Capone Huizenga, Clarisa, Spanish

BIO:

¡Hola!

My name is Clarisa Capone (Señora Capone) and I’m delighted to be a Spanish teacher. I’m originally from San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina. I’ve lived in many places in the US and two years in Italy. I moved to State College with my husband and children in 2013.

I studied Spanish Literature, Culture, and Linguistics at Colorado State University and completed my PreK-12 teaching certification and ESL endorsement at Penn State University. One of my goals is to help students learn Spanish through communicative tasks that are authentic and relevant to their life. I like to employ short videos, songs, and lots of readings that bring awareness to global issues, particularly from Latin America and Spain.

Currently, I teach Spanish 3 and Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate Year 2 at our school. 

PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS:

Capone Huizenga, C., Sanchez Gago, A. (2019). It does take a village! Exploring learning to families and communities. Roundtable; American Council of the Teaching of Foreign Languages Conference: Washington D.C.

Capone Huizenga, C., Chen, Y. (2019). Look Who’s Talking! Use daily conversations to build target language skills. Electronic Poster; American Council of the Teaching of Foreign Languages Conference: Washington D.C.

Capone Huizenga, C., Webber, D. (2019). Synthecultural Communicative Competence through Instant Messaging for High Schoolers. Session; Pennsylvania State Modern Language Association Conference: State College, PA.

Capone Huizenga, C., Gibbs, D. (2019). Finding Balance: Transitioning to a communicative focus. Session; Pennsylvania State Modern Language Association Conference: State College, PA.

Capone Huizenga, C., Chen, Y., Green, E., Xiong, Y. (2018). The Magic Carpet: Making World Languages Come Alive! Roundtable; American Council of the Teaching of Foreign Languages Conference: New Orleans, LA.

Capone Huizenga, C., Chen, Y., Lee, K. (2017). Different Children, different ways of teaching? How does a student’s personality influence differentiated teaching? E-Paper; American Council of the Teaching of Foreign Languages Conference: Nashville, TN.

Capone Huizenga C., Sanchez Gago, A., Xiong, Y. (2017). Authentic Materials: problems and real solutions. Roundtable; American Council of the Teaching of Foreign Languages Conference: Nashville, TN.

Capone Huizenga, C. (2016). Project-Based Learning or E-text? Which Method Works Better for Heritage Speakers in AP Spanish? 18th Annual Teacher Inquiry Conference: State College, PA.

Keynote Speaker; World Language Department Honor Society Induction, State College Area High School; May 2016

AWARDS & MEMBERSHIPS:

Excellence in Teaching Award; recognized by teacher colleagues and administrators at Young Scholars of Central PA Charter School; June 2018

AATSP Travel Stipend Award; acknowledged by the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese with a travel stipend award for first-time faculty to participate in the 100^th conference in Salamanca, Spain; June 2018

Spirit of Internationalization Award; honored by Global Connections for showing extraordinary strength of character and commitment to the cause of empowering and/or uniting the international community of women and girls through a variety of initiatives and methods of support; March 2016

Teacher of Influence Award; recognized by one of fourteen senior students on the Swimming and Diving Team as a teacher of influence over the course of their career in the State College Area School District; January 2016

Graduation with Distinction-Magna Cum Laude; Colorado State University

Outstanding Achievement Award; Department of Languages, Literatures & Cultures, Colorado State University

Member of the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese

• 2019 Committee member at the national level for Kindergarten – 8^th grade

Member of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages

• 2019 Summer scholarships reviewer

Member of the Pennsylvania State Modern Language Association