Bettina Hoops

Educational Studies

SCHOOL OF EDUCATION

610 E. UNIVERSITY AVE., ROOM 1228

ANN ARBOR, MI 48109
(734) 882 7143
hoopsbe@umich.edu
April 8, 2018

I am writing on behalf of Emily Konkel who has been a teaching intern in the University of
Michigan’s Secondary Undergraduate Teacher Education Program in which I serve as a lecturer and field
instructor. I know Emily since September of 2017. The student teaching experience is divided into three
semesters, Practicum I, Practicum II and Student Teaching. I have known Emily since she started to be a
Teaching Intern in Practicum II at Forsythe Middle School, Ann Arbor. When Emily began, her enthusiastic
and professional demeanor was remarkable. Emily proceeded to do her student teaching at Community
High School, Ann Arbor in the winter semester of 2018. She continued to impress me by her thorough and
diligent approach to teaching.

Emily has a very good command of the Spanish language. She spent two months at the University
of Michigan Study Abroad Program in Santiago de Compostela in Spain. She intends to return to Spain this
coming June to improve her Spanish skills even further. Emily has learned to keep the Spanish she uses in
her teaching comprehensible and is able to use the target language 90-95% of the time. This corresponds to
the goal of our World Language Teacher Education Program at the University of Michigan. We aim to
follow the ACTFL standard of 90% target language use in the classroom. Emily is also interested in and
knowledgeable about the culture of Spanish speaking countries. She includes aspects of it in every lesson
thus helping students to widen their worldview and to achieve a global mindset as outlined in her philosophy
of teaching.

I was able to witness Emily’s developing teaching skills in five formal observations I conducted in
the fall, and winter terms. Already in the fall semester, Emily created very detailed lessons based on content
prescribed by her mentor teacher. When she became responsible for her own classes at Community High
School, she taught Spanish 2 and Spanish 4 in the winter semester, it only took a few more steps before
Emily independently created highly organized lesson plans. Emily strives to create activities that are varied
and aim for students to practice all language skills. Her lessons are based on the ACTFL World Readiness
Standards for Learning Languages. Emily’s enthusiastic, warm and caring interaction with her students make
them feel respected and welcome, thus instilling a heightened interest for learning. Seeing Emily as a positive
role model encourages students to develop a love for the subject matter while overcoming difficulties that
might produce themselves along the way. Emily is willing to work with students on an individual basis.

Emily likes to use educational technology on a regular basis but does not rely on it solely. She is also
able to teach a good lesson with a minimum of resources. She has been using multiple strategies in her
teaching such as teacher centered instruction, pair work and individual work.

Letter of Recommendation for Emily Konkel

 –2– April 8, 2018

It has been a great pleasure working with Emily. She is incredibly diligent and professional. She is
passionate about teaching and holds herself and her students to high standards. I am truly convinced that
Emily will be a great asset to any school district that employs her. It is my honor to highly recommend
Emily Konkel for a teaching position in your school.

Sincerely,

Bettina Hoops
Lecturer and Field Instructor
School of Education
University of Michigan

Letter of Recommendation for Emily Konkel