This month’s LTS blog spotlight is on Morayo Abere, from Nigeria. She is a current LTS student.

First, please tell us a bit about yourself and your background.

Hi! I’m Morayo. I’m from Nigeria, and I’m currently pursuing my Master’s degree in Language Teaching Studies here at the University of Oregon. Back home, I studied German at the University of Ibadan as an undergrad, and I have always liked how languages connect people. I speak English, Yoruba, and German. When I am not buried in schoolwork or teaching, you will find me exploring new places, shopping (retail therapy to the rescue always), or trying out recipes from different cultures – even though my taste buds are pretty unique, and they tend to repel new foods. Anyway, food, shopping, and learning new ways to teach languages share the same special place in my heart.

Did you have any experiences as a language learner that helped you decide to work in language education?

Absolutely! Learning German as an undergraduate was really eye-opening. Honestly, it was pretty challenging, first because it is an entirely different language system with rules different from those of the other languages that I already spoke. Different sentence structures, grammar rules, and gender articles – things English does not make us worry about too much. Secondly, the mode of teaching was pretty traditional with rote memorization and textbook instructions. It was pretty hard learning a new language with an entirely new system that way. I thought to myself, there should be other ways to do this. Scratch that, better and even fun ways to do this, even in the classroom. That struggle made me realize how important good teaching methods are, and it inspired my pursuit of this degree, to seek more knowledge in the area of language teaching and education, to help others navigate the language learning journeys with more ease, maybe fun, to make their learning process enjoyable rather than overwhelming.

Tell us a little about the curriculum you designed for Yoruba language and culture this year. Why did you choose to focus on Yoruba?

I am really proud of the Yoruba curriculum I designed 🙂 It is geared toward heritage speakers and anyone interested in Yoruba culture. I think that many heritage speakers/learners may feel disconnected from their roots, especially since they are far from home and maybe even rarely visit home. So, I built a course that is focused not just on language skills but explores Yoruba traditions, history, and modern culture. I chose Yoruba because it is my mother tongue, and I genuinely love sharing its beauty and depth. It’s my way of helping students reconnect and find pride in their heritage.

Has there been anything surprising about what you have learned or experienced here in Eugene, Oregon, or the US in general?

Oh yes, definitely. Coming from Nigeria to Eugene, I was pleasantly surprised by how “laid-back” and welcoming the community is. I did not expect strangers to casually smile and strike up conversations, sometimes about the most random things like weather or whatever. Also, the beauty and serenity of Oregon (read Eugene, Springfield, and Salem) have been breathtaking. I never imagined myself loving outdoor activities, but Eugene definitely changed that.

What would be your dream job in 5 or 10 years?

In five or ten years, my dream job will be teaching and designing language curricula at various levels, specifically in Nigeria. The language teaching curricula require an overhaul, and I see myself playing a vital role in that. Eventually, maybe even pursuing a Ph.D. in Educational leadership, because I see myself influencing education policy and improving language teaching curricula. Basically, a job where every day I help students and language learners enjoy their language learning journey, that would be ideal for me.

What is a fun fact about yourself that others may not know?

Haha, here goes. A fun fact about me is that I love making silly mashup videos of my friends and family. Recently, I created a hilarious birthday video for my boyfriend, compiling clips of him doing all sorts of goofy and embarrassing stuff. I enjoy capturing funny moments and literally any moment because that is the best way to keep memories alive.