Adelmar Ramirez, Ph.D
Visiting Assistant Professor at Hood College, Researcher & Poet
Adelmar Ramirez, Ph.D
About Me
I have experience teaching Spanish at all proficiency levels, as well as Latin American histories and cultures. I have degrees in Psychology and Creative Writing from the University of Texas at El Paso and a Master's in Hispanic Studies from UCLA.
I grew up in the border town Ciudad Juárez, México, where I developed an interest in the representation of violence in fiction and poetry. As I studied marginalized local news reports from the history of Juárez, I discovered the links between even the most benign stories and the patterns of violence that surrounded them. My book, Fuera de temporada (Out of Season) (2017), is a reflection of my experience living in the borderland.
I am passionate about teaching, and my background in psychology informs my approach to classroom instruction; in structuring every course, I consider the essential principles of behavior that shape human learning. Psychology also helps me use measurements and assessments to determine what students know and how far and how fast they have progressed. I constantly strive to build upon these learnings to provide the best educational opportunities to every student.
What I Do
Testimonials
I really enjoyed Adelmar's section! He expanded on what the professor spoke about without going completely off-topic. Sometimes the readings from week to week felt kind of disjointed, so I appreciate that he gave us background on the literary movements and historical events of the time which helped tie things together and find themes between different authors and time periods. I could tell he is super passionate about the subject material and I felt like he truly cared about us and our learning.
Adelmar was definitely one of the best TA's I've had throughout my years at UCLA. He is very knowledgeable and passionate about literature. He is able to explain different concepts and break down texts with ease. We, as students, oftentimes fell short at reciprocating the interest and enthusiasm he had but nevertheless, he always had an informative presentation and positive attitude to receive us the next section. He is great!
Adelmar was a phenomenal T.A. He was organized, clear with explanations, and very obviously dedicated to making this course enjoyable for the students. He always encouraged us to use Spanish as often as possible and integrated our learning with cultural activities throughout the city. His passion and love for this course and his students is undeniable. I owe my amazing experience abroad to Adelmar. Without him, this experience would not been the same. He is understanding, patient, and cares for all of the students safety and learning. I've never had such a dedicated teacher in my past 3 years at UCLA!