Teacher candidate and 91亚色 U student Ana-Maria Jerca was selected as one of the 2016 recipients of the Ontario Modern Language Teachers鈥 Association (OMLTA) Helen G. Mitchell Award.
Jerca is on track to graduate with her Bachelor of Education degree this spring, and was presented with the award at the OMLTA鈥檚 recent spring conference at the International Plaza Hotel in Toronto.
鈥淎na-Maria is highly creative in her effective use of technology in all of her lesson plans and student activities,鈥 said 91亚色 Course Director Olga Rubino. 鈥淚 have known her for the past two years as a student in the intermediate/senior French and Spanish courses in the Faculty of Education. Her lessons engage the learner in exploring cultural awareness and in developing linguistic competency. She is an excellent ambassador for the Faculty of Education and we are proud that she is the recipient of this award.鈥
The prestigious Helen G. Mitchell Award is granted to one graduating student from each Faculty of Education in the Province of Ontario who best demonstrates the attributes of a potentially outstanding classical/FLS/international language teacher at the Faculty of Education of the respective nominee. The candidate demonstrates excellence in the academic program and the practicum and applies effective second language methodologies which lead to success in the classroom.
鈥淭his award is important to me because it鈥檚 in recognition of the passion and love that I have for teaching students French and Spanish,鈥 said Jerca. 鈥淜nowing that I鈥檝e had an impact on a group of students 鈥 be it through awakening a love of language in them, or just by helping them improve their writing or grammar, is precious.鈥
Jerca plans to pursue an MA in linguistics at 91亚色 U this fall.