1. Recommendation for Steven Saffels
Duringmy 30 yearsin education,IfoundanincreasingneedforSpanishproficiency.Inthe fall of
2012, I noticedthatmy church wasofferingabeginningSpanishclass.StevenSaffelsservedasaco-
teacherthrough Decemberinthisclass,andhe workedseamlesslywithhisco-teacher.InJanuary2013,
Steventaughtthe classmateswhohadtakenthe fall sessions whilehis co-teachertaughtnew students
to the wintersession.
His teachingstyle includesavariedrepertoire of strategies whichwerehighlymotivating.Steven
not onlystressedvocabularyandgrammar,buthe createdlessonsona website toallow uspractice at
home withvocabulary,spelling,andpronunciation.We were alsogivenBible versesinSpanishto
memorize.Ipersonallyfoundthisveryhelpful.He includedadditional strategieswhichwere designedto
hone our conversational skills. Hisknowledge of the diverseLatincultureswasevidentinour
discussions.
The church endsits Wednesdaynightsessions duringsummervacation.IaskedStevenif we
couldmeetsometimesduringthe summer,andhe eagerlyagreedtocontinue classinanoffice building
he locatedfor us. Unfortunately, due totime constraints,Stevenwill be unabletoteachourclass inthe
fall.However,he hasmade himself availabletoanswerquestionsduringthe 2013-2014 school year
despite hisharriedschedule.
Because of Steven’sdedication asavolunteerteacherinourSpanishclass,Ican see whyhe is
such a successful publicschool Spanishhighschool teacher.Ifeel quite fortunate tohave studiedunder
Steven.He will be anassetinany jobhe accepts.
Sincerely,
Dr. KarenCook
678-686-1097