In this blog entry, meet Tiffany Wilson, a 2017 graduate of the Master of Arts in the Teaching of Languages (MATL) program with an emphasis in Spanish. After teaching high school for a few years, she returned to USM to teach as a visiting instructor. In that role, she served as a mentor teacher for several MATL TAs, who all raved about her teaching. She is a talented instructor who cares deeply about her students, and she’s one of the most generous and kind people I’ve ever met. I alway say that the best part of the MATL is the people, and I say that because of people like Tiffany. She has become a family friend over the years, and I’m so happy that USM brought her into my life.
To read about Tiffany’s MATL journey and where she’s working now, continue reading. As always, if you want to know more about the MATL or want to be put in touch with Tiffany, click on “Contact the MATL.”
Dr. Katie Angus: Hi, Tiffany, thank you for agreeing to be interviewed by me for our blog today. Why don't you tell me about your path that led you to the MATL?
Tiffany Wilson: I initially graduated from Southern Miss with a bachelor's degree and was looking to further my work opportunities because I just had a degree in Spanish. I found out about the MATL program and about the opportunity to be a teaching assistant.
Dr. Katie Angus: You were an on-campus student and a TA. How would you describe your time in the MATL?
Tiffany Wilson: I think that I definitely had a unique and special experience while I was there. My cohort was a very beautiful community of motivated learners, extremely intelligent people whom it really was a privilege to work with. I think that being in that environment with not only really capable instructors, but also a group of peers who are concerned about the best teaching methodologies and just growing as people made it a really special experience.
Dr. Katie Angus: So you graduated with an emphasis in Spanish in 2017. What did you do after graduating?
Tiffany Wilson: Initially I started out teaching at a rural high school, and I did that for three years. Around the end of covid, I took a pause from teaching in the secondary arena and went back to Southern Miss for a year as a visiting instructor. I really have enjoyed having the balance of not only having the secondary experience but also the university experience. I think that they are definitely two different arenas, but I think that the MATL and also being a teacher's assistant prepared me to be able to do both. I've been thankful for being able to have that freedom to decide which type of job works for me best.
Dr. Katie Angus: You're no longer at that high school or Southern, so where are you now? What are you doing?
Tiffany Wilson: After teaching as a visiting instructor at Southern, I applied for a job at Tulane University, and I'm wrapping up my second year at Tulane and have one more year to go as an instructor there.
Dr. Katie Angus: You've had a lot of teaching experience now teaching classes at USM as a TA, teaching in the high school, then coming back to USM to teach, and now being at Tulane. So what has been your favorite class to teach?
Tiffany Wilson: I think my favorite course that I've taught thus far has been Spanish conversation, because I enjoy talking, and I believe that getting your students to make an effort to communicate definitely leads to significant gains. I’m passionate about different topics, such as cultural things, politics, stuff that that conversational classes provide the opportunity to teach, but be taught because I’m surrounded by a lot of students who are from different backgrounds and it makes for it being a growing experience for everyone.
Dr. Katie Angus: Do you have any tips, strategies, or activities that you like to use in your classroom?
Tiffany Wilson: I think that for me, what brings the most success is connecting the students with real world applications for the language. Whether it be through authentic resources like music, Tiktok, Instagram, I just really try to put students in contact with ways to interact with the language in their everyday life. I think that there's a lot of discussion that can be made for different pedagogical approaches, but I think that there's something of a truth in the fact that consistent exposure to the language over time will yield results. I think that when I was learning Spanish at USM, in high school, and even as I continued to grow in the MATL program, the thing that yielded the most results for me was making connections. Connections through TV shows, talking to people, going to restaurants. Those are the things that encouraged me to continue growing in the language and so I think that creating opportunities for our students to be able to have connections and real world applications is what helps to facilitate learning and really brings in that joy for learning that you want students to have to grow in a language.
Dr. Katie Angus: Do you have any advice for students in world languages?
Tiffany Wilson: I think for graduate students in world languages, I would say that you just need to persevere. There will be moments where it can be difficult, but keep an open mind about the new things that you’re learning. Just keep moving and at the end of the experience, you'll realize on how much you’ve grown and how much you’ve learned. Also, you may have some stuff that you need to revisit, or continue to work out after the program, but just be open to the experience of the whole new world that grad school can be for you.
Dr. Katie Angus: What would you tell someone who is thinking about applying to the MATL?
Tiffany Wilson: It can provide opportunities for you to have more choices in what environment you would like to teach in. I can provide a little bit more financial compensation. Also, I think that going through the MATL program definitely prepared me at a higher level than what I saw with some of my peers that had bachelor's degrees. It prepared that it prepared me a little bit more for getting in the classroom and being able to manage some of the responsibilities that I had at an administrative level.
Dr. Katie Angus: Final question for you! What do you like to do in your free time?
Tiffany Wilson: In my free time, I love exploring New Orleans, catching live music when I can here in the city, and also spending time with family, my dogs, and friends.
Dr. Katie Angus: Again, I thank you so much for taking the time to interview with me. I love catching up with you. See you soon!
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