About me

 

Head of Language Department, Bilingual Coordinator, and IB educator with over ten years of experience teaching in various educational settings. International experience with teaching Spanish and English as foreign languages and with curriculum design and implementation.

Education

• Masters Degree
  Upper Secondary Education and Educational Management
  
  Universidad de las Américas Puebla
  
  Puebla, Mexico
  2020 – present (online)
• Post-Graduate Degree
  Translation and Interpretation
  
  Virginia Commonwealth University
  
  Virginia, USA
  
  2012 – 2013
• Bachelor’s Degree
  
  English Language Teaching
  Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes
  Aguascalientes, Mexico
  2006 – 2011
• Teacher Exchange Fellowship
  
  Applied Linguistics
  University of Southampton
  Southampton, England
  2010

Professional Experience

• Head of Language Department, Bilingual Program Coordinator and IB Educator for the Diploma Program & Career-Related Program
  
  UPAEP High School
  
  Puebla, Mexico | 2018 – Present

  I currently coordinate the Language Department and the Bilingual Program at an IB institution. Students certify English B and French Ab Initio to the IB, yet as head of the Department, I supervise that all the academic and assessment standards are met. Additionally, as the Bilingual Program coordinator, I am in charge of the CLIL Professional Development Program that supports teachers in the acquisition of skills to successfully teach subjects such as Math, Chemistry, History, Business Management, Physics, and others in English. I have participated in the authorization visit as responsible for Language B and Language Development to offer the Career-Related Program. Finally, as part of my results, I have ensured that students score 4-7 / 7 on their IB assessments.

• Elementary School Teacher | IB Educator (PYP)
  Bosques International School
  
  Aguascalientes, Mexico | 2015 – 2018

  Taught different transdisciplinary subject areas to 5th and 4th-grade students implementing the IB curriculum (PYP) to foster students with a strong sense of intercultural awareness through dynamic cycles of inquiry, action, and reflection. Coordinated summer training camp at NASA (J.F. Kennedy Center). Participated in international field trips for students to improve their communication skills.

• Cultural Ambassador & Foreign Language Teacher
  
  British Council | Olchfa School
  
  Swansea, Wales | 2013 – 2014

  Developed cultural projects to promote the Mexican culture among Welsh students interested in learning Spanish as a Foreign Language. Developed educational materials for conversational practice. Assisted headteachers in the A-Level (Spanish) course.

• English Teacher
  
  Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes
  
  Aguascalientes, Mexico | 2012 – 2013

  Taught English as a Foreign Language (Levels 2, 3, 4, and 7) to university students. Participated in the design of seasonal exams. Taught summer and winter courses for students to obtain their certificate in English levels B2-C1 (CEFR).

• Academic Language Advisor
  
  Virginia Commonwealth University
  
  Virginia, USA | 2011 – 2012

  Provided individual advising and counseling to students whose native language was Spanish. Tutored native English speakers in Spanish as a Foreign Language. Translated official transcripts of international students who were pursuing an athletic career at Virginia Commonwealth University.

• Translator
  
  Tim Kaine For Virginia Senate Campaign
  
  Virginia, USA | 2011 – 2012

  Translated content – including news articles, press releases, blog posts, and editorials – from the English version of the Kaine for Virginia website to the Spanish version of the site. Assisted in the revision of scripts in Spanish used to reach out to the Latino Community during political meetings and rallies for Kaine for Virginia and Barack Obama’s campaigns.

• Spanish Lecturer
  
  University of Southampton
  
  Southampton, England | 2010 – 2011

  Taught introductory Spanish as a Foreign Language to university students. Researched the differences between the British and the Mexican Educational Systems in the area of Language Education and Acquisition. Published and presented research at Foro Internacional de Especialistas en Enseñanza de Lenguas.

Professional Development

• Expert Reviewer | IBDP English B
  
  Digital Publisher | Present
  
  Review the content maps to develop a digital ‘intelligent’ textbook relevant, accessible, inquiry-driven, and aligned to IBDP.

• Volunteer Teacher
  
  William Fox Elementary School
  
  Richmond, Virginia, USA | 2012
  
  Taught individualized English as a Second Language to Low-English Proficiency students. Assisted the school’s Spanish teacher. Assisted students in the development of reading proficiency in English.

• Expert Reviewer | IBDP English B
  
  Digital Publisher | Present
  
  Review the content maps to develop a digital ‘intelligent’ textbook relevant, accessible, inquiry-driven, and aligned to IBDP.

• Volunteer Teacher
  
  William Fox Elementary School
  
  Richmond, Virginia, USA | 2012
  
  Taught individualized English as a Second Language to Low-English Proficiency students. Assisted the school’s Spanish teacher. Assisted students in the development of reading proficiency in English.

Publications

• Mexican Culture Through Gastronomy
  
  Spanish Embassy
  Ministry of Education in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

• Teaching Spanish?…Go English
  
  Foro Internacional de
  
  Especialistas en Enseñanza de Lenguas
  UCOL

Professional Skills

• School administration
• Classroom management
• Curriculum Design and implementation
• Educational Leadership
• Elementary Education
• Higher Education
• Modern Classroom Technology
• Research

Personal Skills

• Organization
• Creativity
• Teamwork
• Leadership
• Communication
• Research
• Time management
• Interpersonal

Languages

• English | Advanced
• Portuguese | Basic
• Spanish | Native

Certifications

• Certification Language B (Cat. 1)
• CLIL Methodology
• Google L1

arg@alejandrarivera.org