Upper School Spanish Teacher Dr. Ana Goldberg-Estepa knows the best way to get to know a culture is to try their food. Everything from the spices to the vessels used to cook a dish spells volumes about a culture’s traditions and heritage, which is why Ana’s favorite project for her students is the Cooking Show. Like the project suggests, students have to research an authentic Latino dish and create a cooking show all in Spanish.
“I love seeing how creative my students get with their cooking shows,” says Ana. “They usually pick a dessert for some reason they like churros or bunuelos. We get a lot of churros. But some get very ambitious and try to do tamales.”
Ana says the best part of the cooking show project is seeing how much her students learn from such a simple project.
“The students at Parker are so invested in their learning,” says Ana. “I love hearing my students say, ‘Dr. Goldberg, I know how to say this or that.’ No matter how many other activities my students are involved in, they always do their best in my class.”
Originally from Spain, Ana received her Ph.D. in Spanish language and literature at the University of California, Santa Barbara where she worked as a Spanish instructor. But after three years of instruction, Ana wanted a change from the college scene and was looking for a place where she knew she could make a meaningful difference in the lives of her students.
“I love working with high schoolers. I call them ‘my kids,’” says Ana. “They keep me young. The students are so kind and thoughtful. After working with them, I am filled with hope for the future.”
Now in her 11th year at Parker, Ana says she couldn’t be more proud and that her students and her colleagues are more of an extension of her family.
“I love working with high schoolers. They keep me young. The students are so kind and thoughtful. After working with them, I am filled with hope for the future.”
