Who is this Prof. Jones, anyway?
I like open-water swimming.
I love to hike and travel.
And I really love to run!
There are 2 main things you really need to know about me, professionally speaking:
1. I have been teaching online Spanish for 19 years--in fact, I am the person who developed Santa Fe College's online Spanish program. Back in 2006, when I started, it was one course with 12 people. Now, over 150 students take online Spanish every semester at Santa Fe.
I've been teaching college-level Spanish since 1998--for the first 7 years I taught face-to-face courses at UF.
What this means for you: you can trust that I know what I'm doing, and that if I ask you to do something, there's a good reason for it. I'm not an amateur, and I'm not going to waste your time.
I am very familiar with your textbook (Panorama), because it's what we used at Santa Fe for over 10 years. It and the Supersite online platform are excellent.
Each semester, between SPN 1120 and 1121, I teach 2-3 sections of Spanish here at NFC, 1-2 sections at FGC, and 2 sections at SFC--I am a busy, very professional, and extremely hard-working woman!
2. I lived in Spain as a teenager, and Argentina and Chile as an adult (total time living abroad=4.5 years).
What this means for you:
a. I am fully bilingual (and have been since I was 16 years old). I have no "gringo" accent when I speak--I sound like I'm from Uruguay/Argentina or Chile (depending on the person to whom I'm speaking, and how formal the situation is).
b. "The culture of Spanish-speaking countries" isn't something I've just read about in books. It's part of my lived experience, and I value it highly.
c. If I can do it, you can do it. Even if you are a non-native speaker of Spanish, you can still acquire native-level proficiency in the language--provided you are willing to put in the time, love, and effort.
Online Spanish is challenging, but you can depend on me.
To that end, I promise you that:
- This class will be run in an organized, logical way.
- Due dates won't suddenly change and for-credit assignments won't be added at the last minute--in short, I will not do random things that don't make sense. All our due dates are in the syllabus, and they will be adhered to.
- If a problem arises, I will work to resolve the situation as quickly as humanly possible. I am your ally when things go wrong, not your adversary.
- If you email me, you'll get a response within 24 hours, and usually sooner (unless its a weekend, and then you'll hear back from me on Monday afternoon).
- If I tell you that I will do something, it will be done.
In closing, while my courses are about Spanish—not about me—I believe it’s important for you to know that I’m a real person, too.
I love to travel, cook, hike, and swim. In my 30s and 40s, I was a competitive runner and triathlete.
I’m also autistic and have ADHD. I work with a therapist and take medication. I share this openly because there’s nothing shameful about being neurodivergent.
I’ve faced other trials as well. Just before my 45th birthday (August 2015), I was diagnosed with bilateral breast cancer. I’m fortunate to currently be NED (no evidence of disease) and hope to stay that way for a long time.
Like you, my life has been a mix of incredible experiences and daunting (sometimes frightening!) challenges. I hope this inspires you to approach your studies—and life—with resilience and determination. You’ve got this!
SUPing in L.A. (that's where I'm from)
Diving in Belize
Winning in Texas
(my first tri since cancer, y'all!)