María Camila Ramírez Quimbayo, Kansas State University
Master’s Student
María Camila Ramírez Quimbayo is an M.A. student in Spanish at Kansas State University, where she previously completed a master’s degree in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL). Camila also holds a bachelor’s degree in foreign language teaching with a specialization in English and French from Universidad del Valle in Cali, Colombia, where she is originally from. At K-State, Camila has taught all levels of the basic Spanish language sequence (Spanish I-IV), and she also helped design and develop Spanish II in an online asynchronous format. As a language learner herself, Camila understands the challenges and benefits that come with learning a new language. Because of this, she strives to make her students’ learning experience meaningful. Camila’s teaching is grounded in the belief that education is transformative. She approaches language not only as a system to learn but also as a tool students can use to express ideas, explore social issues, and better understand the world around them. In the classroom, she creates opportunities for students to use Spanish to discuss topics related to Hispanic communities by incorporating authentic materials and activities, while structuring lessons in ways that support students as they steadily develop their skills and confidence. Through this approach, Camila aims to create a classroom where students feel comfortable taking risks, engaging in meaningful conversations, and seeing language learning as something relevant to their lives beyond the course.