Khalil majored in Spanish with minors in French, History, and Latin American Studies at Northern Illinois University.
Before teaching Spanish in the classroom, he has received a prestigious Fulbright grant to teach English at Mohamed I University in Oujda, Morocco.
Some Fun Facts About Kahlil
- Theme Song: Désolé – Zouhair Bahaoui
- Other Languages Khalil Speaks or is Learning: Arabic, Mayan, Tagalog
- Study Abroad: Merida, Mexico
- Favorite Word in Another Language: Satz – "a word in Mayan used in Yucatecan Spanish that means when humidity in the air softens food by making it wet"
What are you most excited about when you think of your future classroom?
When I think of my future classroom, I am most excited about creating a space where students feel valued and safe so that they will be comfortable experimenting in a new language or their own heritage language despite previous experiences.
What activities or experiences would you say have most prepared you to enter the classroom or profession?
My job as a camp counselor for my university's STEAM summer camps is one of the most valuable experiences in my teacher preparation journey. It allowed me to practice and experiment with the fundamentals of teaching on a consistent basis, so by the time I was in student teaching, not everything was new and scary. I built relationships with students, collaborated with other educators, and planned my own lessons and activities. These experiences helped me understand what effective planning looks like, how to work as a team, and how to manage student-teacher relationships (especially as a young teacher).
What has been the impact of the ACTFL Teacher Scholarship Program on your experience becoming a language teacher?
The ACTFL Teacher Scholarship Program has made an invaluable impact on my experience as a language teacher, allowing me to pursue my dreams of studying abroad in Merida, Mexico and the blessing of graduating debt-free. My time in Mexico is easily the most impactful chapter in my education as a future teacher. In student teaching I used my fluency in academic and colloquial Spanish, studies and coursework as well as the connections I made with classmates and community members to inform art activities on Mayan iconography, lessons on the gentrification and loss of biodiversity in Yucatan, and tell stories to connect with heritage learners. Graduating debt-free allows me the freedom to work abroad so I can gain experience as an educator while also strengthening my language skills and focusing on my main motivation for teaching, which is helping others.
You’re invited!
- Explore the Teacher Scholarship Program and refer aspiring teachers in your network.
- Hear reflections from Khalil and fellow graduates in a short video!
- Share your #LanguageDream on social media @LangConnectsFdn.