Courtney Kelley and Cynthia Fraga : Co-founders of MATE.

While virtually all students studying a foreign language experience anxiety regarding their competence in and knowledge of their L2 (second language), few learners are as concerned about the blending of accuracy with fluency as are future teachers of that language. However, these students’ need for constant practice and gui-dance in the target language is often not met within the official confines of teacher preparation programs, which frequently focus on issues related directly to education and pedagogy.

That is why I, along with another graduate teaching assistant in the Foreign and Second Language education program, started Maestros Aprendiendo Todo Del Español (MATE) in 2004. It formed in reaction to the desire of a group of pre-service Spanish teachers to both practice and polish their language skills, and currently I organize the meetings and events. Informal conversation meetings are held weekly during the fall and winter quarters but every two weeks during the spring quarter since the Spanish teachers to be are in their full time clinical practice experience.

We understand the importance of using the target language all the time, so pre-service teachers communicate in Spanish exclusively. Last May we had our fist “CENA TANGO SHOW” event, where a live tango performance and a live Afro-Cuban band delighted a 100-member audience while they had dinner and enjoyed the show. It’s been both a great pleasure and a learning experience to form part of this club. Indeed, having the opportunity to interact and learn about Spanish teachers’ challenges in the schools of today has helped me grow as a teacher educator.

For more information, please contact:
Cynthia P. Fraga-Canadas
Pre-service Foreign Language Teacher Supervisor
School of Teaching and Learning
Foreign and Second Language Education
The Ohio State University
1945 N. High St. 218 D Arps
Columbus, Ohio. 43210-1172.