Carolina Jagneaux teaches high school Spanish because she is passionate about promoting cross-cultural understanding and language learning.

“I believe that learning a new language opens doors to understanding different cultures and perspectives,” she explained. “Engaging students in meaningful conversations not only enhances their language skills, but also broadens their global outlook.”

She experienced this when she was learning English as a second language, and she now creates language learning spaces that foster “an enthusiasm for learning” with positive experiences.

She was born and raised in San Cristobal, Venezuela. There, she earned a law degree at Santa Maria University in Caracas. When she moved to the United States, she earned a Master of Arts degree in education from Louisiana College in Alexandria. She shifted her career from law to education because she faced challenges continuing her law career after her move.

“As I explored my options, I realized that becoming a teacher was the closest and fastest path for me,” she said. “Along the way, I developed a genuine passion for teaching and truly enjoyed the connections I formed with my students.”

She now lives in Sulphur and has taught in Southwest Louisiana for 20 years. She’s taught Spanish I and II for high school students for each of those years. From 2005 to 2013 she taught at Grand Lake High School. The rest of her career has been spent at DeQuincy High School.

Every day, Jagneaux gets to see students become more confident in their language skills as they engage with different cultures. Witnessing students make connections and express themselves is incredibly rewarding, she said.

“Those moments when a student has a breakthrough, whether it’s speaking up in class or understanding a cultural reference, are some of my favorite parts of teaching.”

Students need a supportive, vibrant and culturally rich classroom to make these strides. She cultivates this environment by building strong relationships with her. With her, they feel supported, motivated and bold. Their education is supported with visual aids, music and hands-on activities to “keep the energy high and encourage collaboration.”

“This dynamic environment not only makes learning fun, but also helps students connect more deeply with the material.”

This is what she believes in: an approach to language learning that is communicative and immersive, “emphasizing real-life application, cultural context and collaborative learning.”

“Lessons are created to go beyond grammar and vocabulary, allowing students to engage with the language in meaningful ways,” she said. “By incorporating cultural elements and real-world scenarios, I am to make learning relevant and exciting.”

Education provides important social benefits and personal impacts for the community, Jagneaux said, but knows firsthand how beneficial an effective education is to the individual.

“Education has been instrumental in my journey toward achieving my goal of becoming an American citizen,” she said. “It has provided me with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the process and connect with others in my community.”

Her advice for teachers is to stay passionate, be flexible and maintain strong relationships.

“This combination can truly make a difference in their educational journey!”