One of the most rewarding pleasures of teaching at WPI is the diversity of cultures you find in and around campus. My main goal is to broaden my students’ knowledge of Hispanic countries and promote cultural understanding inside and outside the classroom. I teach the importance of understanding different lifestyles and ways of expression in other parts of the world---differences that we can also find in each of the Hispanic countries. My courses include more than grammar, vocabulary, essays, speaking, and writing. I also teach culture and history (in Spanish) from around the world to my students so they can understand better the society they live in. I introduce larger themes and relate them to contemporary culture, like diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, this include LGBTQAI+ issues and Women’s Studies. All of these themes are of particular importance when the topic is new or foreign to the students. 

I believe I can make a difference in promoting cultural understanding by exposing my students to educational information they might not have had experience personally or learn in High School. College is the place where the development of new attitudes helps them understand themselves better, while, at the same time, they get a better understanding of other people’s lifestyles. Our students are unique, and I believe that challenging them to learn is the best way to encourage them to reach their maximum potential. Once they leave college, they have to face the real world, where they will have a better chance of success if they strive to do their best in every aspect of their lives. By fostering a diverse learning environment in the classroom our students can go out into the world with the curiosity to keep learning, the knowledge to confront their challenges, and the wisdom to understand their fellow human beings. I want each of my students to recognize that we are living in a world that presents global challenges, and that windows must be opened and understanding should be encouraged.

Visit Digital WPI to see student projects and research advised by Professor Matos-Nin.