What inspired you to work for Mr. Fox Spanish School?
I wanted to share experiences and knowledge with my colleagues and students, opportunities to grow professionally, and learn about other cultures through other people's experiences and without leaving home.
Describe a typical day at work.
In my daily life, I have fun talking to my students and I enjoy seeing their progress and the way their thinking changes as they learn Spanish. I share my plans with my colleagues and we constantly provide feedback.
Why do you do what you do?
I do what I do because I like to share with people the knowledge I have of my language, as well as teaching the most beautiful language in the world. I also enjoy sharing another perspective on Latin America without violence.
What is your favorite part of your job?
The part I like the most about my job is being able to interact with people from all over the world without having to leave home. It's great to be able to meet people from all continents who are interested in learning Spanish.
How do you use your education and international background in your current role?
I think my experience has helped develop better classes for my students, as well as sharing ideas with my classmates. I consider that the sum of my knowledge contributes to a richer development of the classes.
What challenges do you often face and how do you overcome them?
The main challenge I face is teaching Spanish to people who don't know much English, like me. I had to come up with a way to communicate with them without the constant use of a translator, so I think it greatly enriched my experience.
What are some current projects you are working on?
I’m working on the development of a reading club for beginners in Spanish as well as in the development of texts that speak about the culture of the Colombian Coffee Area.
What advice would you tell your pre-travel self?
Enjoy everything you are about to experience because although it’s not always easy, learning is guaranteed. Also do not take anything personally because it’s a common mistake in jobs that involve interactions with other people.
What makes Mr. Fox Spanish School special?
My organization is special because we have a curricular plan that adapts to the needs and interests of the students. Likewise, we are focused on having a good relationship with the students, so the classes are always enjoyable and fun.
Why should someone choose your organization over competitors?
Mr. Fox focuses his planning on the students in a particular way, so there are no similar plans, just as exercises are proposed based on the interests of the students. In the same way, the teacher-student interaction is great
What hopes do you have for the future for your organization?
I hope that we can be one of the best schools of Spanish as a foreign language in the world, and be recognized as a high-level school with a lot of competitiveness. I hope that we can share Colombian culture, coffee culture, and the Spanish language with all people around the world and show the best face of Colombia to all its visitors.
Are there any developments with your organization that you would like to share with us?
Personally, I have learned a lot about my own language, especially the way it’s viewed by people who are native to other languages. Likewise, I have had the opportunity to learn different perspectives on my own country from citizens of other countries.
What makes Mr. Fox Spanish School easy to market to potential participants?
The classes are 100% virtual, the schedule is flexible, we can adapt to the needs of the students, and it’s also much cheaper than normal schools. Another reason to choose Mr. Fox is that the teachers are professional and trained to teach Spanish.
What is your organization's mission and how do you continue to work toward it?
Our mission is to be the most recognized school of Spanish as a second language in Latin America, with the most successful teaching processes in Colombia. Take the Colombian and coffee culture to the hearts of all the people of the world and help travelers to enjoy Colombia in the best way.
What do you hope participants take away from your programs?
I hope our students get a good impression of Latin Americans, especially the people of Colombia. I also hope you visit my city, Pereira, and immerse yourself in the coffee culture.
How do you help support participants?
I develop exercises according to their interests as well as trying to make comparisons from the information I give them since this is useful when learning a second language.
What questions do participants often ask you, and how do you typically respond?
They often ask why in Spanish there are so many words that can mean the same thing. I usually answer this by saying that Spanish is a very rich language and part of its wealth is in being able to describe the same thing in many ways.
Why is it important for people to travel abroad and experience new cultures?
Because this can help people develop empathy as well as enrich their knowledge about the world while seeing other ways of life and how language contributes to the political and social organization of a country.
Why do you think learning a new language is important?
It allows you to know another way to organize your mind as well as a new organization of the world. It also serves to get to know other cultures and have better relationships with the world.
What advice do you have for individuals thinking about going abroad?
Know the daily life of the country to which you travel. Don’t focus only on tourist attractions, but also on knowing the problems that each city faces and the customs of ordinary people.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
A meaningful journey is one that allows you to learn and discover a new aspect of yourself, something that was always there but that you could never see because everyday life did not allow it. A meaningful journey helps you open up to new experiences and learn from them.