My approach to teaching focuses on developing core skills of critical thinking and analysis that students can apply beyond the classroom. Moreover, I strive to prepare students to actively engage with historical contexts in their analysis of literature throughout the Spanish speaking world in order to challenge to cannon. I take a holistic approach in creating a safe and inclusive learning environment and I encourage students to engage with the material and to question established narratives. Since starting at the Department of Spanish and Portuguese @ UCLA, I have taught every language course in the lower division program (Spanish 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7A, 7B, 25, and 27). Additionally, I have served as a TA in literature and culture classes (Spanish 42, 44, and 120). My supervisors, students, and colleagues have consistently recognized my dedication and enthusiasm for teaching. I have received consistently positive teaching evaluations from students throughout my tenure that showcase my teaching ability. The variety of courses that I have taught demonstrate my ability to adapt and work outside of my own area of specialty. Furthermore, my familiarity with Heritage Speakers (Spanish 7A, 7B, and 27), demonstrates my ability to teach and work with an important subsection of the university student body. Heritage speakers have different and unique needs than traditional L2 language learners and thus requires a nuanced approach. Lastly, as a Heritage Speaker myself, I inform my teaching from my own experiences in these courses.
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Mr. Diaz is one of my favorite professors at UCLA. This is the second time I take a class with Mr. Diaz, and I still stand by what I said in my first evaluation about him: he is a fantastic instructor. I've taken about five Spanish classes throughout my academic career and struggled in all of them until I had the honor to be his student. Mr. Diaz knows how to synthesize material and deliver it in a comprehensible manner. My Spanish has improved tremendously since taking his classes. Aside from being a fabulous instructor, he is a wholesome individual, and his kindness shows in his teaching. He sincerely cares to know how his students are doing and makes time to check-in at the beginning of every lecture. I have nothing but positive things to say about Mr. Diaz.
Spanish 27, Spanish COMPOSITION for Heritage Speakers, Spring 2021
Eduardo is a wealth of knowledge that helps his students however he can. He gives incredible information, lectures, music, and everything he does really just helps connect to students. He is EASILY the best and my favorite TA at UCLA thus far. He has helped me, reached out to make sure everything was okay, offered plenty of opportunities for office hours and, interacted with his students regularly. I would have absolutely despised this class if it were not for Eduardo's guidance, presence, feedback, and commitment to helping students the best he can. The grading is incredibly fair, he knows how to grade essays quite well, it is obvious in the comments that he makes and care for improving composition skills while also developing our literary analysis. I cannot express how clear it is that Eduardo is passionate about what he studies and the information he provides to his students! He is clearly knowledgeable, well-equipped to teach, and an incredibly understanding person during a particularly difficult quarter for myself. To whoever is reading this: Eduardo is the best and I actually wish our discussions were LONGER because he always had something fascinating to say that just simply couldn't fit into our hour long discussion. I absolutely adore Eduardo!
Spanish 120, Literature in Historical Context, Winter 2021
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