What is your current position/role?
I am a Core Lecturer and the supervisor for S105 (First-Year Intensive Spanish) in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese at Indiana University.
What is your experience with IUHPFL?
This will be my fourth summer with IUHPFL:
- 2017 - Viña del Mar, Chile; Grammar; Student Coordinator
- 2018 - Viña del Mar, Chile; Grammar; Student Coordinator
- 2024 - Ciudad Real, Spain; Linguistics; Student/Finances Coordinator
- 2025 - Ciudad Real, Spain; Community Engagement; Administrative Coordinator
What got you interested in teaching with IUHPFL and what are you most excited for?
I studied abroad for the first time when I was 19 (in Concepción, Chile) during my undergraduate studies, and it was one of the most impactful experiences of my life and shaped my future. It shaped how I saw myself in multiple ways: I could be confident in my abilities not only as a language learner, but in being able to figure out challenges; I actually was social (and not shy) and could engage with people; and it inspired me to explore new places, try new foods, and experience new ways of thinking and living. It also led me to pursue my graduate studies in teaching Spanish and eventually becoming a university Spanish instructor.
It shaped how I viewed my country and the world overall. It got me outside of my familiar "bubble" of the US, showed me different ways of thinking and different values, and allowed me to choose what was important to my life going forward. Family and connections were very important to the Chilean culture in multiple ways, as well as the idea of "working to live, not living to work." I was a really perfectionistic person that only saw my work as a source of identity and purpose, and my experience there changed that.
All of this to say, my first study abroad experience was extremely impactful in who I am today, and I love being able to give that experience to others during such a formative part of their lives and to relive the excitement and wonder through their eyes. It's an absolute privilege. And often, these students end up going to IU and I get to see what kind of adults they end up becoming. It's incredibly fulfilling. In particular, it was fulfilling that my first experience with IUHPFL was in Chile as well.
This year, I'm excited as the Community Engagement instructor to dive deeper into our excursions and community experiences with my students. I believe that the more you know beforehand, the more you can notice and appreciate the finer details of each experience.
What is most challenging about teaching with IUHPFL?
The interpersonal aspect of IUHPFL can be challenging at times. Studying abroad and committing to speaking the target language can push you to your limits, and it is both exciting and stressful. Because you spend so much time with a group of people in an intense environment, conflicts can arise between people. It is not necessarily a bad thing because you grow because of it, but going through the process can be uncomfortable. However, it also means that you form intense bonds with your group of people and they become a second family when you're abroad.
If you could describe your IUHPFL experiences so far in three words, what would they be?
Growth, openness, and discovery
What goals do you have for yourself and/or for your students this summer?
My goals for my students are to develop a close bond with all members of our group, not just a small clique, and to let go of the perfectionism that these students often have. My goal for myself is to have a better work/life balance during the program, to immerse myself more in local summer events now that I'm more familiar with Ciudad Real as a city, and to finally finish reading Don Quixote. 🙂
