Carly Gatzert has visited Spain, Mexico, Guatemala, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Ecuador, and Costa Rica because of her love of Spanish.
Gatzert visited Spain for the first time when getting her bachelor’s degree, and returned to get her master’s degree. Going to Spain in college was her first time leaving the country and the first time she realized how much she didn’t learn in classes.
Guatemala and Peru were also part of her master’s program. Gatzert went to Mexico to get teaching credentials for elementary school.
Gatzert said, “In Guatemala and Peru, I lived with host families and it opened my eyes to the variety in Spanish speaking countries. Having that exposure and practice is essential to learning a language. When I studied in Mexico, I enjoyed the mix of Latino and Spanish culture and food. The goal was to learn about the population of immigrants that might be coming to schools in California.”
Gatzert’s teaching career began with an early love of Spanish and the desire to share it with others. Even now, during the school year she teaches various levels of Spanish, and during the summer she travels to Spanish speaking countries.
Gatzert started out as an elementary school teacher that taught bilingual education.
Gatzert said, “I thought it was really important for people to respect other countries and learn to speak world languages. I’ve never tried any other languages but I would love to learn another if I had the time. Part of the reason I love Spanish is probably because it is very relevant in California.”
In order to get her students interested in Spanish, Gatzert tries to assign projects in which students are allowed to express their creativity and demonstrate something they are truly passionate about. An example of this is the current culture project her Spanish III class is working on. Students research a topic of their choice relating to Spanish culture and then present it.
Junior Samira Zada said, “We do a lot of projects that are helpful to learn the material. We also do a lot of activities, and this year she has started printing grammar notes for us. I like this way better because you can listen more instead of writing every word.”
In her Spanish I class, Gatzert has her students work on skits and dramatizations to practice vocabulary in context as well as allow students to use their creativity.
Sophomore Natalie Stainton said, “I love her teaching style. You can tell that she is really passionate about teaching and she makes sure that her students fully understand everything. Her assignments help students make connections to real life.”
