Señora Jansen:
How long have you been speaking Spanish, and how many times have you been to Spain/Mexico?
"I’ve been to Spain once, and to Mexico 5 times, and I’ve spoken it fluently since I was 17 (so almost 14 years)."
What was your first encounter with Spanish?
"My dad spoke it with me when I was little (he’s not a native speaker—he just likes it), but I took it for the first time in high school freshman year, in Spanish 1. My first real encounter was with my family’s foreign exchange student from Ecuador, Maria, when I was a junior."
What made you want to pursue a career in Spanish?
"I love traveling to other countries, speaking other languages, and connecting with new people in their language."
Why did you pursue a career later in teaching?
"My dream job is interpreting, and I am a freelance interpreter because it’s so cool to help people connect who would be unable to without you. But, I also love teaching, because I like seeing students who have zero Spanish skills become confident about speaking and understanding Spanish. And we have fiestas, make food, and play soccer!"
Do you have any favorite memories or funny stories in Spain?
"I went to a Real Madrid soccer game in Madrid, and saw Cristiano Ronaldo up close!"
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