As the first college-graduate of an immigrant family, my love of learning has allowed me to know life beyond my Hispanic background and see the world. I received my B.A in Spanish in 1980 and my M.A. in Applied Linguistics/TESOL in 1993. I taught high school English in Japan for one year. I have studied the Spanish language and Hispanic culture in Spain. As an ESL and Spanish teacher, my Hispanic/American identity keeps me sensitive to the concerns of language learners so I can be not only a teacher, but a mentor to all students at Harold Washington College who take the brave step of pursuing a college degree and learning more about the world. My mission is to reveal the unique talents of each individual that becomes my student and to make clear to all my students that a college degree is a ticket to the world. I'm the proof.
e-mail: mchavez@ccc.edu
