Thump-thump. The sound of tennis balls echoes through the court as students rush to hit them over the net.
The constant back and forth is a rhythm new tennis coach Eric Jaworski has heard before. Every single day, he hears that same rhythm in ongoing Spanish conversation between students, the beat of salsa in his ballroom dancing club and also the tennis court.
“I’ve known Sr. Jaworski since the beginning of my sophomore year at Ocean Lakes (OL). Having him as my AP Spanish teacher is a wonderful experience,” sophomore tennis player Kamie Santos said. “I think Sr. Jaworski is a person that is always willing to put 100% in his work. Even with barely any coaching experience, Sr. Jaworski stepped up and went out of his comfort zone to coach our team this year, which I am truly grateful for.”
Jaworski is also a plankholder at OL, meaning that he has worked there since the school was founded in 1994. However, his love for learning languages began much earlier than his enthusiasm for teaching.
“My first passion was music, and as a child, my parents hoped I would one day be a concert pianist,” Jaworski said. “But somewhere along the way, I discovered another kind of music: the music of language and culture. I grew up hearing my grandmother speak Polish, my mother’s best friend speak Italian and my childhood friend’s mother speak Spanish—each of them was a beautiful, unique melody.”
After learning Spanish in middle school, he immediately felt a connection to the study of languages. Finally, after a trip to Spain, he discovered that languages and culture are not separate entities, but instead one force, that acts as a powerful orchestral symphony.
“Sr. Jaworski’s classroom experience is different in that it immerses you in another language and culture,” sophomore Rohan Sagar said. “When you walk through the door into the classroom, you will rarely hear English, as the students are being trained to be able to communicate effectively in Spanish without help from their generally more extensive knowledge of English.”
Jaworski is the Advanced Placement Spanish teacher and the Department Chair of World Languages at OL. By incorporating cultural music, dance, proverbs and sayings into his classroom, he provides students with an authentic spanish-learning experience.
Beyond the classroom, Jaworski also participates in many extracurricular activities. He not only plays piano, but also ballroom dances. At OL, he furthers this hobby by sponsoring the Ballroom Dance Club.
“Jaworski definitely brings a special kind of energy to the club,” senior and three year-long Ballroom Dance club member Evan Garbaczyk said.
Jaworski has won several awards because of his ingenuity while teaching new languages, including the FLAVA World Language Teacher of the Year representing Virginia at the Northeast Conference of Foreign Languages (NECTFL) and 2019 NECTFL Teacher of the Year Finalist.
“I became more active with FLAVA after winning the Virginia World Languages Teacher of the Year award in 2018,” Jaworski said. “Ironically, winning the award actually made me realize areas in which I still need to grow. It’s a humbling experience to be recognized by peers, but it also served as a reminder that even as educators; we are all lifelong learners.”
Through this realization, Sr. Jaworski continuously strives to allow students to grow to their fullest potential.
“I believe that true education comes when we can communicate deeply with others, and learning their language allows us to understand their worldview,” Jaworski said. “The world needs us to connect and communicate, because no matter what field of study one pursues, language opens the door to endless possibilities and solutions.”
Naima • Mar 21, 2025 at 9:58 am
I LOVE THIS ARTICLE !