High School/Hometown: Metuchen High School/Metuchen
Education: B.A., Rutgers University (Spanish Language & minor in Modern Greek Studies); M.Ed. in Language Education with Certifications in ESL and Spanish K-12.
Year of RU Graduation: Undergraduate 2016; Graduate 2017.
Current Position: Spanish Teacher at Piscataway High School
Why did you decide to take courses in Modern Greek (language)? If you pursued the minor in Modern Greek Studies, why did you decide to do this?
I decided to enroll in the Greek courses in order to improve my proficiency in Modern Greek. After taking the first class, I realized that the classes fostered a wonderful environment for learning language and culture. The students were motivated and engaged by the knowledgeable and interesting professors.
What did you like the most about your Greek classes? If you took the minor, what did you like most in the other approved courses for the minor that you took (e.g., history, political science, religion)?
I enjoyed that the class sizes were small and grew to be a family by the end of the minor program. Aside from the language courses, which I loved, I particularly enjoyed taking the classes about Greek film and Greek folk music. Both proposed interesting perspectives on Greek society throughout the times.
Considering your current position and successes, was there anything in the classes or experiences you had, in pursuing Modern Greek and/or Modern Greek Studies, that contributed to your perspectives and accomplishments?
Learning Modern Greek allowed me to help develop my skills in Spanish, my major, even more so. I was able to better understand the connections between the two language and how I learned a language the best.
If you pursued a M.A. or Ph.D. after graduating from Rutgers, did the courses you took in Modern Greek, or Modern Greek Studies, help prepare you for graduate work, or your professional life in general?
Minoring in Modern Greek helped me greatly in my graduate studies. Throughout my Modern Greek courses, I was constantly in smaller classes where the professor was able to focus on the development of each individual student. This is extremely similar to the experience that I had in my graduate program at the Rutgers Graduate School of Education.
Were you able to participate in any of the Modern Greek Studies Program’s approved locations overseas — i.e., the summer program in Thessaloniki, or the semester/AY programs at CYA in Athens and ACT in Thessaloniki? How did such experiences impact you?
I was gratefully able to participate in the program’s first summer program to Thessaloniki. I was able to experience Greece from a different perspective, rather than that of a vacationer. Being immersed in the language and culture gave me a more holistic view on Greece and has made me a more well-rounded global citizen. I definitely left a piece of my heart and soul in the beautiful city of Thessaloniki due to this wonderful program.
What advice would you give students thinking about studying Modern Greek, or taking the MGSP minor, but haven’t made up their minds?
I would tell those unsure students to definitely take the initiative and enroll in the courses. A knowledge of Greek language and culture can be beneficial in a variety of professions, and no other university has the dedicated faculty like Rutgers University.
