Biography
Romina Sáez Tapia is an Instructor of Spanish in the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures at the University of Central Florida. Originally from Santiago, Chile, she brings a rich, bicultural perspective to her classrooms, having transitioned from her native country to Philadelphia before settling in Orlando.
She holds an M.A. in Spanish from the University of Central Florida and a B.A. in Spanish and Secondary Education from Temple University. Her academic interests center on cross-cultural communication and the development of inclusive pedagogy in foreign language teaching.
A strong advocate for student success and accessibility, Sáez Tapia is recognized for her commitment to using Open Educational Resources (OER), ensuring that her students have high-quality instructional materials at no cost. Beyond the classroom, she has been a featured voice on the Futures in Languages podcast, where she shares her journey as an immigrant educator and her passion for linguistic and cultural exchange.
Education
- M.A. in Spanish from University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL (2020)
- B.A. in Spanish and Secondary Education from Temple University, Philadelphia, PA (2018)
- A.A. in Secondary Education from Montgomery County Community College, PA (2016)
Research Interests
Academic & Research Interests
- Spanish Literature: Specializes in Spanish literature, having earned her M.A. in the field from the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures.
- Cross-Cultural Communication: Interested in how students form meaningful cultural connections through the study of a foreign language.
- Inclusive Pedagogy: Focused on developing teaching methods that are accessible and welcoming to diverse student populations.
- Open Educational Resources (OER): Committed to the creation and implementation of no-cost instructional materials to reduce the financial burden on students. She has actively collaborated with the UCF Digital Learning group to integrate these resources into Spanish curricula.
- Digital Learning & Technology: Interested in using interactive online platforms, such as Realizeit, to enhance student engagement and participation.
- Student Empowerment: Dedicated to helping students feel confident in their linguistic abilities and empowered to use Spanish in real-world contexts.
- Language Accessibility: Advocate for the availability of high-quality educationregardless of a student's socioeconomic status.
- Immigrant Educator Perspectives: Shares her personal journey as an immigrant from Santiago, Chile, to inform her approach to teaching and student mentorship.
Awards
Florida Virtual Campus (FLVC) Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) Champion Team Award, 2025
Courses
| Course # | Course | Title | Mode | Days/Times | Syllabus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 82432 | SPN1121C | Ele Spanish Language & Civ Ⅱ | Mixed Mode (M) | M,W 12:30 PM - 1:20 PM | Unavailable |
| 82433 | SPN1121C | Ele Spanish Language & Civ Ⅱ | Mixed Mode (M) | M,W 11:30 AM - 12:20 PM | Unavailable |
| 82184 | SPN2200 | Int Spanish Language & Civ Ⅰ | Mixed Mode (M) | M,W 2:30 PM - 3:20 PM | Unavailable |
| 82490 | SPN3300 | Adv Spanish Grammar & Comp | Mixed Mode (M) | Th 10:30 AM - 11:45 AM | Unavailable |
| Course # | Course | Title | Mode | Days/Times | Syllabus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12668 | SPN1120C | Ele Spanish Language & Civ Ⅰ | Web-Based (W) | 12:00 AM - 12:00 AM | Unavailable |
| 12669 | SPN1120C | Ele Spanish Language & Civ Ⅰ | Web-Based (W) | 12:00 AM - 12:00 AM | Unavailable |
| 12830 | SPN1120C | Ele Spanish Language & Civ Ⅰ | Web-Based (W) | 12:00 AM - 12:00 AM | Unavailable |
| 12831 | SPN1121C | Ele Spanish Language & Civ Ⅱ | Mixed Mode (M) | M,W 10:30 AM - 11:20 AM | Unavailable |
| Course # | Course | Title | Session | Mode | Days/Times | Syllabus | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 59314 | SPN1121C | Ele Spanish Language & Civ Ⅱ | B | Web-Based (W) | 12:00 AM - 12:00 AM | Syllabus | |
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SPN 1121 is the second semester of college-level Spanish. SPN 1120 or the equivalent (1 year of high-school Spanish) is the prerequisite for this. |
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