Spanish teachers provide the key to understanding the United States’ second-most spoken language. As the country’s Spanish-speaking population grows, Spanish language classes are become increasingly important to schools, which often lack qualified teachers.

Spanish teachers with the proper qualifications, especially those willing to work in urban or under resourced schools, will have plenty of job opportunities in the coming years.

Spanish Teachers Path to Certification

The Web-Centric Alternative Certification Program (WCACP) provides a path for individuals to obtain their Spanish teacher certification online, instead of traveling to a facility for face-to-face instruction. The curriculum and classes are conducted completely online, so you can work at your own pace. To be eligible for the program, you must possess a Bachelor’s degree or be a graduating senior in the last semester of coursework toward your degree.

Many districts around the state of Texas offer stipends on top of a normal base salary for Spanish teachers. These stipends for Spanish teachers can range from $1,500 to $5,000. The normal base salary for a major metropolitan area for Spanish teachers can range from $42,000 to $50,000.To be eligible to apply for open teaching jobs, the LOTE-Spanish certification exam would be taken. This exams consists of a written and oral examination in the Spanish language. WCACP will assist in your preparation efforts for this exam.

Apply Today – Spanish teachers are needed throughout the state of Texas.

Nature of the Work

Spanish teachers’ primary responsibility is to deliver high-quality instruction to students while working with school leaders, other teachers, parents and students to accomplish educational goals.

To promote learning in the classroom, Spanish teachers should first develop reasonable rules (or expectations) for classroom behavior, and then enforce the rules along with the school’s stated code of conduct.

In designing lessons, teachers should take into account state and school curriculum goals, as well as individual student needs and abilities. Accommodating student needs is one of the most difficult aspects of a Spanish teacher’s job, since all students come with differing backgrounds and educational levels. Some of these students include Spanish-speaking English Language Learners who are placed in Spanish classes in order to improve their English vocabulary. These students provide both challenges and opportunities for Spanish teachers as they both require special accommodations and offer a unique perspective on the culture to the class. The various cultural and ethnic identities that make up the student population in the classroom provide perfect topics for Spanish teachers to include in their curriculum.

In addition to teaching language classes, Spanish teachers may be expected to work as homeroom teachers or to supervise study halls. Many serve as advisors for extracurricular activities, such as Spanish Club. All should strive to be available to meet with parents after the school day, if needed, and to show support for student learning. A partnership between teachers, parents and students is essential to success in Spanish class and in all other courses.

Most teachers work a 10-month school year with a 2-month summer vacation. During the break, they may teach in summer sessions, take other jobs, pursue hobbies or spend time with their families.

Teaching Methods

Students learn best from enthusiastic teachers, and Spanish teachers have plenty of opportunities to convince students that learning the language is important and fun. Incorporating music, food and games into Spanish classes is a great way for instructors to teach about Spanish and Latin American culture and to keep students interested in what they are learning. Teachers must be able to communicate with and inspire trust and confidence in their students and to understand the diversity that marks U.S. school systems.