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New Spanish teacher is introduced at HCS

Laura Molero (back, left) and her family recently moved from Spain to Huntington so she could teach Spanish at Huntington Catholic School. Also featured are her husband, Alex Aumedes (back, center); and their children (back, right) Bruno Aumedes Molero, (front, from left) Alma Aumedes Molero, Juan Pablo Aumedes Molero and Mariana Aumedes Molero.
Laura Molero (back, left) and her family recently moved from Spain to Huntington so she could teach Spanish at Huntington Catholic School. Also featured are her husband, Alex Aumedes (back, center); and their children (back, right) Bruno Aumedes Molero, (front, from left) Alma Aumedes Molero, Juan Pablo Aumedes Molero and Mariana Aumedes Molero. Photo by Emily Wyatt

The Aumedes Molero family recently moved from Barcelona, Spain, to Huntington, for Laura Molero to teach Spanish at Huntington Catholic School (HCS).

Molero received her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Spain. She has been an educator for seven years, including teaching in Illinois in 2006. The rest of her teaching experience has been in Spain.

The Visiting Teacher Program made it possible for Molero and her family to come to America. The program will last three years, with the possibility of extension after those years.

HCS Principal Derek Boone says the program allows the school to choose between several different applicants. Since Molero’s family is Catholic and they wanted their children in a Catholic school, Boone says the situation was “a perfect fit for both of us.”

Molero, along with her husband, Alex Aumedes, and their children, Mariana, Alma, Juan Pablo and Bruno Aumedes Molero, arrived in the U.S. on Wednesday, July 7, and to Huntington on Monday, July 12. The school year began for HCS on Wednesday, Aug. 11.

Molero will be teaching Spanish to Pre-K3 through eighth grade. She says that teaching a foreign language to children is rewarding.

“It is beautiful to see how a child can progress,” Molero said.

Boone says that this program is beneficial so that students may be able experience cultural holidays such as Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) and Cinco de Mayo (Fifth of May). When they understand the meanings of the traditions and why they are celebrated, it helps develop “a well-rounded child.”

Now that the school year has started, Molero plans to take it “little by little” with her new students.

“They haven’t been learning Spanish too much, so we are going to take our time to go step by step and see the best way for everyone to learn,” Molero said.

She also wants her students to know that she is also learning, so she can relate to feeling shy or intimidated by learning a foreign language.

“I tell them, ‘don’t worry, you are learning and I’m also learning, so don’t feel bad about it,’” Molero said. “Because learning a foreign language is not that easy.”

Though the family—at times—had doubts about coming to the U.S., Molero says they are happy to be here.

“I feel very welcome here,” Molero continued. “Everybody is very helpful.”