By KATIE CHOI and PATTY YAN
Jericho High School is excited to welcome Ms. Andrea Hernandez Gallegos as a new world language teacher, who has taught English in Mexico and Spanish in the United States.
Before moving to the United States from Mexico, Ms. Hernandez Gallegos received her bachelor’s degree in teaching English and worked as an English teacher. Ms. Hernandez Gallegos received most of her education in Mexico, attending the Regional High School of San Juan and receiving her bachelor’s degree at the Autonomous University of Aguascalientes. When she came to the United States, she considered various job options. “The first thing that came to my mind was, well in Mexico, I was an English teacher, so maybe here I can be a Spanish teacher,” she said.
After coming across the application for a position as a Spanish teacher at Jericho High School, Ms. Hernandez Gallegos was eager to work here. She said, “I read about the school, that it was ranked the top school in NY state, and it sounded like a great place to work.”
Ms. Hernandez Gallegos knows that learning another language can be very stressful and anxiety-inducing, and she wishes to make her students feel like they’re in a safe space when they are in class. She said, “Mistakes are welcome because it’s a part of the process of learning.”
She also said that a good way to learn a language is to look for opportunities to practice the language.
Mrs. Hernandez Gallegos is impressed with Jericho students’ work ethic. “Students really care about learning, it’s not just about getting a grade,” she said.
Outside of school, Ms. Hernandez Gallegos enjoys reading, going out for walks, and cooking. She said, “I love cooking. If I see a recipe that interest me, I have to try it.”
According to other members of the Jericho High School staff, Ms. Hernandez Gallegos is a talented teacher who knows how to teach Spanish in a way that both educates and engages students. World Language Curriculum Associate Dr. Chan said, “Ms. Hernandez Gallegos gave a very impressive demo lesson. Jericho High School is looking forward to continue learning from Ms. Hernandez Gallegos both in and outside of the classroom.”