¡Hola!
I'm Erica, and I come from Granada, Spain. I’m a fully qualified languages teacher and second in department at a school in Wakefield. I teach Spanish to A-Level, French to GCSE and German to KS3. I am very passionate about languages and increasing engagement.
I hold a BA degree in English Studies and an MA in English Applied Linguistics by the University of Granada.
In 2010, I moved to the UK and worked as a language assistant in different schools across the country and, in 2015, I qualified as an MFL Teacher by the University of Reading.
I have an extensive knowledge of pedagogy as well as experience in many fields. For example, I have led a lot of initiatives to promote languages and increase uptake at GCSE & A-Level. I have also created Spanish resources for a great range of students and teachers and have offered training to my department on ‘engaging’ and ‘relevant’ ideas and activities. I have mentored new staff, ITTs & ECTs and line-managed a number of members of the department.
In addition, I have worked for the BBC as an Educational Consultant & Proofreader and have been a translator for the 'Diego Maradona' documentary. I have also been an AQA writing examiner and a presenter for @linguascope & @katelanguages CPDs/webinars. I am also very active on social media and I was a Paperchase Ambassador! Currently, I am completing my NPQ course in 'Leading Teacher Development'.
Online Courses for MFL Teachers & 1 to 1 Teacher Mentoring
We offer online Spanish, French & German evening courses for MFL teachers starting in September. We also have teachers’ intensive courses in the summer.
I have been teaching the Spanish courses for two years and they have been very useful and practical for teachers who now feel well-equipped & more confident to teach their own classes and have an impact on their pupils’ learning by improving their outcomes.
We also offer 1 to 1 mentoring sessions on ideas, planning, resources, marking, engagement, KS4 uptake, MFL clubs, support for primary MFL… All things languages teaching & all the training delivered by very experienced teachers! This is based on request.
If you want to book a languages course or 121 mentoring sessions for yourself and/or your department, please contact me via email or social media (Instagram, Facebook, X or Threads).
I am truly passionate about creating Spanish resources as I believe that, although the teacher is the main resource in the classroom, having resources which are attractive and clearly presented can positively impact on teaching and learning. I wanted to make a difference with my website and this is why I created Spanish & Umbrellas.
My aim is to help teachers plan lessons faster, offer them fresh ideas and share effective tips in order to maximise their students’ progress and promote a love for learning. It can also benefit learners who need extra resources to practise their language skills and develop cultural understanding.
Thank you very much for visiting my website, I really hope to support you!
About Spanish & Umbrellas
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