Northwest College welcomes Ana Vazquez Madera as Fulbright Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA), for the 2023-24 academic year. Having previously taught in her native Spain and Ireland, Vazquez Madera will be teaching Spanish language courses at NWC.
Originally from El Rompido in the province of Huelva, Vazquez Madera earned a bachelor’s degree in Preschool Education and a master’s in educational guidance from the Universidad de Málaga. She has been working as a teacher since 2016, with students ranging from four months to 50 years old. Vazquez Medera taught in both Spain and Ireland from 2016-22, and last year worked as an English Language Assistant in a public high school with vocational training courses.
“As a Fulbright, even though we can choose which school we like the most, we are not able to pick one ourselves,” she explained about the selection process for FLTAs. “So, Northwest College chose me, and I cannot be happier about this decision. NWC is a warm and friendly place where I feel very comfortable, and I am sure that this adventure has already begun!”
The Fulbright FLTA Program is sponsored by the United States Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The program is designed to develop Americans' knowledge of foreign cultures and languages by supporting teaching assistantships in more than 30 languages at hundreds of U.S. institutions of higher education. It offers educators from over 50 countries the opportunity to develop their professional skills and gain first-hand knowledge of the U.S., its culture, and its people.
Fulbright FLTAs apply to the program through the Fulbright Commission/Foundation or U.S. Embassy in their home countries. The Institute of International Education (IIE) arranges academic placement for most Fulbright FLTA nominees and supervises participants during their stay in the United States.
A welcome reception for Vazquez Madera is scheduled for Tuesday, August 29, from 4-6 p.m. at the Bloom-Wilson Intercultural House located at 565 College Drive in Powell. Admission is free and the reception is open to the public.