Fulbright recipients Barreiro, Philippe teaching languages at Salve

Brenda Barreiro of Colombia and Heloise Philippe of France are teaching foreign languages at Salve Regina, living on campus in the Language House and taking courses at the University as Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Program recipients for 2018-2019.

In addition to their classroom work, Barreiro and Philippe will facilitate weekly language conversation tables for members of the campus community and the public, will host weekly movie nights and will assist in teaching foreign languages weekly to students at Newport’s Pell Elementary School.

Both Fulbright recipients said they were drawn to Salve over other Fulbright placement opportunities due to the strength of the University’s academic environment, its scenic oceanside campus and the academic community’s focus on student development. “I thought it was the perfect place to have this experience,” Barreiro said. “It’s a friendly campus that cares a lot for the students.”

Barreiro comes to Salve with a bachelor’s degree in foreign languages and two years of experience teaching English as a second language in Colombia. Through this experience living abroad at Salve, she looks forward to becoming a stronger teacher, improving her English and continuing her path as a student. She eventually hopes to earn her master’s degree and, down the road, a Ph.D.

Philippe also comes to Salve with experience teaching French in her native country. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in French teaching methods with a minor in Japanese language. “I would like to improve my teaching methods while here,” she said, “and would like to eventually teach in other countries.” She also looks forward to earning a master’s degree.

As part of their exchange, both Barreiro and Philippe are looking forward to sharing their cultures with members of the Salve community. “One of the goals of the Fulbright program is to help people to know more about my country,” Barreiro says. There are many good things about my country … music, movies, arts, traditions. This is what makes us Colombians.”

Philippe is hoping to break some of the stereotypes often ascribed to France. “I think people see France as ‘old France,’ but I would like to share how France is today. I want to share our modern music and our modern movies.”

Language tables: Informal French and Spanish conversation tables are open to anyone in the community at large, and are offered in the lobby area outside Global Cafe on Tuesdays and Thursdays. On Tuesdays, Spanish is offered at 1 p.m. and French is offered at 4 p.m. On Thursdays, French is offered at noon and Spanish is offered at 4 p.m.

For more information about Salve’s Language House activities, including movie nights, visit their Facebook page.