National Spanish Adviser
Clara is the National Spanish Adviser, based in Wellington where she is part of the Centre for Languages Team and works closely with the Spanish Office of Education at the Embassy of Spain in Canberra, Australia.
She has held several teaching and administration positions in Spain, UK and the USA and has written several articles on language and culture teaching. She has been involved in teachers training both in Spain and the USA.
Clara's role is to support the promotion and development of the Spanish language education in New Zealand through different venues, like workshops, resources and pedagogy that promotes intercultural communicative language teaching in Spanish.
She also shares information on networking opportunities for teachers of Spanish, providing advice and guidance on immersion opportunities, scholarships and professional learning opportunities both in New Zealand and Spain.
She promotes opportunities for New Zealand and Spanish higher education students to have the experience of living and supporting schools through the program of language assistants.
Clara firmly believes that education can change the world and that teachers do a great job anywhere in the world.
In particular her focus is on:
- Offering workshops, courses and meetings focusing on teaching materials, resources and pedagogy that promote intercultural communicative language teaching in Spanish
- Supporting schools with advice and guidance on establishing and sustaining Spanish language programmes
- Providing information on networking opportunities for teachers of Spanish
- Providing advice and guidance on immersion opportunities, scholarships and professional learning opportunities both in New Zealand and Spain
- Providing opportunities for higher education students from both New Zealand and Spain to experience life and education in New Zealand or Spain working as an English or Spanish language assistant
- Participating in academic and cultural events
Teachers of Spanish in New Zealand may benefit from the professional support offered by the following organisations:
Spanish Teachers’ Association New Zealand Aotearoa (STANZA)
STANZA is a subject association which provides support for teachers and students of Spanish in New Zealand. Visit www.stanza.org.nz.
ELENZA list serve
This email group for teachers of Spanish is an excellent source of information and resources. It is also the primary medium through which organisations advertise opportunities, scholarships, grants and other important information for teachers and students. To register, email the Spanish National Adviser.
New Zealand Association of Language Teachers (NZALT)
NZALT is a professional network of language teachers with over 500 members. It runs a number of initiatives designed to support teachers in the classroom including competitions and professional development opportunities. To join NZALT visit www.nzalt.org.nz.
Embassy of Spain
Spanish National Adviser
The Spanish National Adviser provides teachers with information on teaching resources and sustaining Spanish language programmes.
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¡Sí! An introduction to Spanish. Provides multi-media materials designed for teachers and students who are new to language learning. The series is designed for year 7 and 8 students and supports Level 1 and 2 achievement objectives in Spanish.
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RedEle (red electrónica de didáctica del español como lengua extranjera). A public resource that the Ministry of Education of Spain offers to teachers interested in teaching and learning Spanish worldwide.
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Redele web page offers different materials and resources published by the international offices of Education of Spain in different countries.
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Instituto Cervantes and useful resources that the Institute offers.
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DELE examinations for those interested in the examinations the Ministry of Education of Spain and Instituto Cervantes offer, contact our National Spanish Adviser.
Digital library
ELEO is the digital library that the MECD makes available to Spanish teachers and users of its 50 Educational Resource Centres abroad.
Who can use it?
Teachers in New Zealand teaching Spanish at all levels and Spanish language assistants
How can you use it?
Register by following these instructions.
Biblioteca Letras Latinas
Letras Latinas Community Library, the only Spanish and Portuguese library in New Zealand, holds over 6.300 volumes, including 1.300 for children and young people. Information and catalogue can be sent upon request.
Letras Latinas also organise music and cultural events, book presentations with their authors, readings and intercultural conferences among others.
TKI Learning Languages
The Learning Languages Community is a portal to professional learning opportunities, professional support for the New Zealand Curriculum, pedagogy, assessment, resources and key links for language teachers. Learning Languages publishes regular newsletters to keep language teachers informed about important deadlines and events.
Visit http://learning-languages.tki.org.nz/.
RedEle (red electrónica de didáctica del español como lengua extranjera)
RedEle is a public resource that the Ministry of Education of Spain offers to teachers interested in teaching and learning Spanish worldwide.
Visit www.mecd.gob.es/redele.