Alba Adell, a Fulbright Scholar from Balencia, Spain, has joined the staff at Davis & Elkins College as a foreign language teaching assistant for the 2012-2013 school year.
As a participant in the Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant program, Adell instructs two Spanish classes – one for beginners and another where she assists in “polishing” skills, she says. Although Adell has taught at larger institutions, she says the small classes at D&E have provided the most rewarding experiences.
“I used to teach at a big university with a class of 90 students, and it was very difficult to have a discussion or dialogue,” she notes. “Here I have 15 at the most, so I can talk to them and find out their needs. D&E is like family. You can get to know your students and what to expect from them. Here I can follow their work on a daily basis and know if they understand.”
In addition to teaching at D&E, she is also a student of American Literature and Appalachian Literature, subjects she is enjoying. “I love the freedom and experimentation in 20th century literature,” Adell says. “It’s so rich and so powerful.”
Adell earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English studies and her Master of Arts degree in English culture and literature studies at Autonomus University of Barcelona. She has completed research and exchange study programs at the John F. Kennedy Institute for North American Studies in Berlin, Germany; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University College of London. She is currently pursuing her PhD in American literature.
Fulbright scholars are selected based on their academic merit and leadership potential. The Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Program allows young educators an opportunity to refine their teaching skills, increase their English language proficiency and extend their knowledge of the cultures and customs of the United States.
The program is sponsored by the United States Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and administered by the Institute of International Education.
Related to the Presbyterian Church (USA), Davis & Elkins College is located in Elkins, 2 hours east of Charleston, 3 hours south of Pittsburgh and 4 hours west of Washington, DC. For more information, please visit the College website at www.dewv.edu or call 304-637-1243.
