Learning the meaning of teaching
A mix of Spanish and English chatter spills into the hallway from room 7212. Looking inside, Dr. Alfredo Pastor sits at his desk, directing both his online and in-person students through a discussion in Spanish. While COVID-19 has affected Dr. Pastor’s teaching style, requiring him to find new ways to include his online students in the lively in-class discussions, he hasn’t let that change how he feels about teaching.
“I was always interested in teaching, you know, since I was a kid in high school I- I thought that it would be my best job,” Dr. Pastor said. “I think teaching is, you know, a professional activity where you can give, where you can share, and I’ve always been into that. It’s a job that’s very meaningful to me.”
Raised in Spain, Dr. Pastor moved to the US in 1997, where he had to learn English and adapt to American culture. “It was hard to adjust to the American lifestyle,” Dr. Pastor recalled. “Even though we live in South Florida, where there’s a lot of things in common with Spain because of the Latin population, the lifestyle is different. Spain is a social country; life is on the street and you spend time with everyone. Here in America, life is in the house, you stay separated.”
While Dr. Pastor has lived in America for over two decades now, he still keeps in touch with his high school friends, explaining that Spanish culture puts emphasis on cultivating close friendships. Also during his days in Spain, he played soccer, a passion that continues to this day. When not in the classroom, Dr. Pastor enjoys literature, theater and movies, but has recently gotten interested in nature. “I like to plant, I’m planting oak trees,” Dr. Pastor said. “I try to explore different things.”
Despite the many differences between Spain and America, Dr. Pastor finds American Heritage to be a very welcoming environment. “When I came for the job interview and I saw how diverse the campus was, I thought, ‘This is my place; this is where I want to teach,’” Dr. Pastor said. “I love diversity; I think it’s [how] you really learn, when you are surrounded by different people.”
Overall, Dr. Pastor can’t imagine working anywhere else. “I have a great family; I have a job I love,” explained Dr. Pastor. “You know, we ask for so much, but there are simple things that- they actually are what makes us happy, in the end.”
