Teaching

I will be teaching Advanced Spanish Composition and Introduction to Latin American Literature at UCLA as an Assistant Adjunct Professor during the AY 2023-2024. 

I have experience leading discussion sessions in general literature and culture courses – Iberian Civilization and Brazil and the Portuguese-Speaking World – as well as teaching every language course in the lower division program of both Spanish and Portuguese. 

Having participated in two EPIC (Excellence in Pedagogy and Innovative Classrooms) Seminars, worked in summer abroad intensive programs (Mérida, Mexico, 2019 and Granada, Spain, 2017) and taught Spanish for heritage speakers as part of a pioneer language program, provided me with essential pedagogical skills to address the needs of a diverse student body. 

Throughout my tenure, supervisors, students and colleagues have consistently recognized my commitment to excellence in teaching. In 2021-2022 I was awarded TA of the Year by the UCLA Department of Spanish and Portuguese and in 2018-2019 I served as a TA Representative for the Spanish and Portuguese Graduate Student Association.

I mentored undergraduate students through +100 individual research paper projects and +20 applications to postgraduate programs in academia, law, and medicine. Their positive teaching evaluations reflect the inclussive and intellectually challenging learning spaces I work to foster. 

Selected course evaluations quotes

  • Span 7A
    I am most definitely not a fan of participation, especially in a small class, but I really liked the way Isaac structured the class. I felt his transition to online course to be the smoothest out of all my classes this quarter and I appreciated it. I really was excited to improve my Spanish skills and I think Isaac's teaching abilities really helped me. I felt he had great communication skills regarding course assignments as he always answered emails and sent out informatory emails, as well as taking any suggestions from students on what we should practice in class. He was an understanding professor who cared about us personally and had a great response to the current political climate.
    Span 7A
    Intermediate Spanish for Heritage Speakers – Spring 2020
  • Port 46
    The course was designed in an interesting manner. I didn’t realize a TA would put so much input and thought into the actual course. It felt like the course was created and executed by the both of you rather than just the professor delegating busy work to the TAs (which happens quite a bit). I really liked the course despite not being anything close to a humanities major. I’m interested in taking more related courses, related to Brazil or not. Thanks.
    Port 46
    Brazil and the Portuguese Speaking World– Fall 2018
  • PORT 46:
    Isaac was an excellent TA. He really delved into the concepts covered in class and helped us prepare for the quizzes. He gave us detailed feedback on our assignments so that we could implement that in other courses. Isaac is highly knowledgeable and it was fun interacting with him. Definitely one of the nicest TAs I have had at UCLA.
    PORT 46:
    Brazil and the Portuguese Speaking World – Fall 2018
  • SPAN 2
    I dreaded taking this class. I am horrible at other languages. I never learned grammar, tenses, sentence structure, etc. in the schools I attended, so it is difficult for me to comprehend the grammar structure […]. So, I was stressed about this course. But, Professor Gimenez was very patient and he addressed everyone at the level they were at. He was complimentary of my efforts, and I really appreciated that. He made a class that I dreaded into one that I really enjoyed. I loved learning about the various cultural aspects. Professor Gimenez is a superb instructor. I got so much out of this class. Now I hope Span. 3 in Summer Session C gives me the same experience. It was a great class.
    SPAN 2
    Asynchronous intensive intermediate Spanish – Summer 2022