Dear Diana,

I enjoy teaching a wide variety of classes, from language to literature and culture, but I particularly enjoy the challenge of exposing the contemporary relevance of literary and cultural heritage and the importance of tradition and innovation as a source of inspiration to shape the future.

I believe a classroom is a place of excitement, energy, challenge and collaboration. My goal is to provide learning opportunities that develop students' critical and reflective skills. I emphasize creative thinking to stimulate interest in the course and promote active learning. For example, I incorporate working methods and exercises used by theater professionals to enrich the reading of a play in class, in order to improve the students' diction and public speaking skills, or invite my students to use digital storytelling to develop their communication skills and construct meaningful narratives on an aspect of the UNF community or of Jacksonville in general.

A most rewarding experience during my time at UNF has been leading the study abroad program in Santander, Spain, for the last three years. This program offers students the opportunity to study language and culture for five weeks at a renowned Spanish university. I have been able to witness the transformational impact the program has had on my students, not only regarding their remarkable progress in extending their communicative skills but also in understanding and thus being able to experience in the way that natives do any number of Spanish cultural idiosyncrasies. By their immersion in the culture, they were forced to adapt to the environment and to negotiate many day-to-day contingencies. The result was a unique and engaging set of learning experiences that broadened the students' views and developed their cross-cultural awareness.

In our department, we offer small, intimate classes that allow for individual attention and guidance, higher student participation and fostering greater interaction between professors and students. I am extremely fortunate to work for an institution that allows me to work closely with students, which, in my opinion, is a vital element to enhance the learning experience.

Warmly,

Maria Angeles Fernandez Cifuentes,
UNF Professor of Spanish 

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