¡Hola! Mucho gusto! Or as we also say here in Galicia, moito gusto. It is nice to meet you! My name is Caroline Mierzwa. I grew up in Rutherford, New Jersey, which is close to New York City. Because I met so many immigrants and people from different cultures growing up, I knew I wanted to travel and teach in a different country. Plus, my mom is a bilingual 6th-grade teacher, and watching her passion for teaching English inspired me to do the same!
I went to Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. I earned my first degree in English and my second Masters degree in Secondary English Education, to become a high school English teacher.
I am now a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in a small city called Ourense, which is located in the Galicia region of Spain. I chose to apply to Galicia because of its close location to the water (which is important for a beach lover like myself), its special history with the Celtic, or Irish, people, and its regional language. While Spanish is spoken here in Ourense, there is also another local language called Galician, or Gallego. Students learn subjects in all three languages in school: English, Spanish, and Gallego. I wanted to learn more about how students can learn effectively in different languages and different teaching styles.
Want to learn how you could be a Fulbright Scholar like me? The Fulbright Program is the United States government's flagship international exchange program. Fulbrighters foster mutual understanding between the United States and partner nations, share knowledge across communities, and improve lives around the world. Learn more by clicking here!
