The Spanish-Speaking World
I have been studying Spanish since 2003, when I was a freshman at Eisenhower High School. I begrudgingly signed up to please my mother, but finally realized I loved the language when I was a junior, thanks to a particularly inspiring teacher, Señora Lori Hammen. During my time at Marquette University I continued studying the language and was able to not only visit several Spanish-speaking countries, but also study abroad in Madrid, Spain and Quito, Ecuador. After graduation, in 2013, I spent eleven months in Argentina and was also able to visit Bolivia, Perú, and Chile.
As a result of my studies and my time spent immersed in the Spanish-speaking world, I achieved Advanced-Mid on the ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) in 2010. I also achieved Level C1 (Effective Operational Proficiency) on the Diploma de Español como Lengua Extranjera (DELE), an exam by Instituto Cervantes, in 2013.
As a result of my studies and my time spent immersed in the Spanish-speaking world, I achieved Advanced-Mid on the ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) in 2010. I also achieved Level C1 (Effective Operational Proficiency) on the Diploma de Español como Lengua Extranjera (DELE), an exam by Instituto Cervantes, in 2013.
Costa Rica & Puerto Rico
In April 2009, I chaperoned a high school trip to Costa Rica and acted as a translator as well. This was the first time I had ever been to a Spanish-speaking country and I immediately fell in love with the culture and experience. That same summer, my family took a vacation to Puerto Rico and I was proud to show off my increasing language skills to my mom. I finally started to feel confident in my Spanish-speaking abilities.
Spain
In January 2010 I set off for Madrid, Spain as part of the Marquette En Madrid Study Abroad Program. For six months I lived with a Spanish host family, made Spanish friends, and enrolled in courses at La Universidad Complutense. I directly enrolled in the Facultad de Educación and took Education courses with Spanish classmates. I also traveled to a number of Spanish cities and towns including Toledo, Barcelona, Valencia, Córdoba, Granada, Sevilla and Oviedo. I became completely immersed in the Spanish language and culture and fell in love with Spain.
Guatemala
The next summer, in 2011, I had the opportunity to travel to both Guatemala and Ecuador. In Guatemala, I worked as a translator for the Marquette Chapter of Engineers Without Borders. We spent two weeks working on an electrification project in the indigenous community of La Nueva Providencia, located about 20 minutes from San Lucas Tolimán, El Lago de Atitlán.
Ecuador
Later that summer I travelled to Quito, Ecuador with a scholarship from Sigma Delta Pi, the Spanish Honor Society. For nearly two months I lived with a quiteño host family, studied Latin American Literature and Indigenous Cultures at the Academia Latinoamericana de Español. As a part of the indigenous cultures course, I was able to experience the Inti Raymi (Summer Solstice) celebration in Otavalo, a day at the Saquisilí market, an indigenous medicine ceremony in Cotacachi, an offering to the Gods at Lago Cuicocha, and a week in the Amazonian jungle. All of these experiences are invaluable when it comes to teaching about a country or a culture.
Argentina
I am honored to represent Rotary International District 6270, and especially the Rotary Club of Milwaukee, as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar (now a Global Grant Scholarship). During my eleven months as a Rotary Scholar, I attended weekly meetings of the Rotary Club Valle de Lerma in Salta, Argentina (District 4835). I also did cultural presentations about the USA and my experience in Argentina at a number of Rotary Clubs throughout Salta, Jujuy, Tucumán, and Santiago del Estero. In Salta, I was pursuing my Master's Degree in Ciencias del Lenguaje at the Universidad Nacional de Salta, taking Portuguese and Quechua language courses, volunteering at Instituto Franklin, and teaching English at Colegio Santa María, the only IB high school in Salta. Within Argentina I went to Buenos Aires, Jujuy, La Quebrada de Humahuaca, Cafayate, Cachi, Santiago del Estero, Tucumán, Córdoba, Mendoza, Puerto Madryn, El Calafate and Iguazú. I have all master's courses completed and am just working on completing my thesis at this time.
Bolivia & Perú
During my eleven months in Argentina, I had the opportunity to travel to Bolivia and Perú over my semester break in July. I was able to visit many cities including Villazón, Uyuni, Cochabamba, La Paz, and Copacabana in Bolivia. In Perú, I visited the Uros Islands on Lake Titicaca, Arequipa, Cuzco, Machu Picchu, and Lima. I also tied in my Rotary duties to the trip and was able to do presentations in both Bolivia and Perú and meet Rotarians in Cochabamba, Arequipa, and La Paz. Being able to experience other cultures other nations helped me gain a stronger appreciation for the diversity that the Spanish-speaking world brings.
Chile
At the end of my time in Argentina, I took a trip to Chile and was able to visit Santiago, Valparaíso, and Viña del Mar. Chile offers a unique cultural experience because Chile is very different from every other nation in South America. I was fascinated by not only the culture, but the linguistic differences between Argentina and Chile.
In April 2009, I chaperoned a high school trip to Costa Rica and acted as a translator as well. This was the first time I had ever been to a Spanish-speaking country and I immediately fell in love with the culture and experience. That same summer, my family took a vacation to Puerto Rico and I was proud to show off my increasing language skills to my mom. I finally started to feel confident in my Spanish-speaking abilities.
Spain
In January 2010 I set off for Madrid, Spain as part of the Marquette En Madrid Study Abroad Program. For six months I lived with a Spanish host family, made Spanish friends, and enrolled in courses at La Universidad Complutense. I directly enrolled in the Facultad de Educación and took Education courses with Spanish classmates. I also traveled to a number of Spanish cities and towns including Toledo, Barcelona, Valencia, Córdoba, Granada, Sevilla and Oviedo. I became completely immersed in the Spanish language and culture and fell in love with Spain.
Guatemala
The next summer, in 2011, I had the opportunity to travel to both Guatemala and Ecuador. In Guatemala, I worked as a translator for the Marquette Chapter of Engineers Without Borders. We spent two weeks working on an electrification project in the indigenous community of La Nueva Providencia, located about 20 minutes from San Lucas Tolimán, El Lago de Atitlán.
Ecuador
Later that summer I travelled to Quito, Ecuador with a scholarship from Sigma Delta Pi, the Spanish Honor Society. For nearly two months I lived with a quiteño host family, studied Latin American Literature and Indigenous Cultures at the Academia Latinoamericana de Español. As a part of the indigenous cultures course, I was able to experience the Inti Raymi (Summer Solstice) celebration in Otavalo, a day at the Saquisilí market, an indigenous medicine ceremony in Cotacachi, an offering to the Gods at Lago Cuicocha, and a week in the Amazonian jungle. All of these experiences are invaluable when it comes to teaching about a country or a culture.
Argentina
I am honored to represent Rotary International District 6270, and especially the Rotary Club of Milwaukee, as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar (now a Global Grant Scholarship). During my eleven months as a Rotary Scholar, I attended weekly meetings of the Rotary Club Valle de Lerma in Salta, Argentina (District 4835). I also did cultural presentations about the USA and my experience in Argentina at a number of Rotary Clubs throughout Salta, Jujuy, Tucumán, and Santiago del Estero. In Salta, I was pursuing my Master's Degree in Ciencias del Lenguaje at the Universidad Nacional de Salta, taking Portuguese and Quechua language courses, volunteering at Instituto Franklin, and teaching English at Colegio Santa María, the only IB high school in Salta. Within Argentina I went to Buenos Aires, Jujuy, La Quebrada de Humahuaca, Cafayate, Cachi, Santiago del Estero, Tucumán, Córdoba, Mendoza, Puerto Madryn, El Calafate and Iguazú. I have all master's courses completed and am just working on completing my thesis at this time.
Bolivia & Perú
During my eleven months in Argentina, I had the opportunity to travel to Bolivia and Perú over my semester break in July. I was able to visit many cities including Villazón, Uyuni, Cochabamba, La Paz, and Copacabana in Bolivia. In Perú, I visited the Uros Islands on Lake Titicaca, Arequipa, Cuzco, Machu Picchu, and Lima. I also tied in my Rotary duties to the trip and was able to do presentations in both Bolivia and Perú and meet Rotarians in Cochabamba, Arequipa, and La Paz. Being able to experience other cultures other nations helped me gain a stronger appreciation for the diversity that the Spanish-speaking world brings.
Chile
At the end of my time in Argentina, I took a trip to Chile and was able to visit Santiago, Valparaíso, and Viña del Mar. Chile offers a unique cultural experience because Chile is very different from every other nation in South America. I was fascinated by not only the culture, but the linguistic differences between Argentina and Chile.
I am very passionate about photography and displaying my photos in the classroom. For some of my favorite photos from my travels in the Spanish-Speaking world, see below. At the very bottom there is a map with all of the places I have been and lived. These experiences have helped me become a much stronger teacher because I am constantly able to call on cultural experiences and tie them into every unit.