LACIS is proud to announce that Kierstin Conaway, Graduate Project Assistant, was awarded a Fulbright grant for the 2021-2022 cycle. Below is an interview with Kierstin on her Fulbright award:
Where will you be traveling/working and when?
I will be traveling to South Korea to teach English at the secondary level (middle and high school) from January to December 2022. Though, Korea’s program allows the grantee to renew their teaching contract two times for a total of three years, and I can easily see myself partaking in this opportunity for a longer-term.
What are you most looking forward to?
This question is tough. There are a lot of things that I am looking forward to, ranging from learning the language and culture to immersing myself in the local environment via teaching, interacting with colleagues, and (potentially) living with a host family.
How do you hope your Fulbright experience might align with your future plans/goals?
As an MS candidate in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, a Fulbright grant will not only enhance my teaching abilities by exposing me to different pedagogical approaches but also further develop my understanding of how a country’s pedagogical approaches entwine with and reflect the culture. While this latter point is a topic of interest at the research-level for me, the overall experience of teaching English as a foreign language aligns with my future goal to pursue a Ph.D. in educational linguistics before seeking a career in the academy.
LACIS wishes Kierstin the best of luck in starting her new adventure!