Connecting cultures through education: Sumter High international teacher Diego Teatin elected president of state language teacher group

As an international teacher at Sumter High School, Diego Teatin is not only helping to fill the gap with the U.S. teacher shortage, but he is also a perfect fit in today's growing multicultural society.

A native of Colombia in South America, Teatin is living his dream in the United States to grow as a teaching professional, loves the opportunities available here in America to thrive and was recently elected president of the state's fellowship of language teachers and advocates group.

A career educator, Teatin is in his 20th year as a teacher with about 10 years of service in the U.S., one in England and the rest in his homeland. He is fluent in three languages - Spanish, English and French - and has served in the language department at Sumter High for four years, teaching French and Spanish.

Teatin is the only French teacher in Sumter School District.

With bachelor's and master's degrees focused on teaching in English and French, he said he found teaching his native Spanish was actually a challenge.

"I didn't really study to be a Spanish teacher, even though I spoke the language," Teatin said. "There were some particulars that I didn't know. I didn't recognize what a subjunctive was and other things because I just said them and it was my language. I didn't get the time to sit down and study every single thing."

He eventually earned various credentials to teach his native language.

As part of an international teacher exchange program called Foreign Academic and Cultural Exchange Services, better known as FACES, he has one more year of service time remaining before he must return to Colombia.

Teatin said through exchange programs such as FACES, international teachers are helping to fill the U.S. teacher shortage in various subjects to include foreign languages, English and math. Most teachers who come from abroad have master's degrees, and many come with 10 to 15 years of teaching experience, he added.

While here in the U.S., Teatin has earned his Doctorate degree in Education and Innovation.

"Where there is a need, most likely there will be a teacher who will be able to take over, and they are very well qualified," he said.

Teatin added that international teachers can make a big impact in U.S. schools because they can bring a new perspective and are generally well known for classroom consistency and discipline.

TODAY'S GROWING

MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY

Regarding the language barrier that can exist between international teachers and local students, Teatin said international teachers can open students' eyes to different cultures in the growing multicultural world of today. Additionally, like he has personally done, teachers can adapt to the culture here.

It can be a "learning moment and win-win situation" for both students and teachers, but it does require patience and building relationships over time, he added.

Those concepts tie in with his new role as president of the South Carolina Fellowship of Language Teachers and Advocates.

The group has about 450 members, most of which are U.S. foreign language teachers in the state with some international teachers as well, and its mission is to foster cultural understanding and promote language learning among various communities, he said.

Members get involved with different organizations and attend festivals to learn about different cultures. The fellowship also holds an annual conference where foreign language teachers from across the Southeast come to share their experiences and best practices in the classroom.

Now more than ever, businesses, the economy and education revolve around all cultures, Teatin said.

The fellowship can help private schools and public charter schools in the state with teacher recruitment and in building a foreign language curriculum to meet state requirements. Also, the group can assist businesses with immigrants as labor - such as construction and farming - to break down language barriers.

There are some limited English as a Second Language (ESL) course opportunities in Sumter for workers that the fellowship can direct businesses to, or a company official could learn Spanish, he said.

"What's easier, to try to have 20 employees learning English, or you as the boss taking the lead and learning Spanish so you can communicate with your employees?" Teatin said.

The fellowship can help businesses find the proper resources to help with instruction in numerous languages, not just Spanish, he added.

Given the growing multicultural society, the state Department of Education has started to offer the Seal of Biliteracy to students who become bilingual before high school graduation.

Last year, nearly 20 students at Sumter High earned the relatively new credential.

Teatin said to earn the award, many students need an international teacher to assist and "inspire them that learning a foreign language is an asset."

In today's world, graduates who are bilingual have an advantage, and it can provide better career opportunities, he added.

Teatin noted that in Europe it is common for people to speak two languages.

Sumter High Principal Anamaria Sandor said Teatin is a dynamic leader at the school and inspires those around him.

"His energy makes learning engaging as he effortlessly switches between languages," she said. "Beyond the classroom, he leads cultural events, organizes the Seal of Biliteracy program and pushes students to excel. His passion and dedication make him a role model for success."