Q & A with Dr. Aurora Castillo
Background: Aurora Castillo is a GCSU Spanish professor and the coordinator of the language lab. She was raised in Columbia until she came to America to study English. Today she is a well-recognized member of the GCSU Staff and shares her culture with students and faculty.
Q: As a child where did you grow up?
A: I grew up in a very small town in Columbia called Barrancabermeja. It is really hot there, much like Milledgeville in the summer, but it lasts all year long. We had an old American company in the town and the neighborhood I grew up in was built in the American style as well. So, I had a really good childhood enjoying many opportunities.
Q: What did you initially want to do with your life?
A: As a child, I did not really know what I wanted to do. I thought about different majors and professions for my life, like being a nurse, working with kids or doing interior design. I never thought about being a teacher. In fact, I never wanted to be a professor ’til I came to the United States.
Q: Then what inspired you as a student to pursue your current career path as a teacher?
A: I came to the United States to study English for just four months through West Virginia University in Morgantown. After studying at WVU, I went to visit my sister in Iowa for three weeks or so. After that the plan was to return to Columbia. Yet, plans change. In Columbia I had already gotten a degree through Universidad Pontificia Bolivariona for studying foreign languages, so I decided to pursue my masters at WVU at this time.
Q: So, where did your teaching career begin?
A: I had previously taught as a substitute high school teacher in Columbia. While at WVU I became a teaching assistant in Spanish at the WVU Foreign Language Department while getting my two masters in secondary education. Then I continued on for my doctorate in technology education.
Q: After receiving your doctorate, what led you to Georgia College?
A: One of my friends from Spain had had the opportunity to live and work here in Milledgeville. I met her when she came to West Virginia University. She told me a lot about Milledgeville, Georgia, and her experience here. When she moved back to Milledgeville I was finishing my doctorate. When I was looking for a job she told me to come to Milledgeville. I started thinking about the place, the weather, the opportunity and university. I thought “let’s give it a try and see what happens.”
Q: Now at GCSU, what do you enjoy more- teaching in the classroom or advising students outside the classroom?
A: I like both! I don’t have a preference! I enjoy my classes a lot because I have the opportunity to teach students my language, but more than that- my culture. Its not just about Columbia, it’s about the Latin American culture. I like to see how my students grow from the beginning levels of Spanish, as they improve and develop their skills. I like advising my students as well by sharing my stories and what I have learned in life. It’s not just about me teaching my students, they teach me as well. Every one of my students is teaching me something in some way, whether about culture, language idioms or simply life.
Q: What are some of your personal interests?
A: I like to travel. Every time I have the opportunity to explore the United States I do it. I like reading, watching movies or cooking for my friends. We like to talk about politics and culture.
Q: Politics huh? Well, what do you think are some of the prominent issues in today’s society?
A: Maybe because it is related to my country, but I think drugs are a major issue. I do not like to see young people use drugs because drugs often destroy their lives. I think it is one of the biggest problems in society- selling and using drugs around the world. There are too many governments ignoring these problems and in many ways, it is destroying our youth.
Q: For the future, what are some ambitions you have?
A: In my professional career I want to continue learning, specifically technology. I want to write papers and conduct research. Sometimes I have this crazy idea of going back to school for a PhD. Overall, as a person, I want to continue growing and helping people.
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Apr 3 2009. Filed under Spotlight.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0.
You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
