My name is Ms. Hinke and I have been a teacher of English as Second language (ELL) and Spanish here at Humboldt since 1999. Although I have taught Spansih and ELL for many years, this year, I am teaching ELL only.  Besides a Bachelor of Science in Spanish Education I have a lisensure in ELL and a Master of Arts in Speech/Communication. 

My favorite hobbies are walking, reading and traveling.  I love walking downtown St Paul every week, as well as walking around cities when I travel.  Last year, I spent five weeks walking around Cartagena and Bogota, Colombia. 

I love to read everyday.  I read voraciously; not only newspapers and magazines, but books as well.  This summer I read three books by Garcia Marquez in Spanish and one in English.  I also have a raft of history books and novels on my bed stand.  I'm never without a book.  Recently, I read a number of books by Jane Austen and one about Magellan's trip around the world. 

One of my favorite hobbies is to travel and I take a trip every summer.  In the last few years, I've visited Colombia, Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and Spain.  When I go to a Spanish speaking country, I live with a family for weeks and attend language school to improve my Spanish.  I have studied Spanish in Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Bolivia, Spain and Colombia.  I have also lived in both Bolivia and Germany. 

I feel very lucky to be teaching at Humboldt.  We have a creative, academic, and supportive teaching staff.  In addition, we have interesting students from a variety of differnt cultures who are eager to learn.