Hi, everybody! My name is Inês Bernardo Catarino and I am from Portugal. I assist in teaching Portuguese classes at the University of Oregon. In this special post I am interviewing this year’s Fulbright Foreign Language Teacher Assistants (FLTAs). They are hosted by the Yamada Language Center (YLC) and the LTS MA program. There are 5 FLTAs this year in 2023-24, including me, who teach different languages. 

– blog post by Inês Bernardo Catarino, FLTA-LTS

How would you describe your role in YLC and at UO? What kind of classes and students do you work with? 

Derrick: I began as a teaching assistant (GE) for the Swahili classes mostly. Afterwards, I started to teach Swahili classes once a week. I am also in charge of the Swahili Circle on Fridays, and I also assist in the grading of the aforementioned classes.  

Kesma: Hello. My name is Kesma Elzanaty. I am from Cairo, Egypt. I was honored to receive a Fulbright grant to come to the U of O and work as an Arabic teaching assistant. I have been working for the Religious Studies Department carrying out TA and teaching duties. The Arabic language seems to be sought after by different kinds of students such as heritage speakers, newly Muslim people who seek being able to read Qur’an in its authentic language, students majoring in Global Studies and students who are mostly interested in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region and the language spoken there. Also, I am finding joy and pride in conversing with students through the conversation session I have been leading and seeing how students are really passionate about speaking Arabic and seeking mastery in it. Even though I don’t work directly with YLC, it has provided a great support in facilitating cultural events that give students of Arabic more exposure to the Arabic language and culture.  

Sohaib: I am a Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant at Yamada Language Center UO but working as a primary instructor for Urdu and Hindi. I teach these languages in the Self Study Language Program of YLC and organize cultural events to give students and other people an enriching experience of cultural diversity. I’m also a member of the Disability Advocacy Committee in the Accessible Education Center in which I advocate for the rights and inclusion of students with disabilities on campus. I’m also part of the International Cultural Service Program in which I give presentations about my country, region and culture in schools and other community events.  I have small classes with mostly heritage learners who want to improve Urdu/Hindi to connect back with their families in Pakistan/India. Other students are interested in traveling or knowing more about that region as that part of the world has vibrant and colorful culture and history.  

Esma: I have been teaching Turkish as the primary instructor in the Yamada Language Center as a Fulbright Foreign Language Assistant. I also organize cultural events and lead conversation sessions. Turkish is one of the Less Commonly Taught Languages in the U.S., and the courses are offered by the Self Study Language Program. I prepare lesson plans and outlines according to the interests of the students. They fill out a survey stating what they would like to learn, and we design the course accordingly. My students are heritage Turkish speakers who would like to improve their speaking skills, native English speakers who are interested in Turkish language and culture, and academics who would like to improve their translation and writing abilities.

Coming to Eugene was a big move for all of us! Personally, I have enjoyed the nature and the sunny Spring weather, and was positively surprised with how people here are so friendly and kind! What about you? What have you enjoyed most about living in Eugene? Has anything surprised you?  

Derrick: Eugene is a serene and peaceful environment with friendly people. The weather has not been as extreme as I anticipated. 

Kesma: Living in Eugene has been a fantastic experience in terms of the charming natural landscapes Eugene is filled with. It has been a relaxing experience indeed! I guess it is hard for someone living in this green spot of the world to get any negative energy. Nevertheless, what was surprising for me is how hard it has been to find good food in Eugene. This forced me to buy groceries and cook my own food, and fail miserably at it LOL! 

Sohaib: Eugene is an amazing place with a lot of opportunities to be closer to mother nature and appreciate her. Its beautiful hiking trails, scenic waterfalls and lush green forest are mind-blowing and I cannot stop myself from appreciating its amazing weather. Here life seems slow, and I think almost stops with the sunset.😊 

Esma: I love the forest and hiking! There are so many places where I find peace in nature. I didn’t know I enjoyed outdoor activities before coming here. I tried so many new things I haven’t done before. I started archery, cycling, fishing and camping. Also, people here are super friendly and helpful. I didn’t have any difficulty adjusting to the environment. Whenever I had a problem, there was someone to help.  

Personally, I view language teaching as a great opportunity to help students become more confident expressing themselves in the target language and culture. Learning a language can be challenging, so seeing my students’ efforts makes me incredibly proud of them, and also of my work! What would you say is most rewarding and important about language teaching? 

Derrick: What is rewarding about language teaching is helping my learners make use of the language I am teaching them. And to see them improving in every meeting. 

Kesma: I would definitely say that being able to inspire a passionate student to learn your own culture and language has been the most rewarding thing for me. It is worth seeing myself making a difference in these students’ lives.  

Sohaib: Language teaching is rewarding and amazing at the same time. When you see your students unfolding the mysteries of a new language and appreciating the cultural differences, it feels like languages are a source of creating appreciation for diversity in the world. Language teaching provides me with a chance to take my students from the unknown to a known world where every difference is appreciable and lovable. The most rewarding thing in this job is when your student tells you that they are better able to connect with their families after learning the language.  

Esma: I feel so proud when I see my students speaking Turkish, taking their knowledge beyond the classroom, attending extracurricular cultural activities, and become culture representatives themselves. I think this is the most rewarding part about language teaching.