I'm Michelle Orecchio, and I’m a Lecturer in the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures at the University of Michigan. I have taught Spanish at all levels in the Elementary Language Program, and I currently coordinate Spanish 277, which is a key course for students moving into the Spanish major or minor. Before this, I spent 21 years as the Spanish 101/102 Coordinator. I completed my master’s degree in foreign languages, specializing in TESOL and Peninsular Spanish Literature, at West Virginia University in 1997.
Every semester, I oversee around 600 students in Spanish 277 and support our Graduate Student Instructors and Lecturers. My teaching approach is designed for all levels and ages. I’m a versatile and intuitive teacher with special skills for working with students who learn differently. With my ESL training, I stay focused on current trends in foreign language learning, and adapting to various learning styles is one of my strengths.
I’ve been passionate about communicative teaching methods for the past 26 years, and right now, I’m focusing on redesigning courses with online platforms to make the “flipped classroom” model work better and to promote hands-on learning through real-world projects and community engagement.
I really believe in the value of global education and have had the chance to teach Spanish abroad in Argentina, Spain, and Costa Rica for the past 12 years.
I’ve also contributed to various foreign language textbook advisory boards. I’ve worked as a Spanish AP Reader and participated I’ve authored a workbook, "Visión y voz," and created supplemental materials for Spanish 101/102 and the L2 field, including self-test questions and video activities. I’ve edited textbooks and written reviews, including one for "Contraseña: Your Passport to Foundational Spanish."
