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María Victoria Muñoz, a graduate student and teaching assistant for the Department of Spanish and Portuguese Studies, received the Calvin A. VanderWerf award earlier this year. This award has been recognizing exceptional graduate assistants at UF for twenty years and is one of the highest distinctions they can receive.

Muñoz, now starting her third year in the Spanish Literature doctoral program, first arrived at UF in 2017 while on a visit from her home country of Argentina. At the time, she was teaching at the College of Design at Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, but during her month-long visit, she was persuaded to come to UF as a graduate student.

“In university, I studied English, so I first thought my path would be at the English Language Institute, helping foreign students learn English. Then in the last week of my visit in 2017, I had an interview with the graduate coordinator of the Spanish and Portuguese department, Dr. Luis Álvarez-Castro (currently Chair of the SPS), and he told me I would be a great fit,” said Muñoz. “That moment changed my life.”

Muñoz began her studies and her teaching assistantship at UF in 2019, initially teaching Spanish 1. Given her background in English in Argentina, she was no stranger to language classes and knew how to support students. She recognized that her class would be a first introduction to the language for many students, some of whom were taking it out of necessity, rather than genuine interest.

To cater to both sets of students, as well as those familiar with Spanish seeking a refresher, Muñoz took a more hands-on approach, especially during discussions and conversation sessions., She immersed the class in Spanish, ensuring not to overwhelm new students, and encouraging them to do the same. In discussions and conversations, she supported students to take the lead to maintain engagement and focus.

This teaching method proved successful, and despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and remote teaching, Muñoz’s first year as a teaching assistant went smoothly. She would stay in this position for two more years, perfecting her methods, before progressing to teach Spanish 2.

Her teaching style, effective in Spanish 1, proved even more successful in Spanish 2, where students typically exhibited more passion for the subject and a better grasp of the language. Through a variety of activities that could help students use the grammar and vocabulary learned at home, Muñoz expanded her teaching to include aspects of Hispanic culture, incorporating these topics into discussions and conversations.

The students responded to her classes well, and Muñoz consistently received high ratings from her students at the end of each semester. This caught the attention of the department, who would ultimately nominate her for the VanderWerf award in late 2022. Her nomination had to go through some evaluation rounds, including receiving the visit of members of the committee to observe her teaching.

During the spring 2023 semester, Muñoz was notified that she had earned the prestigious award and received a plaque at a ceremony hosted by the Graduate School a few weeks later. “In the letter, they told me that I was ranked highest out of the finalists,” she said. “I think that is my most significant achievement.”

Now with a prestigious award under her belt, Muñoz plans to keep doing what she does best: inspiring her students and giving them a better appreciation for her language.

“The students were much more enthusiastic when I gave them more freedom, especially in conversation groups,” Muñoz said. “I also tried really hard to make classes fun, playing music before class started, making jokes during lectures, and telling stories. Above all else, I wanted to make my space a safe space for them.”