Assignment #10 Steps in Reaching My Goal

My spring break it went by so fast, just as I had anticipated. I hardly got a chance to relax. I was babysitting my aunt’s daughter. I’ve been taking care of her since the beginning of this semester. I was also working. But I also got a chance to take some steps in reaching my goal. I completed my thirty hours of observation at a high school on Thursday March 26. I also got my TB shot on Tuesday March 24 because I need to show proper documentation of that before I hand in my student teaching application, which is due May 1. I also have to get started on that application it’s pretty lengthy. I also received my scores on March 27 from the Spanish Content area exam I took on Feb 28 I passed! I also have to set an appointment sometime this week or next week with the Director of Teaching of Spanish Dept to take the OPI exam.

Assignment #9 Role Model Interview

I’m so excited I FINALLY got the opportunity to interview someone this week. ( and she was white too) Fadia one of my team members recommended that I interview one of her former Spanish professors here at UIC, her name is Lesley Summers. Fadia got in touch with her and told her that I was interested in interviewing her. Lesley said that she would be available this Monday (yesterday at 2pm )so we meet up in UH on the second floor. The interview lasted about half an hour. I asked her how she became interested in Spanish. She told me that she grew up in the south in Memphis, Tennessee and that she did not grow up in a Hispanic family or in Hispanic community, but when she was young she was always very interested in other cultures. She was very sheltered growing up but she always had a high level of curiosity with what she was unfamiliar with. She took Spanish in high school all four years and did very well because she was highly motivated. It was also during this time that she befriended an exchange student from South America. This student came to live with her family for the school year, because of this she was able to practice her Spanish a lot more and it was during this time that she became a lot more immersed in the Spanish culture. Spanish was her passion. She was also very interested in the visual arts but decided not to pursue a career in the arts because it is not economically high valued. Instead she got her B.A in Spanish and worked in the business world for two years. She used her Spanish skills a lot in the company she was an import /export coordinator, but she was not very happy there. So she decided to go back to school and pursue masters in the teaching of Spanish. She taught for a couple of years Spanish at an elementary school with a very affluent community. She liked the students but the most difficult thing for her was having to deal with the parents. The parents always believed their child was right instead of the teacher. She says that one of the most rewarding aspects of teaching is the interaction you get from being with others and helping others. Seeing your students’ progress over time is also very rewarding. One of the greatest challenges she faced was having to teach and go to school at the same time. Three things that are very important in achieving your goal she states are your attitude. We are our own worst enemy; you can do anything you set your mind to. Secondly nothing that you want comes easily you have to work very hard. Lastly take time as a student to really plan and organize your time so that you are not overwhelmed with you goal. Do things in small increments step by step so you can see your progress and be realistic about things.
I’m glad that I got the opportunity to interview someone it felt really good. I asked Lesley after the interview if she had any people in mind that I could interview she said yes one of her friends is a Spanish teacher in Cicero. So I will interview her friend when I get back from spring break! I finally feel like I’m making some progress!

Assignment #8 Reaching Out Part II

This week I had to interview two more of my role models. Unfortunately I haven't had much luck contacting people via e-mail. I don't know why it takes them forever to respond! So what I think I'll have to do in the weeks to come is go to their office hours and actually pay them a visit. This way I will be able to sit with them and
converse with them and ask them more specific questions about how they got to where they are. Besides I feel that this form of interviewing verses email is more personal
and they will see that I am genuinely interested in pursuing a career in Spanish. By
doing this I will be able to network more. Because what I have noticed with the emails is that their responses are very brief and they aren't specific. If I interview them then I will be able to ask them more follow up questions and get them to talk more! I did however get a response from one of my former Spanish professors at UIC. Below I copied and pasted what she had to say.


Dear Vanessa:

I'll answer you the best I can:

1) I got to where I am by focusing on an area of study, where I felt I
could contribute in terms of my abilities.

2) Some of the greatest challenges have to do with managing time most
productively, and facing adversity when things don't go will, to continue
persevering, and keeping hope alive.

3)Three things I know now that I didn't know then were a)work, work, work
is very important, 2) enjoy what you choose, even if requires you to
sacrifice time in other areas 3) Broaden your horizons, stay connected to
good mentors, and friends.

4) To a student who wants to pursue a career in Spanish I would advise to stay in touch daily, if possible with Spanish,with the literature, learning new words; also, interviewing others who use Spanish as part of their profession, to understand how this background serves them in performing their jobs.

Good luck, Vanessa!


Olivia


Olivia Maciel Edelman, Ph.D.
Clinical Assistant Professor
Department of Spanish, French, Italian, and Portuguese
University of Illinois at Chicago
University Hall 1615
601 Morgan St. M/C 315
Chicago, IL 60607-7117
Phone: (312) 996-3221, Fax (312) 413-1044
Email: omaciel@uic.edu

Interview 2 Of Your Role Models

So for this homework assignment I had to interview two of my role models. This assignment was a bit difficult because I had initially picked five role models that in some way shape or form possessed qualities or characteristics that I wanted to have. However, my role models have to be people that are living the life I want to live. The reason I am having trouble with this assignment is because I don't know too many people that are living the life I want to live. I do know people that are Spanish teachers, travel the world, have a family and help others but I wouldn't necessarily say I want to live their particular life. So I had to start from scratch and decided to contact two of my Spanish Professors. I emailed both of them some questions and only one of them responded. Prof. Taboada responded I am taking Span 449 with her this semester. Prof. Edelman is a former Spanish teacher of mine I took two classes with her here at UIC. I am still waiting on her response. I figure if she doesn't email me back I'll have to find out what her office hours are and talk to her in person. Aside from those two people I don't know who else to contact. Any suggestions ProfDiva?

Below I copied and pasted the email I sent to Prof. Taboada and her response to the questions.

1. How did you get to where you are today from being a college student.

One of my professors pushed me to go to grad school here in the States. I tried working first for a year in Spain, teaching kids, but after a few months, I decided that grad school could be a nice option... and from there, I don't know... after the master's, the ph.d. came... and here I am.


2. What were some of the greatest challenges you faced as a college
student and in pursuing your career?

As a college student... I wasn't the best student in the world... I had good grades, but I would hate to have someone like myself in my class now... So I am not sure what my biggest challenge was while a college student... I guess I was lucky.
While pursuing my career, language was a hard one at the beginning. I remember in DC taking all those theoretical classes in English... Since I was always was a T.A., it was kind of hard teaching two classes and taking three... and I was all alone, with no family here...


3. What three things do you know now that you wish you would have known
when you were a college student?

-Grad school is basic to pursue a nice education career.
-You can learn so many things from a bad teacher/professor.
-You will probably not know what you want to do or be, but sometimes it is more important to know what you don't want to do or be.


4. What advice would you give a student like myself, who wants to pursue a
career in Spanish?
I'm terrible at giving advice... Just never change your career for some other that can provide a better paid job... it is more important to do what you love.



Oye, soy my mala en esto... si necesitas algo más específico... no sé, avísame...

inma


Inma Taboada
Director, Spanish and French Teacher Education Program
Department of Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese
1619 University Hall
University of Illinois at Chicago
601 S. Morgan M/C 315
Chicago, IL 60607
312-996-8774 voice
312-413-1044 fax