Erin Alvis-Ruiz

I am a lecturer in the Spanish Department, both for the Basic Language Program, and for the Intermediate Language Program. I joined Penn State in 2006 and have taught a variety of courses (001, 002, 003, 200, 215, 410, and Penn State World Campus) with a diverse student population ranging from freshman to continuing education students.

I completed my B.A. in Spanish and Comparative Literature at Penn State, and then went on to complete my M.A. in Hispanic Linguistics, also at Penn State.  I have always loved languages and teaching, particularly finding a way to explain grammar to students and seeing that that “ah ha!” moment when concepts click. My goal is to promote a classroom environment where students feel comfortable speaking in Spanish and learn to improvise with the grammar and vocab that they know. I like getting students involved in interesting, real world conversations and debates to help prep them for studying abroad and using Spanish in their day-to-day lives. Outside of teaching, I enjoy translating and interpreting in a variety of fields.