JUAN GONZALEZ DIAZ, Ph.D.

(c)
Department of Spanish & Portuguese Studies
University of Minnesota ​–​ Twin Cities
​224.402.3765​ || ​gonza697@umn.edu​ || ​gonza697.weebly.com

EDUCATION

Ph.D. University of Minnesota – Twin Cities Expected 2025

Program: Hispanic & Lusophone Literatures, Cultures, & Linguistics
Concentration: Spanish Peninsular & Latin American Literature

M.A. University of Minnesota – Twin Cities Expected 2021

Program: Hispanic & Lusophone Literatures, Cultures, & Linguistics
Concentration: Spanish Peninsular & Latin American Literature

M.Ed.​ ​University of Minnesota – Twin Cities ​ Aug 2018

Program: Second Language Education
Concentration: Spanish Language Pedagogy

B.A.​ ​University of Minnesota – Twin Cities​ May 2016

Program(s): Sociology, Spanish Studies, Teaching English as a Second Language
Concentration(s): Sociological Theory, Spanish Literature, Language Pedagogy

WORLD LANGUAGE TEACHING EXPERIENCE

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA ​Sep 2019 – Present

Graduate Instructor ​Minneapolis, MN

● Appointed to teach an introductory level Spanish language course to Undergraduate students at

the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.

COLUMBIA HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL​ Aug 2017 – Jun 2019

Spanish Teacher​ Columbia Heights, MN

● Instruct various levels of Spanish courses such as AP Spanish 4, Heritage Spanish 1 & 2, and
Spanish 2 to a culturally diverse student body comprising of grades 9 – 12.
● Implement lessons that focus on the history and identity of Latino/a communities in the United
States using strategies to foster critical thinking.
● Identify presentational, interpretive, and interpersonal tasks that are culturally relevant and
empower students to communicate in Spanish.
● Design curriculum that aligns with state and national standards by incorporating organic modes of
communication and modalities to the daily task objectives.

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COLUMBIA ACADEMY ​Aug 2017 – Jun 2019

Spanish Teacher ​Columbia Heights, MN

● Lead an introductory to Spanish 1 course comprised of 8​th​ grade students with varying levels of
Spanish proficiency.
● Prepare lessons that are student-centered, entail authentic resources, and consider students’
diverse learning needs in order to meet the Minnesota ACTFL Spanish language standards.
● Formulate content and language objectives that engage students in specific learning tasks to
develop their Spanish language proficiency.
● Differentiate instruction by providing students with visuals and specific graphic organizers that
are salient for second language acquisition.

EMERSON SPANISH IMMERSION ​May 2017 – Jun 2017

Spanish Language Student Teacher ​Minneapolis, MN

● Co-taught Spanish to a culturally and linguistically diverse 1​st​ grade class through a content-based
instruction model that consisted of Elementary Math, Reading, and Science.
● Gained experience in classroom management by specifically carrying out lessons that would
engage elementary students based on their preferences and experiences.
● Prioritized communication and authentic language when collaboratively assessing the curriculum.

ROOSEVELT HIGH SCHOOL​ Mar 2017 – May 2017

Spanish Language Student Teacher ​Minneapolis, MN

● Taught Spanish through a social justice lens to Spanish-speaking students grades 9 – 12 in the
Spanish as a Heritage Language program.
● Designed lessons that focused on the history and identity of Latino/a communities in the United
States using strategies to foster critical thinking.
● Identified and implemented the ACTFL modes of communication to promote organic Spanish
communication.

SANFORD MIDDLE SCHOOL ​Nov 2016 – Feb 2017

English as a Second Language Student Teacher ​Minneapolis, MN

● Facilitated English instruction to multilingual students grades 6 – 8 through the Life Science
content.
● Prepared lessons that were student-centered and considered students’ diverse learning needs in
order to meet the Minnesota English language standards.
● Formulated content and language objectives that engaged students in specific learning tasks to
develop their English language proficiency.

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ANDERSEN UNITED COMMUNITY SCHOOL ​Sep 2016 – Nov 2016

English as a Second Language Student Teacher ​Minneapolis, MN

● Provided bilingual instruction in English and Spanish to students grades 3 and 4 in the core
content areas, tailoring classes to meet students’ diverse educational and behavioral requirements.
● Planned lessons and differentiated learning tasks in order for students to work in their own zones
of proximal development.
● Organized instructional materials and scaffolded assignments that engaged students in reading
and writing to develop discourse competence.

CURRICULUM & INSTRUCTION

Advanced AP Spanish 4 (​Columbia Heights High School Fall 2017, Spring 2018​)​:

This advanced full year course is meant to be comparable to fifth or sixth semester university courses that
focus exclusively on speaking, reading, and writing in Spanish. Moreover, ​AP Spanish at CHHS is the
highest level Spanish course in the district. The ​instructional focus is placed on interpersonal, interpretive,
and presentational modes of communication to enhance Spanish language proficiency. Students are
expected to take the AP Spanish Language & Culture exam at the end of the school year in May. In
essence, consistent attendance and high expectations are critical for success in this AP course.

Spanish as a Heritage Language Level 2 (​Columbia Heights High School Fall 2017, Spring 2018​)​:

Each unit in this full year course focuses on a specific aspect of Latinx history, literature, grammar and
vocabulary, as well as certain language aspects that relate to English. Students strengthen their reading
and writing skills through interpretive summaries of short stories and novels such as “Senderos
Fronterizos” by Francisco Jimenez. In addition, students write and edit persuasive essays and make oral
presentations in the target language. Students are expected to use Spanish exclusively in class and have a
strong desire to improve their language skills in order to communicate effectively in our multilingual
society.

Spanish as a Heritage Language Level 1 (​Columbia Heights High School Fall 2017, Spring 2018​)​:

Heritage Level 1 is a full year course designed for students whose first language is Spanish or who
already speak the language fluently but want to build their reading and writing skills. Areas of focus
include Latin American geography, culture, literature—we read “Cajas de Carton” by Francisco
Jimenez—and Spanish grammar. Furthermore, students write essays on indigenous cultures, do research
projects on identity, and are expected to communicate exclusively in Spanish.

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Intermediate Spanish 2 (​Columbia Heights High School Fall 2017 & 2018, Spring 2018 & 2019​)​:

Spanish 2 at CHHS is an intermediate level full year Spanish course that continues with the basics of
Spanish grammar such as the preterite, imperfect, infinitive verbs, and conjugations. The ​instructional
objective is to reinforce background knowledge of the Spanish language through meaningful writing and
speaking tasks. Technology is integrated in this course through the use of various online applications such
as ​Extempore,​ which allows students to answer prompts in Spanish by recording and submitting their
responses online. Additional cultural themes are studied through songs, films, and discussions of world
events. ​Introductory Spanish 1 is a prerequisite to enroll in this course.

Introductory Spanish 1 (​Columbia Academy Fall 2017 & 2018, Spring 2018 & 2019​)​:

Spanish 1 at Columbia Academy is an introductory level full year course that introduces the basics of
Spanish grammar and culture.​ Students in this course study the fundamentals of Spanish reading, writing,
speaking, pronunciation, listening and cultural awareness. Vocabulary and sentence structure in the
present and future tenses are covered throughout the two semesters. Spanish is used in the classroom for
basic communication and listening practice is addressed through different online applications. In addition,
culture is studied through the use of songs, current events, and videos. Teaching Proficiency through
Reading and Storytelling (TPRS) and organic dialogues are used to supplement the textbook and foster
greater language ability.

PROFESSIONAL RESEARCH & TEACHING INTERESTS

● Theories of Alienation & Emotions in Latin America & Spain (Early Modern/Contemporary)
● Picaresque Literature (Medieval, Early Modern & Contemporary)
● The Life, Work, & Ideologies of Miguel de Unamuno, Juan Rulfo, Julio Cortázar

ACADEMIC RESEARCH

M.Ed. Second Language Education Research​ May 2017

Spanish as a Heritage Language Program: Pedagogical Experiences & Observations
University of Minnesota – Twin Cities

M.Ed. Second Language Education Research​ Mar 2017

Classroom Management Ethnographic Research
University of Minnesota – Twin Cities

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B.A. Sociology Ethnographic Research Thesis​ May 2016

Living Without Speaking: The Experiences of English Language Learners in the United States
University of Minnesota – Twin Cities

Sociological Research Institute Awards – Outstanding Undergraduate Paper ​Apr 2016

Theory of Alienation
University of Minnesota – Twin Cities

B.A. Spanish Studies Analytical Research Paper​ Jul 2015

Análisis de “A una rosa” por Sor Juana Inés De La Cruz
University of Minnesota – Twin Cities

WORLD LANGUAGE LICENSES & CERTIFICATIONS

Minnesota Department of Education​ Jul 2017 – Jul 2023

K-12 Spanish Language Teaching License

American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages​ May 2016

ACTFL Advanced Level Proficiency in Spanish Certificate

University of Minnesota – Twin Cities​ May 2016

Teaching English as a Second Language Certificate

Minnesota Literacy Council​ Oct 2015

English Language Tutor Certificate

AWARDS & HONORS

CEHD Teaching Scholarship, University of Minnesota – Twin Cities Aug 2016 – May 2017

Marilyn N. & Valdemar O. Scholarship, University of Minnesota – Twin Cities Aug 2016 – May 2017

Teacher Education Scholarship, University of Minnesota – Twin Cities Aug 2016 – May 2017

Sociology Research Paper Award, University of Minnesota – Twin Cities Apr 2016

Federal Pell Grant, University of Minnesota – Twin Cities Aug 2014 – May 2016

Federal SEOG Grant, University of Minnesota – Twin Cities Aug 2014 – May 2016

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LEADERSHIP & SERVICE

Comunidades Latinas Unidas En Servicio ​Feb 2015 – May 2016

Adult ESL Teacher St. Paul, MN

● Volunteered to teach different levels of English to adults from a plethora of countries such as
Mexico, Ecuador, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Venezuela and Brazil.
● Developed content-based English language curricula which covered life skills, housing,
employment, health care, and self-advocacy.

Minneapolis Public School District ​Sep 2015 – Dec 2015

Community Member Volunteer Minneapolis, MN

● Assisted Roosevelt High School Spanish teachers with instructional tasks such as developing
language objectives that would engage students in Spanish reading and writing. In addition, I
helped students with their homework and class assignments.
● Planned and taught lessons with an emphasis on addressing the three modes of communication
for language acquisition: Interpretive, Interpersonal, and Presentational.

Elgin Community College ​Jan 2012 – May 2014

Maintenance Employee Elgin, IL

● Inspected different areas of the college campus with the objective of fixing or reporting any
current or potential issues (electrical and/or safety).
● Provided bilingual translation from English to Spanish—and vice versa—to the college’s night
shift staff during meetings and interactions with managers.

MEMBERSHIPS

Modern Language Association Feb 2019 – Present

Minnesota Council on the Teaching of Languages and Cultures Jul 2018 – Present

American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages Jul 2018 – Present

American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese Jul 2018 – Present

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition, ​University of Minnesota – Twin Cities

● Teaching Heritage Languages & Learners​ Jul 2018

Week long professional development course designed to provide second language educators with
the pedagogical resources to teach Spanish as a Heritage Language courses.

● Teaching Language Through the Lens of Social Justice​ Jul 2018

Week long professional development course with a focus on social justice perspectives and
approaches in the world language classroom.

Columbia Heights Public School District #13, ​Columbia Heights, MN

● AP Meeting Session​ Feb 2018

Collaborated and discussed AP curriculum and agenda with colleagues.

● 9-12 Licensed Staff: Curriculum Development & Technology​ Oct 2017 – Nov 2017

Developed technology and language objectives with colleagues in the Spanish and ESL
departments.

● 9-12 Licensed Staff: Curriculum Alignment & Development​ Oct 2017 – Nov 2017

Focus placed on establishing innovative learning targets, essential questions, and assessments.

● AP Teacher Meeting​ Oct 2017

Discussion surrounding AP course objectives for the 2017-2018 school year.

● Formative Assessment Tools: Using Technology for Secondary Education​ Aug 2017

Collaborated with educators from various departments in the district with the objective of
identifying effective online formative assessment tools to gauge student understanding.

● 9-12 Licensed Teachers: Technology Integration & Curriculum Instruction​ Aug 2017

District wide professional development on integrating technology into our classrooms.

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● 9-12 Licensed Teachers: Curriculum Alignment​ Aug 2017

Collaboratively analyzed the Spanish language curriculum with a focus on meeting ACTFL
standards, addressing differentiation, and fulfilling the needs of special education students.

College Board AP Workshops, ​University of Minnesota – Twin Cities

● AP Spanish Language & Culture​ Oct 2017

Workshop designed to provide AP Spanish educators with the tools and resources to teach
Spanish at the most advanced level.

LINGUISTIC PROFICIENCIES

● Spanish–English​: Native bilingual speaker and fully professional in all modalities.

● Portuguese​: Developing interpretive and interpersonal modes of communication.

ACADEMIC REFERENCES

● Marisol Galicia Estevez

Senior Teaching Specialist
Department of Spanish & Portuguese Studies
University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
(612) 624 - 5529
gali0025@umn.edu

● Susan Ranney
Senior Lecturer (Retired)
Department of Curriculum & Instruction
University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
ranne001@umn.edu

● Karla Stone
Lecturer
Department of Curriculum & Instruction
University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
(612) 626 - 0319
ston0032@umn.edu

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