--- title: Tampa Prep Blog | Laura Bridges-Pereira, Spanish and French teacher description: "I knew I wanted to become a teacher in 2001 when I was living in France working as an English assistant at a French high school. More importantly, I knew that I wanted to be a teacher that made learning a language a cultural experience and not a memorization chore. Since 2001, I have been teaching either in a school, home, center, community college or at a university in France, Portugal or the United States. Through all these experiences I have noticed a common thread: all students learn through risk taking and being engaged in what they are learning. It is with these principles in mind; cultural experiences, risk-taking opportunities and opportunity for engagement, that I create my lessons and conduct my classes.\n\nMoreover, I love working with students and I love my subject. I continue not only to perfect my Spanish, French and Portuguese, but to learn more languages and continue to gain perspectives into the student language learning experience." --- [![Tampa Preparatory School](https://tampaprep.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/TampaLogo.png)](https://tampaprep.org) - [About](https://tampaprep.org/about) - [About](https://tampaprep.org/about-tampa-preparatory-school/) - [Alumni](https://tampaprep.org/about-tampa-preparatory-school/alumni/) - [Alumni Events](https://tampaprep.org/about-tampa-preparatory-school/alumni/alumni-events/) - [Alumni Resources](https://tampaprep.org/about-tampa-preparatory-school/alumni/alumni-resources/) - [Career Opportunities](https://tampaprep.org/about-tampa-preparatory-school/career-opportunities/) - [Contact Us](https://tampaprep.org/about-tampa-preparatory-school/contact-us/) - [History & Traditions](https://tampaprep.org/about-tampa-preparatory-school/history-tradition/) - [25 Things to Do Before You Graduate](https://tampaprep.org/about-tampa-preparatory-school/history-tradition/25-things-to-do-before-you-graduate/) - [Timeline](https://tampaprep.org/about-tampa-preparatory-school/history-tradition/timeline/) - [Leadership Team](https://tampaprep.org/about-tampa-preparatory-school/leadership-team/) - [Board of Trustees](https://tampaprep.org/support/board-of-trustees/) - [Meet Our Students](https://tampaprep.org/about-tampa-preparatory-school/meet-our-students-tampa-preparatory-school/) - [Mission & Values](https://tampaprep.org/about-tampa-preparatory-school/mission-values/) - [School Blog](https://blog.tampaprep.org/) - [Admissions](https://tampaprep.org/admissions) - [Begin Your Journey](https://tampaprep.org/admissions/) - [Virtual Tour](https://massinteract.com/tampa-preparatory-school/) - [Private Tours & Open House](https://tampaprep.org/admissions/admissions-events/) - [How to Apply](https://tampaprep.org/admissions/admissions-process/) - [Tuition & Financial Aid](https://tampaprep.org/admissions/tuition-financial-aid/) - [Connect with a Parent Ambassador](https://tampaprepambassadors.peerpal.app/#/) - [Academics](https://tampaprep.org/academics) - [Academics](https://tampaprep.org/academics/) - [Academic Concentrations](https://tampaprep.org/academics/academic-concentrations/) - [Academic Support](https://tampaprep.org/academics/academic-support/) - [College Counseling](https://tampaprep.org/academics/college-counseling/) - [Planning your Future at Prep](https://tampaprep.org/academics/college-counseling/planning-your-future-at-prep/) - [Standardized Testing](https://tampaprep.org/academics/college-counseling/standardized-testing/) - [Financial Aid and Scholarships](https://tampaprep.org/academics/college-counseling/financial-aid-and-scholarships/) - [Curriculum](https://tampaprep.org/academics/curriculum/) - [Arts: Digital, Performing, Visual](https://tampaprep.org/academics/the-arts/digital-perf-visual-arts/) - [Art Courses](https://tampaprep.org/academics/the-arts/art-courses/) - [Innovative Spaces](https://tampaprep.org/academics/innovative-spaces/) - [Meet Our Faculty & Staff](https://tampaprep.org/academics/meet-our-faculty-staff/) - [STEM & Virtual Reality](https://tampaprep.org/academics/stem-virtual-reality/) - [Student Life](https://tampaprep.org/student-life) - [Student Life](https://tampaprep.org/student-life/) - [Athletics](https://tampaprep.org/student-life/athletics/) - [Facilities](https://tampaprep.org/student-life/athletics/facilities/) - [Clubs & Service](https://tampaprep.org/student-life/clubs-service/) - [Go Beyond](https://tampaprep.org/student-life/go-beyond/) - [Parent Experience](https://tampaprep.org/student-life/parent-experience/) - [Summer](https://tampaprep.org/student-life/summer-camps-in-tampa/) - [Support](https://tampaprep.org/support) - [Support](https://tampaprep.org/support) - [Annual Fund](https://tampaprep.org/support/annual-fund/) - [Make a Gift](https://tampaprep.org/support/give-gift-form/) - [Day of Giving](https://tampaprep.org/support/dayofgiving/) - [Special Events](https://tampaprep.org/support/special-events/) - [Special Events](https://tampaprep.org/support/special-events/) - [Gala](https://tampaprep.org/support/special-events/gala/) - [Events](https://tampaprep.org/support) - [Calendar](https://tampaprep.org/parent-portal-welcome/calendar/) - [Special Events](https://tampaprep.org/parent-portal-welcome/special-events/) - [Alumni Events](https://tampaprep.org/about-tampa-preparatory-school/alumni/alumni-events/) - [Parent Portal](https://tampaprep.org/parent-portal-welcome/) ## Laura Bridges-Pereira, Spanish and French teacher ![Laura Bridges-Pereira, Spanish and French teacher](https://blog.tampaprep.org/hubfs/Screen%20Shot%202018-11-12%20at%201.39.39%20PM-1.png) I knew I wanted to become a teacher in 2001 when I was living in France working as an English assistant at a French high school. More importantly, I knew that I wanted to be a teacher that made learning a language a cultural experience and not a memorization chore. Since 2001, I have been teaching either in a school, home, center, community college or at a university in France, Portugal or the United States. Through all these experiences I have noticed a common thread: all students learn through risk taking and being engaged in what they are learning. It is with these principles in mind; cultural experiences, risk-taking opportunities and opportunity for engagement, that I create my lessons and conduct my classes. Moreover, I love working with students and I love my subject. I continue not only to perfect my Spanish, French and Portuguese, but to learn more languages and continue to gain perspectives into the student language learning experience. ### Recent Posts ## [Unbridled Fun with Intention!](https://blog.tampaprep.org/unbridled-fun-with-intention) Middle School may look a little messy to an outsider. Students may be running to complete a... [![Laura Bridges-Pereira, Spanish and French teacher](https://blog.tampaprep.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Screen%20Shot%202018-11-12%20at%201.39.39%20PM-1.png?width=70&height=70&name=Screen%20Shot%202018-11-12%20at%201.39.39%20PM-1.png)](https://blog.tampaprep.org/author/laura-bridges-pereira-spanish-and-french-teacher) [Laura Bridges-Pereira, Spanish and French teacher](https://blog.tampaprep.org/author/laura-bridges-pereira-spanish-and-french-teacher) February 17, 2022 [World Languages](https://blog.tampaprep.org/tag/world-languages) [Upper School](https://blog.tampaprep.org/tag/upper-school) ## [Bring the Outside In: Together but Apart](https://blog.tampaprep.org/together-but-apart) This year has been unlike any other year of my teaching career. But these challenges have brought a... [![Laura Bridges-Pereira, Spanish and French teacher](https://blog.tampaprep.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Screen%20Shot%202018-11-12%20at%201.39.39%20PM-1.png?width=70&height=70&name=Screen%20Shot%202018-11-12%20at%201.39.39%20PM-1.png)](https://blog.tampaprep.org/author/laura-bridges-pereira-spanish-and-french-teacher) [Laura Bridges-Pereira, Spanish and French teacher](https://blog.tampaprep.org/author/laura-bridges-pereira-spanish-and-french-teacher) May 13, 2021 [World Languages](https://blog.tampaprep.org/tag/world-languages) [Life Lessons](https://blog.tampaprep.org/tag/life-lessons) [Upper School](https://blog.tampaprep.org/tag/upper-school) ## [How a Foreign Exchange Student Changed My Career Path](https://blog.tampaprep.org/how-a-foreign-exchange-student-changed-my-career-path) NOTE: Tampa Prep is still looking for Upper School boys to host German exchange students October... [![Laura Bridges-Pereira, Spanish and French teacher](https://blog.tampaprep.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Screen%20Shot%202018-11-12%20at%201.39.39%20PM-1.png?width=70&height=70&name=Screen%20Shot%202018-11-12%20at%201.39.39%20PM-1.png)](https://blog.tampaprep.org/author/laura-bridges-pereira-spanish-and-french-teacher) [Laura Bridges-Pereira, Spanish and French teacher](https://blog.tampaprep.org/author/laura-bridges-pereira-spanish-and-french-teacher) September 26, 2019 [STEM / Virtual Reality](https://blog.tampaprep.org/tag/stem-virtual-reality) [Academics](https://blog.tampaprep.org/tag/academics) [Middle School](https://blog.tampaprep.org/tag/middle-school) ## [The Power of Play](https://blog.tampaprep.org/the-power-of-play) This blog was co-written by Laura Bridges-Pereira, Kerri Grosso and Kimmy Sanford, all Middle... [![Laura Bridges-Pereira, Spanish and French teacher](https://blog.tampaprep.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Screen%20Shot%202018-11-12%20at%201.39.39%20PM-1.png?width=70&height=70&name=Screen%20Shot%202018-11-12%20at%201.39.39%20PM-1.png)](https://blog.tampaprep.org/author/laura-bridges-pereira-spanish-and-french-teacher) [Laura Bridges-Pereira, Spanish and French teacher](https://blog.tampaprep.org/author/laura-bridges-pereira-spanish-and-french-teacher) May 18, 2021 [All posts](https://blog.tampaprep.org/all) [Next](https://blog.tampaprep.org/author/laura-bridges-pereira-spanish-and-french-teacher/page/2) Search ### Categories - [Life Lessons (24)](https://blog.tampaprep.org/tag/life-lessons) - [Upper School (22)](https://blog.tampaprep.org/tag/upper-school) - [Academics (15)](https://blog.tampaprep.org/tag/academics) - [Being Earnest (12)](https://blog.tampaprep.org/tag/being-earnest) - [Middle School (11)](https://blog.tampaprep.org/tag/middle-school) - [Community Service (8)](https://blog.tampaprep.org/tag/community-service) - [Academic Counseling (6)](https://blog.tampaprep.org/tag/academic-counseling) - [Alumni (5)](https://blog.tampaprep.org/tag/alumni) - [World Languages (5)](https://blog.tampaprep.org/tag/world-languages) - [Athletics (3)](https://blog.tampaprep.org/tag/athletics) - [Parenting (3)](https://blog.tampaprep.org/tag/parenting) - [STEM / Virtual Reality (3)](https://blog.tampaprep.org/tag/stem-virtual-reality) - [History & Traditions (2)](https://blog.tampaprep.org/tag/history-traditions) - [Summer (2)](https://blog.tampaprep.org/tag/summer) - [TPPA (2)](https://blog.tampaprep.org/tag/tppa) [![SUBSCRIBE TO BLOG](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/4384978/5b540678-1fdb-4f84-a91c-72cc66f5b06f.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4384978/5b540678-1fdb-4f84-a91c-72cc66f5b06f) - - - - - © 2022 Tampa Preparatory School 727 W. 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