Professor of the Month: Anne Moffa

I moved to Madrid one year ago as a student of Canterbury English. I had studied French during high school and college, and spoke no Spanish at all! However, I wanted the chance to teach English and to see Europe, and Canterbury provided me with both of those opportunities. So I came here last January – apparently the snow followed me from Pennsylvania – and began teaching shortly after my arrival. Since then, I've been improving my Spanish skills exponentially. I've also improved my English skills, as I now know more about my own language than I ever did before! Teaching English is especially important to me because I care deeply about literacy and multicultural awareness. My life's goal is to write and illustrate children's books one day. I find that teaching English gives me a vital understanding of the language-learning process that I might not have had otherwise. It also keeps me in touch with the abilities of children at different age levels. As an added bonus, I can use my artistic skills to make my own flashcards and games for my students. You never know – my experiences of life abroad in Spain might eventually wind up in a picture book! Prior to moving here, I worked a slew of different jobs: freelance artist, children's museum staff, game store clerk, U.S. Census recruiter, art program coordinator, summer camp monitor, art museum intern, and more. The common thread in all my jobs was that I enjoyed the art and teaching aspects of every position. Working at a summer camp or in a museum was always a great pleasure for me because of the chance to mentor others, and pass on the joy of learning and knowledge. So, not only did I move here to see the world, but also to discover how well I liked teaching full-time. So far, so good!