My language experiences at the University of Florida began as a curriculum requirement, but blossomed into a deep passion for learning and teaching foreign languages. This passion inspired me to accept an invitation to serve in the Peace Corps. In June 2018, I will be serving as a Secondary Education English teacher in Malawi.
LANGUAGES
Deciding to study Arabic was the best decision I’ve made here at UF. I initially chose to study Arabic to fulfill the International Studies language requirement, but I quickly realized the challenges and rewards of studying non-romance language. While my other coursework was challenging, it was studying the Arabic alphabet which was most challenging and time consuming. I loved the syntax, the phonetics, the logic and culture surrounding the language which kept me motivated!
My passion for learning Arabic inspired me to study abroad through the University of Florida in Fez program. I studied Arabic four hours a day, five days a week, which expanded my vocabulary and enhanced my grammar. Having to use Arabic in everyday life improved my ability to apply my knowledge from the classroom to conversations. While I’d often make mistakes when speaking in Arabic to Moroccans, I’d always get my point across.
After returning from Morocco, I enrolled in Advanced Arabic. One of our projects for the semester was to produce a cooking show entirely in Arabic! At this point, I was already missing Moroccan food, so I decided to make a Tagine and Harira soup.
My Channel
August 2015
May 2016
In May 2017, Alachua County Libraries asked me to instruct a “Basic Arabic” course over the summer. I was nervous to teach a language I was not fluent in, but decided to try. I developed and delivered one hour lessons each week for ten weeks in total. I loved writing lessons plans, creating educational activities and helping the students succeed.
I loved teaching so much that I decided to tutor English! Through Alachua County Library’s Literacy program, I tutor English for two hours each to a Japanese professor who is visiting the United States on a scholarship. Through these tutoring sessions, I further tuned into my interests in the education field.
August 2016
May 2017
June 2017
October 2017