Faces of Na'atik: Spanish and Maya Teachers Part One

Alongside our English teaching staff, who we introduced last month, we also have a wonderful team of Spanish and Maya teachers dedicated to teaching the immersion students that visit Na’atik from all over the world. We have three full time Spanish teachers: Pedro, Cesar, and Erick; and two Maya teachers: Paulino and Wigelmy. Part two will focus on our online teachers.

 Pedro is a native of Felipe Carrillo Puerto and a co-founder of Na’atik. He helped found the school in an effort to create new opportunities for the local community and so that the next generation would have access to more career paths than in the past. He teaches classes online as well as working with our immersion students. During his time at Na’atik, Pedro says he has enjoyed being able to meet people from all over the world–making his experience teaching Spanish unique with every new student. As a devoted student of history, language and culture, hearing about his students’ own home countries is a highlight of his job.

Pedro in his classroom giving an online Spanish class.

 Cesar is originally from Yucatán state, but has lived in Carrillo Puerto for 20 years. He studied Education at the University of Quintana Roo and now teaches Spanish at Na’atik. Cesar has been working with our immersion students for the past five years and says one of his favorite parts about working at the school has been getting the opportunity to meet interesting people and being able to share with them the language and culture of Mexico. He has also enjoyed being able to make friends from all over the world and learn about their experiences and stories. He says that teaching Spanish was more challenging than he expected when he had first started teaching, but throughout the years he has been able to gain an understanding of his students' needs and has found his rhythm in the classroom. He says the best part about teaching has been discovering new things that he didn’t know before about his own language, especially the richness provided by Spanish’s regional variations.

Cesar leading a tour for immersion students

Our third Spanish teacher, Erick, is from a Maya community outside of Carrillo called X-Pichil, and speaks three languages: Maya, Spanish and English. You may recognize him from our English teacher article last month. He was one of Na'atik’s first English students and  continued his studies after Na’atik at the University of Quintana Roo studying English. He has come back to Na’atik to teach English to our local community, as well as Spanish to our immersion students. 

Erick at the Na’atik stand in the parque in Felipe Carrillo Puerto.

This past month we have been able to welcome Wigelmy, a new Maya teacher, to Na’atik. Her favorite part thus far about teaching at Na’atik has been the amount of support she has received, which has helped her to carry out her classes. She also appreciates the flexibility that comes with teaching online. For Wigelmy, she loves seeing the motivation that her students have to learn a language that has been a part of her life. Working with students from different parts of the world who have an interest in her language and culture continues to motivate her in her teaching. 

Wigelmy in traditional clothing from the region, know as a huipil

Our other Maya teacher, Paulino, has been working with Na’atik for the last four years. He began by teaching Spanish, but with the rise in interest in learning Maya he transitioned his teaching to include classes in his first language. He appreciates the flexibility that Na’atik has offered him, but also the opportunity to work in a collaborative and culturally diverse space. Paulino finds that sharing the Maya language represents the memory of a united “pueblo” with and for the land they reside on. He believes that the best way to teach the language is through community projects that actively work towards its spread. 

Paulino in his classroom at Na’atik

Thank you to our Spanish and Maya teachers for all their hard work and dedication to Na’atik. Their teaching enhances  our immersion experiences making them well worth the time and energy of our students.  

To find out more about studying at Na’atik visit our Spanish and Maya immersion pages or our Online programe page. Our team are happy to answer any questions and can be contacted on say@naatikmexico.org