Lindsay Stomp recalls logging into the first session of her German-language class at La Cueva High School during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Stomp, now a senior, said she saw teacher Cathy Gamble speaking fluently in the language and “thought I was in the wrong class.”
She wasn’t, though the pace of the class might have suggested it was an advanced session. Stomp and several of her peers have lauded Gamble’s teaching style as simultaneously immersive, well-paced for learning and focused on the real world.
Gamble has been named state Language Teacher of the Year by the New Mexico Organization of Language Educators (NMOLÉ).
‘Rock star’
“She’s a rock star for us,” La Cueva Principal Dana Lee said. “Her reputation for German instruction is known throughout the community.”
Senior Griffin Probasco said that Gamble’s hands-on methods promote better learning among her students.
“I think she teaches the class how she would want to be taught,” he added.
Gamble, from Alamogordo, has been teaching for about a quarter-century, including a few years in Southern California. She began her career as an English teacher at Jackson Middle School, saying she wanted to “show kids the cool literature.” Gamble began teaching German at La Cueva in 2014.
Her association with the language began when she was studying at the University of New Mexico. She later challenged herself to get better at it and took a summer immersion program at UNM.
Expertise and opportunities
Gamble said that while her students consistently pass the AP exam, her goal in teaching is beyond that.
“I am more likely to be preparing students for life,” Gamble said. “On the streets of Berlin, no one is going to have a multiple-choice test. What I focus on is communication and understanding and being able to express (themselves) in writing or speaking, because I feel these are practical skills.”
Gamble said that learning another language is almost like learning another identity, or a new way of using one’s brains. She said she’s pleased that students are able to, over the course of a semester, go from knowing no German to having conversations in the language about things that are important to them.
“It excites me, just to listen to these kids, just speaking in another language,” Gamble said. “It never gets old, and it never loses that sense that you’re witnessing a miracle.”
She said that knowing the language has meant expanded opportunities for some students, citing a former student now attending a German military university and another working as a project manager in Germany.
Gamble said that instilling a growth mindset in the students and believing in their capabilities is important.
“Really giving them the gift of believing in them, I think, is one of the most amazing things that teachers do,” she said. “And I think you know, we could all use a little boost of someone believing in us.”
All kinds of students
Gamble said that many students are inspired to take her classes because they have family in Germany or from German-speaking countries.
She said that occasionally, a native German speaker will enroll in one of her advanced classes, typically searching for an easy A. Gamble said she gives those students the job of helping the others learn about updates to the language, particularly as it is spoken by youth.
Senior Aditya Koushik said that a family trip to Bonn, Germany when he was in eighth grade led to his interest in the language. He said he expected to be confused when he got into the class, but that Gamble’s teaching, which includes lots of group discussions and various socializing activities, put him at ease.
“You start learning the language without realizing it,” he said.
Senior Emily Wang said that her interest in the class was sparked by a visit to Gamble’s booth at an eighth-grade “rally night,” designed to inform future freshmen of elective offerings at La Cueva. The booth was interactive and Gamble seemed to connect with students, she said.
Wang said that the class has exceeded her expectations, as Gamble’s passion for teaching and enthusiasm ensure that students are always ready to learn.
Lee said that Gamble is a key part of the school’s professional development efforts and is well-respected by her peers.
‘It’s not just me’
Gamble said her first thought after learning that she was named Language Teacher of the Year was that a lot of other people deserved the award.
“There are so many teachers who are doing amazing work,” Gamble said. “I am so appreciative that I was gifted this honor.”
Gamble used congratulations from other teachers to let them know how she felt about their work.
“I said, ‘this is not just me,’” she recalled. “‘I get the spotlight right now, but all of us are doing amazing work. I wish we could all be recognized.’”