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
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Sounds like time for a brainstorm! How could you find people who are Spanish professors?
ReplyDelete1. Go to the romance language website at UIC where they have a listing of faculty names and contact information
2. Ask people you know if they know someone who is a Spanish Professor
3. Go to the department and ask if anyone currently has office hours
....
If you rely only on people that you personally know, the next few weeks will be difficult. The whole point of the exercise is to force you to contact people you DON'T already know!
Good luck and I'm sending positive energy your way!
ka