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            University of Saskatchewan:
            University Undergraduate Scholarship (1990)
            University Prize in Arts (1989)
            Honours Scholarship (1988)
            Hantelman Scholarship (1988)

Intensive language courses taken:

French: Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (1990)
Spanish: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (1985)

SPANISH TEACHING EXPERIENCE:

Tenured Instructor III (2000-present)
University of Regina, Department of International Languages (formerly Language Institute)
Courses taught: SPAN 111 (100), 112 (101), 113, 110, 211 (200), 212 (201), 210, 214, 311 (311), 312 (301), 314, 411, 415

Term Instructor/Sessional Lecturer 1991-92; 1994-2000
University of Saskatchewan, Department of Languages and Linguistics (formerly Modern
Languages)
Courses taught: SPAN 115, 200, 215, 315

Instructor (1991-2, 1994)
University of Saskatchewan, Centre for Second Language Instruction
Courses taught: Conversational Spanish, English as a Second Language (various levels)

Part-time Professor (1992-94)
University of Ottawa, Department of Modern Languages
Courses taught: ESP 1991, 1992

Instructor (1989-92)
Saskatoon Board of Education, Centre for Continuing Education
Courses taught: Conversational Spanish (various levels)

ACTIVITIES RELATED TO TEACHING

At University of Saskatchewan I was involved in:

-creation of many concrete teaching materials for classes and tutorials
-student placement and program advising for Spanish students
-organization of Spanish club and film series
-development of oral tutorials as additions to all language classes; training and supervision of all tutorial;leaders in Spanish, German, Russian and Ukrainian
-co-organization of educational tour of Cuba; taught and interpreted during the tour
-development of Spanish portion of a term abroad in Guatemala
-evaluation and advising on student exchange programs
-evaluation of Spanish textbooks for department and for publishers
-translation of documents and oral interpretation
-service on Open House, Awards and Space Planning committees
-development of proposal for Hispanic Studies Program

At University of Regina I was/am involved in:

-creation of concrete teaching materials, and development of many web-based
learning resources
-student placement and program advising for Spanish students
-organization of Spanish club
-participation on hiring committees
-training and supervision of sessional lecturers and tutors in Spanish
-development of Spanish classes and program
-collaboration on non-credit Spanish program
-evaluation of courses for transfer credit
-evaluation of textbooks
-translation of documents

GENERAL BACKGROUND:

I grew up in Regina, attending Athabasca elementary school, and Sheldon Williams Collegiate. (However, during my high school years, I was much more interested in socializing than in studying!) My main extra-curricular activity was music: I played piano, and taught piano for three years at the Western Academy of Musical Education. As a family, we drove and camped all across Canada, and took a trip to Europe one summer.

After graduating, I began to travel on my own, hitch-hiking alone for several years all over Canada and the U.S.. This was mostly a fabulous experience, as I loved being on the road, and met many wonderful people! Of course, I worked when necessary, often waiting tables, but doing a number of other things as well. At one point I decided to learn a trade: after taking a course called ¨Pre-Trades for Women¨, I studied at SIAST in Saskatoon to become a heavy-duty mechanic, and worked in that field briefly, as well as doing general farm labour, based in Lashburn, SK.

However, I continued travelling, and on my first trip to Mexico I fell in love with the Spanish language and Hispanic culture, especially music and dance. (I later travelled many times to Mexico, as well as to Cuba and Central America.) I began studying Spanish at the U of S in Saskatoon, putting what I learned into practice on my trips, and also doing some independent study courses while in Mexico. I also took classes in many interesting fields at the U of S, discovering the joy in serious academic study which had been absent in my high school years. I found, and still find, sociology particularly fascinating.

Due to travels and work, it took me a long time to get my first degree, which was an Honours degree in Spanish and French. By that time, I had begun to teach Spanish, (as well as to do some translating), and I discovered that I loved teaching. That led me to do a B.Ed. in secondary education; as Spanish was not a teaching field in Sask., French and Social Studies were my teaching fields. However, I never had the intention of teaching in the school system, although my internship in Big River, SK as well as some subsequent substitute teaching provided some interesting experiences.

After finishing my B.Ed., I had the opportunity to teach some Spanish classes at the U of S, and I knew I had found my calling. I went to Ottawa to do my M.A. in Spanish, as Ottawa had Spanish professors specializing in the fields of translation and linguistics. I also taught classes while there. I returned to Saskatoon after doing my M.A., taught there for another six years, and then came to Regina in 2000.

I have taught Spanish at the university level continuously since my first year teaching it, and I still love it! It continues to be an interesting challenge to find new ways to teach material, and to develop new resources to help students learn. Unfortunately in recent years I have been less able to travel, but I take great pleasure in my students´ trips, and look forward to more trips of my own in the future when time allows. I am particularly interested in going to South America, as well as to Spain.

As for family, I have two children. My son currently lives with me in Regina and studies at the U of R, while my daughter lives in Ottawa and has four children of her own.