Audrey Freeman MacDonald, teacher

I am not a native speaker and did not grow up speaking Spanish. Instead, I learned Spanish as a second language through school and travel. Since graduating from college, Spanish skills have been helpful in every job I have held, as well as in countless experiences outside of work. Being able to communicate in two languages has opened opportunities to meet dear friends and to look at the world in new ways. It has provided access to an entire world of art, music, perspectives, cultural practices, and new experiences– and most importantly, to connections with amazing people.

As a Spanish teacher, I love offering others a pathway to similar connections and experiences in their lives. I often hear people speak about learning a second language as an unattainable goal– something only accessible to a few. It doesn’t have to be this way.

It is true that learning a language takes time. But it is very possible!

And when we prioritize learning language skills that help us communicate, we can use what we know to start connecting with others using our new language, whether we are beginners or advanced.

I look forward to working with you!

ABOUT MAESTRA

Audrey Freeman MacDonald holds a B.A. in Letters summa cum laude and a B.A. (Spanish) with Special Distinction from the University of Oklahoma. During her time at OU, she spent a month studying Spanish as a second language in Guadalajara, Mexico and then a semester studying at Universitat Jaume I in Castellón de la Plana, Spain. Her Spanish degree invited her to read literary works from across Spain and Latin America, culminating with a capstone project that analyzed the work of the 20th century Spanish poet Miguel Hernández. When she became a Spanish teacher, she also added graduate courses in Second Language Acquisition and Methods of Teaching a Foreign Language.  

Maestra MacDonald has nine years of experience as a classroom Spanish teacher, most recently at Westmoore High School (2009-2016). She has taught high school levels from Spanish 1 through Advanced Placement (AP) Spanish Language 4 and Advanced Placement (AP) Spanish Literature 5. During her time as a classroom teacher, Maestra MacDonald served on the board of the Oklahoma Foreign Language Teachers’ Association (OFLTA) and presented various sessions at OFLTA conferences regarding teaching interpersonal communication, using communication strategies in the classroom, incorporating advanced grammar concepts into communicative activities, and incorporating the arts into language study.

Beyond her time as a high school teacher, Maestra MacDonald has worked with a wide variety of ages, from infants to adults. She has previously served as a Director of Children’s Ministries and a church children’s choir director, as well as teaching Spanish to adult learners. She currently works as a library engagement specialist with a focus on tween, teen, and adult programming.