NAME:
Señor Magaña
SCHOOL:
Marblehead High School
CLASS:
Spanish 2 & 5
My name is Señor Magaña. I am originally from the tiny country of El
Salvador. I graduated from Middlebury College, Vermont with a Master of Arts
in Spanish. The program, which I attended, included a year of study abroad
at the International Institute, Madrid, Spain. I completed my undergraduate
studies at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), where I received
a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and a Minor in Latin American Studies.
Before joining the Marblehead High family, I taught for three years
in North Andover High. I am currently teaching upper and lower Spanish
courses. I am a strong believer of incorporating activities that place
students in real life situations they can encounter living in a Spanish
speaking country or chatting with a Spanish native speaker. Singing
contemporary songs and hosting Spanish Presidential Elections are among the
students’ favorites. In the community, I am known for motivating students to
reach their potential and for my school spirit. Students can count on me to
support them inside and outside the classroom. Attending extra curriculum
activities allows me to get to know them better, as well as to interact with
their parents.
I enjoy the art of teaching so much that during the Summers I teach
History and Spanish courses for the Summer Upward Bound program sponsored by
the North Shore Community College. All students in the program are from low
income or first generation households from the three high schools of Lynn,
Massachusetts. Each summer, students and staff live in a different
university for six weeks. As an instructor, I teach four classes and must
participate in most of the extra curriculum activities the program offers.
Almost all students who graduate from the program go on to attend college.
I am always eager to give back to my community by teaching the
Spanish language to our youth. As a native speaker, I know that learning to
speak and write Spanish has become vital, due to the rapid growth of the
Latino Community, not just in Massachusetts, but in all the United States.
Exposing our youth to a different language will help to create a better
understanding of other cultures. I am a hard working person that knows what
it takes to be the best. As a Spanish Teacher, I know I can make a
difference.
Other interesting facts about Señor Magaña:
Grew up in a small village of El Salvador of 200 people
Is a descendent of the Pipiles, a tribe of the Mayan Civilization
Knows how to ride horses and milk cows
Came to the States at age 13 and knew not one word of English
Lived in South Central Los Angeles (Compton) till 2003
Played High School Football-Linebacker/Quarterback
Played Soccer for Middlebury College Graduate School-Defender
Also has a degree in History
Favorite Authors: Daniel Silva and Dan Brown
Favorite Musical: The Phamton of the Opera
Favorite Band: Coldplay
Favorite Soccer Team: F.C. Barcelona
Favorite Football Team: Raiders
Favorite Tennis Players: Maria Sharapova & Roger Federrer
High School Nickname:"la araña" Magaña (the Spider)
