The Student News Site of Westborough High School

The Lobby Observer

The Student News Site of Westborough High School

The Lobby Observer

The Student News Site of Westborough High School

The Lobby Observer

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Ms. Kirby: Not Your Typical Spanish Teacher

By Myles Goldman

One would assume a Spanish teacher would enjoy the culture and intricacies of the language she is teaching, and this, indeed, is true about WHS Spanish teacher Ms. Kirby. Spanish, however, is not the only activity in Ms. Kirby’s life. Now in her third year of teaching professionally and at Westborough High School, this life-long Holden, Massachusetts resident is a laid-back teacher with several passions relating to both the Spanish culture and other outside activities.

Ms. Kirby’s interest in Spanish first flourished while she was in sixth grade when she was required to take an exploratory quarter of one of the major foreign languages. Ms. Kirby chose Spanish and her success in the subject would eventually lead her to take AP Spanish her senior year. The AP course came with a lot of work, and a tough teacher, yet Ms. Kirby, “loved every moment of it.” The course made Ms. Kirby realize Spanish should be included in her career aspirations.

Ms. Kirby graduated from Assumption College in Worcester, Massachusetts where she sang in the choir, performed in plays, tutored college students in Spanish, and, of course, was President of the Spanish Honors Society. In her freshman year at Assumption she decided she would major in Spanish with the idea of teaching high school students Spanish. Between her Spanish teacher during her freshman year at Assumption and teaching swimming lessons for what at the time had been several summers, Ms. Kirby knew she loved teaching too. She graduated from Assumption having won the outstanding achievement award for highest GPA among students participating in foreign languages. Currently, Ms. Kirby is halfway through earning her Master’s degree in Spanish with a concentration in teaching from Worcester State College. She hopes to earn her degree by May 2010.

Ms. Kirby has teaching in her blood as both her mother and grandmother were teachers. Ms. Kirby believes she likes teaching because she enjoys working with children, and because, “it’s different everyday, you’re not just sitting at a desk.” What she especially likes about teaching Spanish is how she is able to teach many different subjects through Spanish like grammar, history, culture, and literature. She likes the idea of teaching something that can be “put to use right away.”

Ms. Kirby is a big fan of traveling, as she has been to several Spanish speaking countries: Spain, Mexico and Costa Rica. Ms. Kirby attributes her joy of traveling to her maternal grandfather who also loves traveling and has taken her on many trips. She described her grandfather as being the most influential person in her life. He has been a huge support for Ms. Kirby, whether he was attending her choir concerts in college or surprising her last year by coming to Westborough High School to watch her teach a class.

Ms. Kirby hopes her students see her as a knowledagable, capable, energetic and friendly teacher who is preparing them for “next year.” Ms. Kirby says she enjoys listening to her students’ experiences, both positive and negative, in and out of the classroom. She explained, “I’m just as interested in hearing about rec basketball as I am about hearing anyone else’s news.” That’s the sign of a teacher who cares about more than just Spanish.

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