News From Alumni: Spanish
Katie Heird
Class of 2007, Spanish
 Hola!
My name is Katie Heird. My passion for Spanish began
when I participated in a Volunteer program in Oaxaca,
Mexico, Fundación Comunitarias Oaxaca, after my freshman
year at SU. My experience as an undergrad in the Spanish
program was excellent: small classes, great professors
and wonderful study aboard opportunities. My Spanish
professors helped me to decide on a study abroad program
in Cuenca, Ecuador at the Centro de Estudios
Interamericanos (CEDEI). I came for a semester, fell in
love with Cuenca, and returned a year later to work as
an intern in the Office of International Programs.
During my internship, I was offered a job.
Thanks to my Salisbury experience,
I am currently working in Ecuador as a Coordinadora de
Programas Internacionales; in English this means that I
work with university and high school students before and
during their study aboard experience at CEDEI. In the
upcoming academic session I will start teaching too! The
highlight of my job is leading students on tours
throughout Ecuador and Peru. My favorite trips include
the Amazon Rainforest and Machu Picchu. If you want to
check out SU’s study abroad options at CEDEI visit
www.cedei.org.
Without my time as an undergrad at
Salisbury, not only would I not have the skills for my
job, I wouldn’t have my job. First and foremost I need
to speak Spanish daily. Secondly, it was through SU that
I was able to develop such a passion for the language
and culture of Latin America. Lastly, the most vital
lesson I learned from my experience at SU was the
importance of one-on-one attention I received from my
professors and my academic advisor. From their genuine
commitment to helping me in my academic pursuits during
and after my undergraduate career I learned that it is
crucial to give that same commitment to my own students.
After my time in Cuenca, I would
like to continue helping people break down cultural
barriers through intercultural communications.
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Mary Bateman
Salisbury University Alumni (class of 2006)
Spanish Secondary Education major
 I
am currently a High School Spanish teacher at Yongsan
International School of Seoul, located in South Korea.
The qualifications and experience that I received
during my undergraduate studies at Salisbury University
have prepared me immensely for the many challenging, yet
rewarding, endeavors that go along with teaching. I
never would have survived the past two years without the
quality training that I received at Salisbury.
Surprisingly, my ability to speak Spanish has also
helped me in my many travels around the world, including
interacting with other airport customers, with Hispanics
in Seoul, as well as Peruvian woman in a Thailand
prison.
Undoubtedly there is an growing population of
Hispanics and Latinos living in the United States, as
evidenced by the fact that Spanish is the second
language of many of its residents. Pursuing the study of
the Spanish language will enhance one’s ability to
communicate with this community. Additionally one’s
qualifications and marketability for several different
occupations would be increased through the acquisition
of the Spanish language. Pertaining specifically to
Salisbury University, Spanish majors are given a
substantial amount of individual attention and quality
learning opportunities in part because the student to
faculty ratio is extremely favorable. The professors
always made themselves available to me and offered any
assistance or advice when necessary.
I am currently in the process of applying to the
Louisiana State University graduate program of Guidance
Counseling. This will help to broaden my options in the
educational sector. However, I have no doubt that sooner
or later my future profession will likely entail some
sort of involvement or action helping with the Hispanic
and Latino population residing in the United States, as
much of my heart lies with this community.
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