Shambhu Sharan
Issue date: 2/9/09
The Lone Star Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences honored Brookhaven College Spanish professor Rebecca Garcia Oct. 18, 2008.
Garcia worked from 1996 until 2004 with “Nuevos Amigos,” an elementary distance learning Spanish program. Garcia worked with Dallas Schools Television for eight years.
“‘Nuevos Amigos’ means new friends,” Garcia said. “When you speak other languages you make new friends,” she said.
Garcia said the program was started at kindergarten level and was designed to teach Spanish to children using puppets, graphics and songs.
Rebecca Garcia was born in San Antonio. Although Spanish was her first language, she grew up speaking both Spanish and English. She said she liked Mexican folkloric and flamenco Spanish dances since a young age.
Garcia graduated from Ellis High School and received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Texas Christian University. She obtained degrees in Spanish and fashion merchandising and minored in marketing. She then obtained a Master of Spanish Literature at Texas A&M University Commerce.
She said she came to Dallas and worked with Neiman Marcus, a specialty store, for four years. She said she felt empty inside because she was not doing much for society while she was working there.
Garcia said because her mother inspired her to become a teacher, she obtained an alternative certification degree through the Dallas Independent School District and taught bilingual kindergarten and first grade children from 1989-96. She then worked two years out of the district.
“It took 10 years to complete the work,” Garcia said. “It was completed in 2007. We were doing the work no other school district was doing.”
Brookhaven English professor Andrea Chaney’s daughter Cleo Chaney, 5, is in kindergarten at Harry Stone Montessori Academy in DISD. She watches Garcia’s “Nuevos Amigos” program at her school.
“I like it because it is fun,” Cleo said. “I watch it in my classroom. Professor Garcia is a good lady. She teaches us Español. Ms. Mitsu, my teacher introduced me to the Spanish program.”
“Nuevos Amigos” is based on moral teachings and skills Garcia said she learned while working at DISD.
Garcia said the kindergarten and first grade programs are based on two stories: “The Princess and the Pea” and “The Tortoise and the Hare.” The second and third grade program is based on the curriculum.
“We try to teach them [students] manners and how to be good in sports,” Garcia said. “We try to use puppets and graphics to make it fun.”
Garcia said the award was a wonderful surprise. They were competing against professionals.
She said she uses the same strategies at Brookhaven.
“I treat my students like my children,” she said. “I want to see them doing well in their lives.”
A former employer of Garcia, Vicky Probeck, said she had a very good experience working with Garcia.
Probeck, DSTV distance learning coordinator, said Garcia did a wonderful job.
“Students loved her,” Probeck said. “They danced with her. Rebecca was a great teacher. We miss her. … She was our sweetheart, and we loved her.”
DISD-produced television program, “Nuevos Amigos,” won the first Lone Star Emmy Award in the category of children/youth/teen.
“It was a big honor for us to get the award,” Probeck said. “DISD got recognition. That is a big achievement,” she said.
Students throughout the school district learned to speak Spanish by watching “Nuevos Amigos,” which is hosted by Garcia and an array of wacky puppets. The program airs on DSTV channel 98.