By Jannelis Medina
Reflection
Honestly, I didn’t realize how much writing and editing in Spanish I would actually do in my career. What I learned in the original project still stays in the back of my mind (checking grammar, using the correct terms, incorporating educational and legal language and so on). Practicing speaking, writing, and reading in Spanish is something that I do regularly with families that I work with. As a Special Education teacher in a substantially separate Autism classroom, sometimes, working with multilingual families can pose a challenge, but at the end of the day, we all want what's best for the student and speaking and listening to my student's home language helps build trust between myself and families.
I still get mentions every now and again. When you google my name, it is the first thing that comes up, so I have talked about it a bunch since then. Even my students find it and it opens a dialogue about being a Latin kid who doesn't speak Spanish. One thing I noticed through my career is the parent-child language gap. Some parents are limited in English with children who are limited in Spanish. It can be hard on the family to communicate with each other. Seeing that, I try and set aside time for my students to practice Spanish using an app or computer program. I introduce vocabulary in English and in Spanish as a normal part of my program. I work in Lowell, at a middle school with a high Latinx population, so it’s become a huge part of my teaching philosophy to use a Total Communication Approach. Different languages, alternative communication, and visuals. It’s impacted me greatly.
My experience with Canal definitely led me to my career. I originally wanted to become an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher after my college experience, and took the Sheltered English Emersion and Communication and Literacy MTEL tests for my educator licensure. But as things go, during the pandemic, I got the opportunity to get into teaching, but in Special Education. My plan had to change, but I kept thinking that communication is communication. And whether I was teaching English, Spanish, or any type of Communication, I would incorporate Spanish language and culturally responsive teaching into my practice.
Learn Spanish! Communication is important. As a teacher of students with autism, one thing I always think about is: what is the student trying to say? The same way my students can struggle to say words, make requests, and express themselves is the same way dual language-learners in the education system struggle. Their intelligence is measured by how much they can say in a language they don't fully comprehend, and it is hard. Everyone deserves a chance to express themselves.
Read “Ser boricua: Activismo, sobrevivencia e identidad” Canal Issue 1 (2017).
Biographical Statement - Jannelis Medina
Hi, my name is Jannelis Medina and I am in my 6th year of being a Middle School Special Education Teacher in my hometown of Lowell. I spend most of my time hanging out with my dogs (all four of them) and making lesson plans. I am still working on my dreams of teaching higher education, but, for now, I am very happy spending my days with the coolest 7th and 8th graders around!