An Interview with José Picardo of Box of Tricks and Así Se Hace

I recently interviewed José Picardo, a modern language teacher in England who authors a blog, Box of Tricks, about education and technology, and a great website called AsíSeHace, a learning resource for Spanish students. Both are very interesting and useful for teachers and students alike, and I highly recommend them both. Here's what Mr. Picardo had to say about Spanish and education:

What do you see as the most important reasons why students should take up learning Spanish?
Learning any language other than your own is an incredible useful ability to have. Not only can you communicate with people abroad but it also offers a window into the world as seen by other cultures. Spanish is a vibrant language with a thriving popular culture and it is spoken by almost 500 million people around the world. Spain shares an enormously rich cultural, artistic and musical heritage with countries in Latin America, as well as other enclaves around the world. Most of all, learning Spanish is fun. The Spanish speaking peoples of the world are friendly, welcoming and know how to throw a party. So, really, the question is: Why wouldn't you want to learn Spanish?

How can AsíSeHace help new Spanish students?
I originally envisaged AsíSeHace.net as a tool for my students, here in England. It's divided up into day-to-day topics such as personal relationships, travel, holidays or leisure activities. Although designed to compliment the English secondary curriculum, these topics are very accessible and would be of use to anyone who wishes to improve their Spanish. AsíSeHace has also launched a Podcast, to which you can subscribe in iTunes. There aren't many episodes yet, but I have big plans for it!

How can it help struggling Spanish students?
One of the main problems that language learners in schools around the world face is lack of motivation and engagement with the subject. AsíSeHace aims to present exercises, activities with sound and video which are fun and engaging. There are games as well as more complex reading and writing exercises, as well as clear explanations for those struggling with the grammar.

How is technology helping Spanish students in the classroom and on the internet?
I fervently believe in making education interactive, accessible and, above all else, more relevant to the needs and expectations of our students in the 21st century. I believe that technology can help teachers achieve this. Technology has been demonstrated to be a powerful motivator and to encourage learning.

What made you decide to be a Spanish teacher?
Although I haven't always been a teacher, I have always wanted to teach and grabbed the opportunity to become a teacher as soon as I was able. The reasons behind my desire to become a languages teacher (I teach Spanish and German) are very simple really: 1) I had very good experiences when I was a student and I admired my teachers for their dedication and ability to turn difficulty into achievable challenges. 2) I am absolutely passionate about languages and am convinced that the world would be a better place if the peoples inhabiting it understood each other better.