Mariana Martínez-Karandashova
New York,USA
Summary
Experienced Spanish teacher with a strong educational background and a proven track record of creating engaging and interactive lessons. Deep understanding of various teaching methodologies, excels in adapting approach to meet diverse student needs. Proficient in leveraging technology to enhance learning experience, dedicated to fostering dynamic and inclusive classroom environment.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
University Teaching Assistant
Florida International University, Department of Modern Languages
08.2020 - Current
- Planned and instructed a wide range of undergraduate courses including: Non-Heritage Spanish I (SPN 1130), Non-Heritage Spanish II (SPN 1131), Intermediate Spanish for Heritage Speakers (SPN 2340), Advanced Spanish for Non-Heritage Speakers (SPN 3301), Advanced Grammar and Composition (SPN 3422), Spanish for Business in Latin America (SPN 3444).
- Created course material using the Task-Based Language Learning method and helped students develop their language skills and knowledge through meaningful tasks.
- Had the opportunity to teach both on-site and online to college students of different backgrounds and ethnicities, including heritage language speakers.
- Successfully used new technologies such as smart boards, tablets, and AI to create interactive student learning experiences.
- Successfully implemented engagement projects where students could practice their Spanish in different cultural activities offered in Miami.
- Developed trusting relationships with students and staff.
- Graded students’ performance and gave them feedback for improvement.
- Devised and implemented strategies for engaging students in class discussions.
Translator, Transcriber, Supervisor
Memory and History
01.2021 - 12.2024
- Company Overview: Transforming the Narrative of the Spanish Civil War and Francoist Dictatorship (a digital humanities project supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities)
- Worked remotely with affiliated faculty to translate, transcribe, and index the audiovisual testimonies collected by the Spanish Civil War Memory Project (SCWMP). To learn more about the project, see https://andrea-davis.com/research/memory-and-history/
- Supervised and assisted new collaborators.
- Presented research based on testimonies.
ESOL Teacher
South Beach Languages
08.2019 - 08.2020
- Planned and instructed Beginner and Intermediate Grammar, TOEFL Prep, and daily Conversation classes for all levels to adults and teenagers of different backgrounds and ethnicities.
- Successfully used iPads and Apple TVs for class instruction.
- Developed trusting relationships with students and staff.
- Participated in school activities and helped create a fun educational environment for all the students at the school.
- Graded students’ performance and gave them feedback for improvement.
- Helped organize field trips and activities where students could practice their English in real-life settings.
- Served as a guidance counselor for immigrants and newcomers.
5th Grade Teacher
My Happy House Private School
08.2018 - 08.2019
- Planned and instructed 5th-grade STEM classes.
- Successfully used smart board and new technologies for class instruction.
- Developed trusting relationships with students and staff.
- Participated in school activities and helped create a fun educational environment for all students.
- Graded students’ performance and gave them feedback for improvement.
Language and Cultural Assistant
Colegio Público (CEIP) Antonio Machado
10.2016 - 05.2018
- Taught English, Humanities, and Natural Science to primary students (aged 7 to 12).
- Successfully prepared students for Cambridge exams, achieving a more than 90% passing rate.
- Developed games and educational activities for them to practice their English.
- Successfully collaborated with fellow teachers to deliver educational and entertaining lessons and established trusting relationships with students to help them succeed academically.
- Excelled at lesson planning and developed exceptional organizational abilities.
- Served as North American ambassador and shared our culture with Spaniards.
- Improved students’ pronunciation and broadened their cultural awareness.
- Effectively included new technologies (smart boards, apps, etc.) in the classroom.
Administrative Assistant and Spanish Teacher Volunteer
Spanish Resource Centre at Glendon College York University
01.2015 - 06.2016
- Organized Spanish Conversational workshops for university students.
- Promoted Spanish Culture through Social Media.
- Served as a Content Writer for SRC’s Facebook page and event pamphlets.
- Assisted in various events at the university, including Translation and Hispanic Language and Culture Conferences.
Freelance Translator and Reviser
MCIS Language Services
05.2014 - 06.2016
- Translated various types of texts (legal, medical, technical, etc.) from English to Spanish.
- Provided translations for different clients, including the Toronto District School Board.
- Revised the work of other translators to deliver the greatest quality possible to our clients.
- Gained time-management skills and work experience in the field of translation.
Education
Ph.D. - Spanish
Florida International University
Miami, FL08.2025
Certificate - Latin American and Caribbean Studies
Florida International University
Miami, FL05.2025
M.A. - Spanish
Florida International University
Miami, FL08.2020
B.A. - Hispanic Studies
Glendon College York University
Toronto, ON05.2016
Certificate - Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL)
University of Toronto
Toronto, ON04.2015
Certificate - Spanish-English Translation
Glendon College York University
Toronto, ON04.2014
Skills
- Student engagement
- Online teaching
- Collaboration
- Classroom management
- Problem-solving
- Course evaluation
Languages
Spanish, Native.
English, Native.
French, Intermediate.
Awards
Graduate Fellowship, Doctoral Evidence Acquisition (DEA), Dissertation Year Fellowship (DYF)
Affiliations
- American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (AATSP)
- Modern Language Association (MLA)
- Phi Kappa Phi Honors Society Membership for Academic Success
Publications and Conferences
- Callaghan, Barry. “Jugada de Piano” (Piano Play) translated by Mariana Martínez-Karandashova, Desde el Norte: Narrativa Canadiense Contemporánea, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, 2015.
- Martínez-Karandashova, Mariana. “Amores que no siempre matan: la violencia de género en Alguien Amor que no mate y La plaza del diamante”. El Cid, The Citadel, no. 30, 2020, pp.103-111.
- Martínez-Karandashova, Mariana.“El cómic como instrumento para la recuperación de la memoria”. Hispanic Journal, vol. 42, no. 2, 2021, pp. 95-110.
- “Visiones femeninas y masculinas de la Guerra Civil Española y la dictadura”. AATSP Annual Conference, Salamanca, Spain, June 2023.
- “Julia Navarro Questions the Past in Dime quién soy (Tell Me Who I Am).” 26th Southeast Conference for Languages, Literatures, and Film, DeLand, Florida, February 2025.
- “Female Agency in Las tres bodas de Manolita and Inés y la alegría by Almudena Grandes.” SPAGrad 2025 Annual Linguistics and Literature Conference, Tempe, Arizona, March 2025.
- “De víctimas a agentes”. Congreso Internacional de Americanistas. Nuevos Desafíos, Nuevos Espacios, Novi Sad, Serbia, July 2025.
- Martínez-Karandashova et al. Memory and History: Transforming the Narrative of the Spanish Civil War and Francoist Dictatorship (in progress).
Timeline
Translator, Transcriber, Supervisor
Memory and History
01.2021 - 12.2024
University Teaching Assistant
Florida International University, Department of Modern Languages
08.2020 - Current
ESOL Teacher
South Beach Languages
08.2019 - 08.2020
5th Grade Teacher
My Happy House Private School
08.2018 - 08.2019
Language and Cultural Assistant
Colegio Público (CEIP) Antonio Machado
10.2016 - 05.2018
Administrative Assistant and Spanish Teacher Volunteer
Spanish Resource Centre at Glendon College York University
01.2015 - 06.2016
Freelance Translator and Reviser
MCIS Language Services
05.2014 - 06.2016
Certificate - Latin American and Caribbean Studies
Florida International University
M.A. - Spanish
Florida International University
B.A. - Hispanic Studies
Glendon College York University
Certificate - Spanish-English Translation
Glendon College York University
Ph.D. - Spanish
Florida International University
Certificate - Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL)
University of Toronto
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