Catherine Fortin
Contributor
Catherine Fortin, Freelance Teacher and Blogger - Imana Legetter, Charlotte Country Day School
Teaching Experience
I'm a career Spanish, ESL, and English teacher now teaching homeschool groups, groups, and individuals. I spend my spare time in the blogosphere on http://speakspanisheveryday.com and teachertipstoday.com. Teaching people how to communicate in another language is both a thrill and a gift. I also love showing teachers the classroom tricks of the trade I've picked up over the years.
Travel
My passion is enigmatic Mexico, where there is art on every street corner and great food on every block. I've logged my extensive travels there, emphasizing the people and their brilliant culture. I've studied flamenco dancing in Seville, Spain and I've been to the souk in Tangiers. The pervasive Arabic influence on Spain's culture is dazzling.
Workshops for Educators
- Middle School Madness for the Foreign Language Classroom
- Formulating a Proficiency Based Foreign Language Department
- Storytelling in the Foreign Language Classroom
Publications
- Viajes! Viajes! Viajes! A chronicle of my consultation with a Mexican faith-healer in Oaxaca, Mexico in The Village Rambler, Raleigh, North Carolina
- Mexico Autentico! A cooking class at Oaxaca, Mexico's Cafe El Naranjo showcasing and detailing the preparation of traditional mole sauce in The Charlotte Observer, Charlotte, NC, and The Westsider El Paso, Texas.
Latest Articles
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Spanish Counting Activities with Apples
Spanish counting and describing activities using apples are fun and engaging in the Fall, or el otoño. A song, vocabulary, basic descriptions, and apple-eating follow.
Oct 2, 2008
- Catherine Fortin
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Kid's Math Review with China Facts and Figures
A China themed math review using facts and figures is fun and effective. The Beijing 2008 Olympics provide great material for learning or practicing math basics.
Aug 7, 2008
- Catherine Fortin
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Olympics Geography Teaches World Geo Skills
World geography activities during the Summer Beijing Olympics will Introduce, review, practice, and sharpen geography skills. World geography will come alive!
Jul 29, 2008
- Catherine Fortin
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Teaching Foreign Language: Environmental Print
Posted foreign language, or environmental print, is the most important element of designing and setting up the foreign language classroom.
Jun 30, 2008
- Catherine Fortin
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Teaching Foreign Language Survival Phrases
Teaching foreign language is about teaching practical communication. Students learn and use necessary language best when they not only hear them, but see them
Jun 29, 2008
- Catherine Fortin
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Teaching Languages: Using a Word Wall
Seeing is remembering in the foreign language classroom. Students retain and use new words in the target language best when they see paired pictures with words.
Jun 27, 2008
- Catherine Fortin
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Teaching Spanish: Assess Conversational Spanish
What can Spanish students understand and say in a conversation? Figuring this out seems challenging, but an oral proficiency interview reveals speaking ability best.
Jun 12, 2008
- Catherine Fortin
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Learning Spanish: Make Licuados with Students
Students will love making fruit smoothies, licuados, in Spanish class. Preparing, sharing, and talking about licuados in Spanish teaches the language the best way.
May 22, 2008
- Catherine Fortin
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Learning Spanish with A Mexican Picnic
Spanish students will love a Mexican style picnic, or a picnic mexicano. Plan and carry out fun Spanish speaking activities and easy Mexican style snacks.
May 17, 2008
- Catherine Fortin
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Teach Spanish the Effective Way
Teaching Spanish effectively means giving students the Spanish that they understand with ninety percent comprehensibility. Guidelines will help teachers make materials.
May 11, 2008
- Catherine Fortin
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