Mario Cruz-Zayas

Mario Cruz-Zayas is a Spanish Lecturer at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, specializing in language instruction and cultural integration. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish from the University of Washington (Seattle) and a Master’s in Spanish from UHM, focusing on language pedagogy, translation, and applied linguistics. His teaching philosophy emphasizes student motivation, engaging input methods (per linguist Stephen Krashen), and innovative classroom strategies.

• Education:
• B.A., Spanish, University of Washington, Seattle (linguistics, literature, film)
• M.A., Spanish, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (language instruction, translation, applied linguistics)

Research interests include motivation-driven language acquisition, active learning techniques, and the integration of creative arts (music/theater) into language education. He was honored as 2024 Higher Education Language Teacher of the Year by HALT and nominated for UHM’s Excellence in Teaching Award (2021). His professional development includes real-world learning design, performance-based assessments, and educational technology use.

• Awards & Recognition:
• HALT Teacher of the Year (2024)
• UHM Innovation & Impact Showcase Participant (2021, 2025)
• HALT Conference Panelist (2025, discussing cultural integration in language teaching)

Outside academia, his passion for theater and music shapes interactive classroom activities, fostering cultural understanding through creative expression. Office: Moore Hall 459 | Email: mcz@hawaii.edu.