FACULTY - Julie Gloss
Instructor
Teaching at Augsburg College
I enjoy and appreciate my students at Augsburg in Rochester because they are highly dedicated. I recognize that these are students with families and full-time jobs, and they are pursuing higher education on top of it all. I congratulate them on their determination and will to do more in life and for seeing the value of education!
As a Spanish instructor there are two things I hear on a regular basis. The first: "What is the best way to learn another language?" Experiencing a culture other than your own is essential to better understanding the world, having compassion toward others and realizing new things about yourself. When we immerse ourselves in the unfamiliar we are presented with many opportunities to learn, grow and dispel erroneous notions as well as do the same for others. Stereotypes and generalizations are easy to rely on but as we know can be very harmful and destructive. Yes, putting ourselves in unfamiliar territory can be uncomfortable even for those who are well-versed in the language. However, I promise you that it will be one of the best things you ever did. So get out there and immerse yourself! And remember that one doesn't have to go far given the rich cultural communities in which we live here in Minnesota.
The second statement I hear frequently: "I wish I knew how to speak a foreign language" (or "I understand the language, but I don't know how to speak it."). And here is my response to both of those: just try! Motivation and dedication are what you need to make it happen. Find websites in the foreign language of your choice that offer videos, news, music, your favorite hobbies, etc. Read out loud for even 10 minutes a day. Make a friend who wants to perfect his or her English and swap languages. Find language groups and meet with them. Listen while you are driving. Watch foreign films. The possibilities are endless and the world is your playground! Have fun!
I recently returned from a year abroad in a small town called Tlahuelilpan just north of Mexico City. Through a teacher exchange I taught English to college students pursuing degrees in administration and computer systems. The school where I worked was one of ten off the main campus in the capital city of Pachuca, Hidalgo and was housed in a gorgeous ex-hacienda dated to the 1850s. It was a special year to be in Mexico as it was the centennial of the Mexican Revolution and the bicentennial of Mexico's independence. For me and my 13 year-old daughter it was a year of incredible experiences, travel, growth, and a deeper understanding of the relationship that we have with our Mexican neighbors.
Interests
I am most content when doing one of the following: dancing salsa or cumbia, being in nature, running, reading, visiting museums, cooking, baking cakes or traveling.
