¡Saludos!

I am a licensed Spanish and ELL teacher at Roosevelt.  I currently teach ESL and coordinate our Dual Language Spanish Immersion Program.

Soy profesora de Español e Inglés Como Segundo Idioma (ESL) en Roosevelt.  Actualmente trabajo como profesora de ESL y coordino el Programa de Inmersión Dual. 

About Me

I am the daughter of a strong and proud Chilean.  I grew up in a bilingual household and spent my childhood visiting my mother’s family in Chile.  After college, I decided to move to Santiago and be a closer part of my mother’s family and culture.  My Chilean heritage continues to be a strong part of who I am today, and I remain very close with my relatives there.

Growing up in a bilingual/bicultural household absolutely shaped my identity and way of seeing the world.  I wish I would have had the opportunity to be a part of a program such as the Spanish Immersion Program at Roosevelt, where I could have truly embraced my bilingual and bicultural roots at a young age.  This is one of the reasons why I am so excited to be coordinating the Spanish Immersion Program this year and be a part of such an essential and unique learning experience.

Educational Background

I graduated from University of Wisconsin-Madison with a B.A. in Communications and Rhetorical Studies.  I taught English abroad for several years before heading to graduate school to study education.  I received my M.Ed. in Second Languages and Cultures from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities in both Spanish and ESL.

Learning Learn­ing

It is an absolute joy to work with our language learners at Roosevelt.  Language is a bridge to other peoples and cultures and opens doors to new ways of thinking and being. In learning a new language, we not only have the opportunity to make connections with others, but to also understand more about ourselves and our own lived experiences and how they compare to those in other places.  Seeing students make these discoveries in class is part of why I love teaching language so much.

Language also opens new opportunities and gives access to important resources.  As an ESL teacher in Science, my goal is to make sure the classroom learning environment is equitable for ALL students and that each and every one feels included and valued in their learning experience.  The same applies to our Spanish learners in the Immersion Program. 

We want all our language learners to leave Roosevelt confident and ready to use the language skills they’ve gained to pursue bilingual opportunities throughout their lives, whether those opportunities are educational, career-related, or social.

Contact Information

Please feel free to reach out if you have questions or want more information about the ESL or Spanish Immersion Program at Roosevelt.  You can reach me via email at maureen.dowling@mpls.k12.mn.us

Thank you!  ¡Gracias!