Teacher of French & Spanish, ISD 196

Laurel Jacobson
Major(s): English
Minors: French and Spanish
Current job title: Teacher of French and Spanish

Brief description of your job:
Teach levels 3, 4 and 5 French and Spanish at the School of Environmental Studies in ISD 196.

Other job title you have held:
Substitute teacher in ISD 196

How have you found these positions?
While subbing at Apple Valley HS, I was asked to take a part-time position teaching both languages. After the year was up, I was offered a position teaching full-time at SES, where I currently teach.

What skills from your degree do you use in your current work?
I have found that what I learned in my undergrad career as a critical thinker and writer has helped me in countless ways, not only in my teaching job. While I use my skills in analyzing and writing about literature in my upper-level language classes, I have relied on those same skills countless times in my personal life as well, writing various formal letters and essays, in discussing literature with friends and book club, and in speaking in front of a group. So an English major serves as a life-enhancing experience, as well as a route to a profession!

What advice do you have for current students?
Get out there in the academic world and make friends with your teachers and other professionals! They can be your key to employment, for the references they can provide. And once you have a job, forge friendly relationships with all your coworkers, of course, but especially with your superiors. Their references will come in handy if and when you decide to change jobs or even careers.