By Callie Makiya
When I think about why I teach for IDLA, it all comes back to three things I deeply care about: The state of Idaho, our amazing students, and the Spanish language.
From rural mountain towns to busy city schools, Idaho is full of the best students around. Through IDLA, I get to connect with them all in the courses I teach. I have had students from logging town up north, to potato farmers to the east! Teaching online allows me to reach students who might not otherwise have access to Spanish courses, and it gives me the joy of helping them open doors to new cultures, people, and opportunities.
My love for Spanish started when I took my first class in middle school. It wasn’t just the words and grammar, but the way language connected people that made me want to learn more. Learning a new language is like learning to see the world through new eyes. I want my students to feel that spark of curiosity and to realize that Spanish isn’t just a subject, it’s a tool that helps them explore their communities and the ever-growing world around them.
Whether it’s chatting with a neighbor, traveling abroad, or understanding a song or movie in Spanish, every small step toward becoming functional in Spanish is the reason why I teach.
My goal is to help students not only learn Spanish, but use it; to speak it, live it, and see its value in their daily lives.
It truly is the best part of my job when I hear from previous students about how they are using their Spanish skills. Some love to write, to read, to speak, or to listen. Whatever Spanish skills they are using, it makes me so happy to hear that they are out in the world using it!
