I am an archaeologist (yes, like Indiana Jones) and anthropologist who now teaches English in Madrid. I know that seems like a huge leap but it really isn’t. I have always been interested in the ways individuals to their past and culture. I have always tried to balance traditional archaeological methods with the application of present-day interests and values to create a mutually beneficial relationship to engage the public within the field itself.
My experiences working in a heritage environment, for example as Tribal Archaeologist with a tribe in South Florida, has assisted me in understanding the importance to celebrate, preserve interpret culture and language. My experiences working in the environmental sector, at a real estate firm known worldwide, taught me valuable language regarding law and compliance with heritage law. I have also gained valuable teaching skills while in roles such as teaching assistant, instructor, tutor, guest lecturer and mentor. I have experience with developing and/or delivering activities for children in school or family groups while working in a museum environment and applying knowledge of museum practices, exhibits and procedures concentrated on children and family outreach. This as well as my experiences teaching in a university setting for collectively 6 years has provided me with a strong background in public outreach, management, and team-building, both in a formal teaching setting as well as an informal setting.
This background has given me the opportunity to grow and understand how language is central to the success of a culture and the most important way we learn and pass on our culture. Understanding another language is to understand the culture it represents. Languages also vary according to the social contexts they are used in and the study of it focuses on the way language differs by class, geographical region, gender, ethnic group, and social setting. Language is an intimate part of any cultural system. Anthropology has forever sought to discover the relationships between a cultural system and the language its people speak. Teaching English has been an extension of this exploration of the relationship between language and culture.