Camelot Teacher Profile: Kimberly DeGiacomo
Kimberly DeGiacomo is a Spanish teacher from Camelot Education’s Excel Englewood Academy in Chicago, Illinois. A Chicago native and Teach for America participant, Kimberly has a bachelor’s degree in Global Studies and Spanish and is pursuing a master’s degree. She joined Excel Englewood in August of 2014.
How do you keep Spanish interesting to your students?
I like to incorporate a lot of culture and utilize my International Studies background when teaching. The nice thing about teaching another language is the benefit of not having standardized testing, which allows a lot of flexibility in what I am able to teach. I find topics and activities the students can relate to, and the students find it really helpful when they can use their Spanish speaking abilities in their home or work environment. For instance, my next lesson is centered on working in the restaurant industry. I also respond to requests from students. They often ask about the culture of Spanish-speaking African Americans, so I decided to add it to my lesson to give the students a better understanding. Through these techniques, I engage the students into other lessons that are in the curriculum.
Tell me about a Spanish teacher who has inspired you and what did you learn from him or her?
Growing up, two of my teachers inspired me to teach Spanish. My 8th grade Spanish teacher was not a native Spanish speaker but she taught her lessons by the book in a very structured way that was helpful for me. My 11th grade Spanish teacher also inspired me. She was a native Spanish speaker and was insistent on classroom communication. Anytime we spoke in class, it had to be in Spanish. This technique became very useful to me as I was teaching my Spanish II class. The lesson I learned from her was that Spanish isn’t useful unless you can speak it effectively. All of my Spanish teachers have equipped and inspired me to teach with enthusiasm and confidence.
What does being a Camelot Spanish teacher mean to you?
Being a Camelot Spanish teacher means teaching our students about cultures from around the world. It’s necessary for students to have the opportunity to experience other cultures, foods and languages in order for them to set their sights on places beyond their reach.
What is it like teaching a new language to a student?
It’s a great feeling when I hear the students speaking Spanish in their other classes. In my class, I insist the students speak Spanish if they have to leave the room. This creates a dialogue among their peers and an understanding for themselves.
How have you found Spanish helpful in your own life?
I’ve found speaking Spanish very helpful in my travels. I’ve traveled to Central America where sometimes I am the only one in the group to speak the language and guide people around. It’s exhilarating to have the knowledge and the opportunity to enjoy the language and the culture.
How do you maintain and increase your own language proficiency?
I reach out to my Spanish speaking friends and engage in outings where Spanish is spoken to further maintain my level of proficiency. Also, I like to read Spanish articles and translate them into English.
What do you like about Camelot?
I thoroughly love Camelot! My students come from so many different backgrounds, which allows us as teachers to see our students learn and grow. Camelot is all about respect and behavior management. I enjoy the fact that Camelot allows us to have intimate class sizes in which we can better individualize our focus for the students to move forward.
