Carlos Andrés Rojas

Dr. Rojas holds a Ph.D. in Spanish Linguistics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where his research focused on Spanish second language (L2) phonetic and phonological development, as well as technologies for teaching Spanish pronunciation. He also completed a minor in Portuguese and Second Language Acquisition (SLA) during his doctoral studies. Additionally, he earned an M.A. in Spanish Language and Literature from Marquette University and a B.A. in Modern Languages and Education from the Universidad del Quindío. His current research interests center on investigating pedagogical practices to enhance Spanish communication capabilities and designing interventions to maximize Spanish proficiency development. Dr. Rojas is deeply passionate about proficiency growth in academic environments, proficiency assessments, curriculum design/development, L2 instructional techniques and technologies, classroom conversational interaction, the effects of input, and Spanish for specific purposes.

TEACHING AND LEARNING PHILOSOPHY

In my Spanish courses, I design lessons aimed at fostering language proficiency in a meaningful context through engaging activities and authentic materials. My goal is to help students not only communicate effectively in Spanish, but also to deepen their cultural understanding by exploring local and global themes. From day one, I strive to create a vibrant classroom community that promotes active collaboration, respectful communication, and appreciation for one another. My professional objectives revolve around guiding and supporting students who have an interest in Spanish for personal enjoyment, specific career paths, or as aspiring educators. I firmly believe that language learning should be inclusive and accessible to all, and I am dedicated to recognizing, embracing, and nurturing the diverse talents, characteristics, and needs of each student, creating an environment where they feel both secure and enthusiastic about their learning journey alongside their peers.