I am an instructor at Ouachita, and I teach the Introductory Spanish as well as the
Creative Writing courses.
Biography
Hola! My name is Martín Valdivia. My students call me Profe. Valdivia. I am originally
from Lima - Perú, a beautiful South American country. I started out studying special
education in Perú while teaching Sunday school classes to students with disabilities.
Once in the U.S., I completed my Bachelor’s degree in Spanish with a minor in Psychology
at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR). I have two Master’s degrees,
one from Henderson State University and one from New Mexico State University (NMSU).
I have been in Arkansas for nearly 25 years.
My wife and I have three daughters, and we enjoy traveling and learning about different
cultures. In fact, I met my wife, who is originally from Poland, at a religious conference
for catechists in Anaheim, California. When we have the chance to visit other countries,
we like to visit churches and learn about the customs and traditions of the Christians
in the area. My goal is to inspire, motivate and prepare students for future learning
endeavors. I aim to reach all students, no matter their interests, learning styles
or prior knowledge.
Q&A
Why did you come to Ouachita?
Though I have taught at many different levels (from middle school to college) and
in several districts (from Texarkana to Malvern), I have always believed that I can
have the greatest impact on students who use their language skills while visiting
other countries as missionaries and right here in Arkansas in various professional
fields. I am very enthusiastic about the opportunity to teach Spanish here at Ouachita
because I know that its students present a great opportunity for increasing multicultural
awareness in our communities and beyond. I have specifically chosen Ouachita because
while working at Arkadelphia High School, I heard students talking about various universities
they would like to attend and Ouachita frequently came up in conversations with them
and their parents. It is not only an excellent university, but one filled with those
who put God at the center of their lives and share His love with everybody.
Why did you decide to become a professor?
I spent a year as a Spanish Instructor at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock
early on in my career, and I never forgot the impact I was able to have on those who
wanted to use this knowledge in their fields to reach and help as many people as possible.
For example, a nurse who can soothe a worried family that mostly speaks Spanish is
fulfilling the instructions from Christ himself when He said to take care of those
who are suffering. I would like to continue my career as a Spanish instructor because
I feel I am able to make a lasting and meaningful impact on students’ pursuit of learning
a foreign language. In addition, I am passionate about helping others discover and
better understand the unique traditions of Hispanic cultures. As an example, each
year, I used to organize the “International Day,” which allows students and community
members with ties to different countries to showcase their traditions, food, and music.
Why is your subject an important one in our world?
Many of the approaches I use in education come from my experiences as a Christian.
I want my students to be kind to each other, so I show them kindness. I want them
to treat each other with respect, so I treat them with respect. I want to show students
that they should think about their futures as full of possibilities and purpose. My
purpose is to show them that other cultures are filled with insights they can learn
from and traditions they can embrace. The idea of being of service and helping others
is at the core of my teaching, and to do these things using each person’s native language
is especially impactful. That is why all of us should strive to learn foreign languages
and explore as much as we can about other countries.
What do you want future students to know about your degree program?
A Spanish degree opens many doors in various fields. From teaching to translating
and studying linguistics and diplomacy, students can apply their knowledge here in
the U.S. or abroad. As a minor, it can be useful to students when looking for jobs
because it helps them stand out as applicants who are able to communicate with a greater
number of people. In addition, learning about other cultures helps students relate
to those with different perspectives and makes them more open to helping others. Finally,
knowing a foreign language is essential when traveling and going on missions.
What do you like to do in your free time?
In my free time, I love to spend time with my family playing games and sports. I also
enjoy coaching soccer and teaching religion classes at my church. We also love to
travel, especially to visit our families in different countries.
What has been a meaningful Bible verse or passage for you?
"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of
your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good,
pleasing and perfect will." This passage is so important in our pursuit of an education.
We must remember to keep our minds and hearts open to challenging new ideas and endless
possibilities. When we are closed to new experiences and people who are different
from us, we often find that learning becomes more difficult.
