessons where students are immersed in language, students put more effort into listening and attempting to understand. Before they know it, they are able to understand more. I look forward to seeing the growth of my TCS students as they learn Spanish and become more fluent speakers.”
Roslyn continues, “The smiles of students truly make me happiest as a teacher! Learning a new language can be frustrating and rewarding at the same time. Students usually experience a bit of both of those emotions because learning a new language takes consistent effort and patience. It is so rewarding when students begin to recognize their accomplishments and growth.”
“I am enjoying being a teacher at TCS,” says Roslynn. “TCS is a welcoming and warm community. The students’ smiles and energy make each day amazing! One of my favorite parts to the day is chapel. I love singing and praying to start the day!”
Roslynn shares her favorite Bible verse:
Matthew 17:20: Jesus said, Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.
“If you take the time to actually look up the size of a mustard seed, the verse is a testament to how powerful true faith can be within our lives,” she says.