During Hispanic Heritage Month, we highlighted several of our Spanish language instructors. Read the Q&A’s from 3 of our teachers to learn more about their journeys to becoming language teachers, the importance of celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, and their favorite Spanish words!

Miriam Rogers

Spanish Instructor

WHY DID YOU BECOME A LANGUAGE TEACHER?
Simple: the combination of what I know (Spanish) and the skills that I have. I help people learn a language and all the elements that it includes: culture, customs, history, and idiosyncrasies of Latin culture. As someone from a Spanish-speaking country and a member of the Latin community, I think all this is valuable to share with learners.

CAN YOU SHARE AN EXAMPLE OF HOW CRLC’S SPANISH LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION HAS HELPED A LOCAL BUSINESS OR ORGANIZATION?
Our Spanish course for health care workers provides the basics to help interact with Spanish speaking patients. It was rewarding to learn of a story in which two participants were able to use basic Spanish in their jobs to communicate with a patient who didn’t speak English. They managed to ask him the questions to find out what the medical issue was and helped him get to the hospital.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SPANISH WORD?
“Al toque,” is a common colloquial expression in Peru and some South American countries. It means “immediately.” If you want to say, “Do it right away!” you say “¡Hazlo al toque!” Need to buy something immediately? Say, “Lo compro al toque.” I love it because it’s short and clear. You don’t need to explain anything extra. When you say something, followed by “al toque,” you mean right away!

Lali Roura i Vinyeta

Spanish & Catalan Instructor

Lali brings more than a decade of teaching experience in Spain, China and the United States. Having lived in multiple countries, she has interesting cultural insights to share. Learn why she thinks it is important for the US to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month (as well as her favorite Spanish word!).

WHY DID YOU BECOME A LANGUAGE TEACHER?
In high school, I tutored schoolchildren in English. Later, after graduating with a degree in translation, teaching languages became a way for me to grow professionally as well as help people learn foreign languages.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR THE US TO CELEBRATE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH?
The United States is a country with a significant variety of languages and cultures, some of them with a presence of many years even before the creation of the country as we know it. I think it is important to embrace and celebrate our history because it helps give shape to a country and contributes to a better understanding of our origins.

ANY EXAMPLES OF HOW SPANISH LANGUAGE HELPED A BUSINESS?
After graduating, I had the chance to live in China. I was hired to teach Spanish to the staff of a well known Spanish food company there. For the Chinese staff, communicating with their counterparts in Spain helped them to better understand the company’s products and business culture.

Years later, living in Richmond, VA, I taught Spanish to the staff of a medical center. From administrative assistants to nurses, they needed to communicate with Spanish-speaking patients. Just teaching a few basic words and giving them some cultural notes was enough for them to establish a better connection with the patients.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SPANISH WORD? WHY?
Azahar (it means orange blossom). I like this word not just for its meaning (blossom, flower) but also because it gives you the sense of variety within a language. The word azahar has Arabic origins.

Gloria Batista

Spanish Instructor

Raised in New York City in a Spanish-speaking household, Gloria Batista is bilingual. An alum of University at Albany, she worked for the New York State Department of Labor, translating and interpreting for Spanish speaking applicants. Today, Gloria teaches Spanish to children across the area. Find out why she believes celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month is especially important for younger generations.

WHY DID YOU BECOME A LANGUAGE TEACHER?
Becoming an American Latina educator allows me to continue to honor my heritage and my own ancestors. I enjoy teaching the beauty and wonder of Hispanic culture, sharing my Puerto Rican / Spanish background, and walking my students through wonderfully diverse lessons of beautiful people, rich history, amazing foods, heartfelt music and the multitude of ways Hispanics have added to the great fabric of our Nation. And there is no greater joy than seeing someone’s eyes light up with a sense of identity through the familiar line of diversity in our cultures.

WHY DO YOU THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO CELEBRATE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH?
Our nation should never forget the great contributions that Hispanics & Latino Americans have made in the makeup of our country. Also, it is imperative that our younger generations be inspired by the great successes of Hispanics and Latin Americans in all aspects of this United States of America.

CAN YOU SHARE AN EXAMPLE OF HOW SPANISH LANGUAGE CLASSES HAVE HELPED A BUSINESS OR ORGANIZATION?
I have been teaching at Malta Montessori for a little over a decade and continue to hear from parents and students about the impact of Spanish language on development, awareness of culture and continued growth in language skills. Presently, I’m thrilled to partner with Arbor Hill Elementary/Albany City School District, Gloversville Elementary School, Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library as well as teach private classes.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE WORD OR EXPRESSION IN SPANISH? WHY?
“Disfruta el viaje tanto como el destino.” It translates to, “Enjoy the journey as much as the destination.” There’s so much joy for me, walking alongside my students on the path from introduction to Spanish to witnessing them blossom in growth of language and exploration of Hispanic cultures.

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