Name: Janet Skrzypek Job: Language and Culture Spanish Teacher at Saint Zachary School, IL USA Programme: Child Studies
A typical day at work and what else I do
After I obtained my master’s degree, I felt that many opportunities were open to me, and in the end I landed at Saint Zachary School as a teacher.
A typical day in my class starts with greetings in the target language, followed by reviewing vocabulary homework, learning new vocabulary, songs, expressions and cultural unit investigations. As the students build knowledge, they practice what they learn through various methods, including active participation and showing their skills in the target language and the use of technology to reinforce knowledge.
In 2023, I had the opportunity to be a speaker at the webinar “Cultural Celebrations Around the World”, in which I presented “The Pachamama” or “The Earth Mother”, a cultural celebration from the natives of Peru and the Andes regions of South America. In 2024, the American Council of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) recognised me as a Month Member Spotlight. Through the ACTFL, I can share my knowledge of Child Studies as a foreign language and culture teacher with my colleagues around the US. Furthermore, I was accepted by the Floridan Foreign Language Association (FFLA) as a speaker at the 2024 Conference “Building Belonging through Language, Culture and Connections”.
Why LiU?
I chose LiU due to the high standards I had heard about, and the experience I had at LiU was an excellent opportunity to meet people from different continents and obtain a solid foundation in child studies. As I studied online, and during the pandemic, I would have loved to bring the Swedish coffee experience home with me. The knowledge I gained at LiU helped me write my first bilingual English-Spanish children’s book, which will be published and available at the end of 2024.
Advice for future students in Child Studies
Don’t hesitate to take this specialisation. The teachers, advisors and administrators are very professional and understanding. The outstanding, high-quality, research-based courses provide an excellent foundation for your future career.
