Thursday, April 16, 2009
Leah McGinnis awarded Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship
 A University of Southern Indiana senior with a double major in elementary education and Spanish has been awarded an English Teaching Assistantship for 2009-10 by the prestigious Fulbright Program.Leah McGinnis will teach English in Spain from September 15, 2009, through June 30, 2010. She has been assigned to teach at the elementary-school level in metropolitan Madrid. The Fulbright’s English Teaching Assistantship program places U.S. students in 43 countries worldwide each year. The teaching assistants help students in other countries improve their language abilities and increase their knowledge of the United States. At the same time, the U.S. students improve their language abilities and knowledge of the host country. “Living in other countries makes me who I am,” McGinnis said. Born in Kenya, she lived in Tanzania and Nigeria before moving to Costa Rica with her missionary parents when she was in fifth grade. She completed high school in Costa Rica. McGinnis began school in Costa Rica without knowing Spanish. “I probably could have said ‘hello’ and that’s about it,” she said. Being required to use Spanish in classroom presentations and other settings helped her learn the language. Her experiences in international living also have helped her in interaction with people. “No matter what environment I'm put in, I've learned to adapt to that situation. I can feel comfortable being with any group of people,” she said. Students interested in an English Teaching Assistantship can apply for only one country. Patricia L. Aakhus, director of USI’s program in international studies, mentors students applying for the nationally competitive Fulbright awards. She said of McGinnis: “Leah’s choice of Spain as a host country was appropriate, based on her education in Costa Rica, her immersion in Spanish literature, history and culture, and her fluency in the Spanish language. Her interest in linguistics and passion for literature and for teaching will dovetail in a formative experience for her, teaching English in Spain, and sharing her knowledge of American culture, as well as her multicultural world view.” English teaching assistants spend about 20 hours in the classroom each week. McGinnis is researching opportunities to volunteer at a library in Madrid during her free time. She also plans to explore the linguistic differences between Spanish in Costa Rica and Spain. After completing the assistantship, McGinnis is considering several options. Her interests include mission work, a teaching career, and pursuing a doctorate. McGinnis is the daughter of Jeannie and Thad McGinnis. She enrolled at USI to be near her grandparents, Susan McGinnis and Ann and Bill West, in Henderson, Kentucky, while her parents completed their work in Costa Rica. Having retired from mission work, her parents live and work now in Golden, Colorado. McGinnis worked in Golden last summer at a children’s camp that uses the Montessori approach and plans to teach there again this summer. She is completing her student teaching this semester at Cynthia Heights Elementary School in Evansville and will be awarded a bachelor’s degree at USI Commencement in May. McGinnis recently was named an Outstanding Future Educator by the Indiana Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. Fulbright grants provide funds for international transportation, a living stipend, a small book/research allowance, and medical insurance. Previous USI Fulbright recipients are Tracy Bee ’97 who completed an English Teaching Assistantship in Korea; Kirt Page ’98, who studied at the University of Mainz in Germany; and Walter Jermakowicz ’03, who studied at the University of Munich in Germany. The Fulbright Program for U.S. students is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. It is the largest U.S. international exchange program offering opportunities for students, scholars, and professionals to undertake international graduate study, advanced research, university teaching, and teaching in elementary and secondary schools worldwide. Kathy Funke News and Information Services 812/465-7050 or kfunke@usi.edu |
Copyright © 2013 University of Southern Indiana. All rights reserved.