Rebecca M. Bender - Curriculum Vitae
Department of Spanish, Italian and Portuguese
EDUCATION
The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA – 2012 (expected)
Ph.D. Spanish – concentration in Peninsular Literature
University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM – May 2007
M.A. Spanish – concentration in Hispanic Literature
Graduated with Distinction
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, Bloomsburg, PA - May 2005
B.A. Spanish / B.S. Secondary Education
Summa Cum Laude
Honors Thesis: “Teaching Language through Culture: A Thematic Unit based on Salvador Dalí”
under the direction of Dr. Patricia Dorame-Holoviak
Teaching with Technology Certificate – Penn State University (December 2008)
Teaching Certification: Spanish - Pennsylvania State System of Education (June 2005)
EXTENDED EDUCATION
TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE WITH PROFICIENCY ORIENTED EDUCATIONAL METHODS:
Courses taken:
Spanish 502: Teaching Spanish, Penn State University, Fall 2008
Spanish 547: Spanish of the Southwest, University of New Mexico, Spring 2007
Spanish 541: Research Methodology for Teachers, University of New Mexico, Fall 2005
60.350: Methods of Teaching a Foreign Language, Bloomsburg University, Fall 2004
COPÁN FIELD SCHOOL, Copán Ruinas, Honduras (July 1-29, 2006)
Worked and studied at the archaeological site of Copán Ruinas, Honduras. Lived in a home-stay environment with a local Honduran family. Participated in a service-learning project with the local museums and elementary school children. Earned 6 graduate credits in the Department of Art and Art History, University of New Mexico.
UNIVERSIDAD COMPLUTENSE, Madrid, Spain (February - June 2004)
Earned 12 credits though the Universidad Complutense. Seminar courses included Literatura española del siglo XVI, Litertura hispanoamericana, and Sintaxis de la oración. Independently conducted research for the Independent Study component of the Bloomsburg University Honors Program. Traveled extensively throughout Spain and Western Europe.
INTERNSHIP IN PUERTO RICO, Adjuntas, Puerto Rico (June 2002)
Stayed and worked at the Hogar Santa Ana (orphanage for young girls) in Adjuntas, Puerto Rico. Facilitated reading and writing in English for Puerto Rican children ages 5-15. Chaperoned a five-day trip to the beach with ten children. Supervised and assisted with daily routines and special activities and excursions.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
TEACHING ASSISTANT / INSTRUCTOR (January 2009 – present)
Department of Spanish, Italian and Portuguese, Penn State University, State College, PA
SPANISH INSTRUCTOR (August 2007 – May 2008)
Department of Languages and Cultures, Bloomsburg University, Bloomsburg PA
Taught 3 courses (4 sections) of basic Spanish language courses (100, 101, 203). Devised syllabi used in each of the courses taught. Created supplementary activities to augment textbooks. Created and graded all quizzes and exams.
TEACHING ASSISTANT / INSTRUCTOR (August 2005 – May 2007)
Department of Spanish and Portuguese, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque NM
Taught two first- and second-year language courses each semester, 4 courses annually. Created supplementary activities to augment textbook. Graded all quizzes and exams. Used QUIA online homework system. Attended several one-hour conversational Spanish lunches each semester. Participated in and gave presentations for Study Abroad Programs. Outstanding student evaluations each semester.
SPANISH TEACHER - Student Teaching placements (January 2005 – April 2005)
Southern Columbia Area High School, Catawissa PA
Taught seven beginning and intermediate Spanish classes in the Pennsylvania Public Education System. Assisted with AP Spanish instruction. Taught a student through a live distance-learning program. Implemented supplementary activities to accompany textbook. Created and graded all quizzes and exams. Participated in out-of-class school events. Chaperoned field trips. Posted homework for all classes online, daily and/or weekly. Earned an A in both placements.
TUTOR —Elementary and ESL
Danville Middle and Elementary Schools, Danville, PA (January - May 2003)
Bloomsburg Middle School, Bloomsburg, PA (January - May 2002)
16th Street Elementary School, Berwick, PA (January - May 2002)
COORDINATING EXPERIENCE
SUPERVISOR FOR SPANISH 101 (January – May 2007)
Department of Spanish and Portuguese, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque NM
Supervised 26 sections of Spanish 101 and 15 teaching assistants during the semester. Assisted the program coordinator in preparing the syllabus, quizzes and exams. Designed the guidelines for students’ written compositions to be implemented by all Spanish 101 instructors. Assisted teaching assistants with specific concerns regarding teaching Spanish as a second language.
LANGUAGES
English: Native fluency
Spanish: Near-native proficiency
French: Basic reading comprehension
PRESENTATIONS
“Crossing Boundaries in Honduras: Exploring Ourselves through Ancient Maya Art and Architecture”
co-presented with Ph.D Candidate Elizabeth Drake Olton (University of New Mexico, Department of Art and Art History)
The 18th Annual National Service-Learning Conference: Beyond Borders, Beyond Boundaries
Albuquerque, New Mexico: March 27-31, 2007
“Teaching Language through Culture: A thematic unit based on Salvador Dalí”
Bloomsburg University Honors Program Independent Study Presentations
Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania: May 2005
WORKS IN PROGRESS
Leriola y Leriano: una víctima frustrada y un acosador en Cárcel de amor
La poesía de Vicente Aleixandre a la luz del método crítico-paranoico de Salvador Dalí
La influencia de Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer en la poesía amorosa de Pedro Salinas
Heritage Learners in the Second Language Classroom: Attitudes and Implications
SERVICE
Co-Moderator: 4th Annual Graduate Student Symposium on Hispanic Literatures – Remapping the American Imagination: Colonial and Post-Colonial Encounters. Penn State University: October 25, 2008.
Member: Graduate Student Association (GSA), Department of Spanish and Portuguese, University of New Mexico: August 2005-May 2007
Graduate Student Volunteer: Almuerzos en español, University of New Mexico: August 2005 – May 2007
Graduate Student Volunteer: The Politics of Language Cross-Disciplinary Symposium and Workshops – The Invisible Majority of the Southwest-Learners of Spanish as a Heritage Language, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque: October 2006
Graduate Student Volunteer: Dusty Lust: Celestina in New Mexico – Celebración Celestinesca, University of New Mexico: April 2006
Graduate Student Co-coordinator: The 14th Annual University of New Mexico Conference on Ibero-American Culture and Society, Department of Spanish and Portuguese, University of New Mexico, February 16-17, 2006
Graduate Student Volunteer: Wateke de San Valentín, University of New Mexico GSA Fundraiser, February 2006
Bloomsburg University Honors Program – Volunteer with Freshman Orientation, August 2002
Students Helping Adolescents Reach Excellence (SHARE) Tutor
Danville Middle and Elementary Schools, Danville, PA, January - May 2003
Bloomsburg Middle School, Bloomsburg, PA, January - May 2002
English as a Second Language (ESL) Tutor – 16th Street Elementary School, Berwick, Pa, January – May 2002
AWARDS, HONORS AND DISTINCTIONS
Spring 2007 Honors – Passed Masters Comprehensive Exams with Distinction
University of New Mexico, Department of Spanish and Portuguese
Spring 2007 Outstanding Teaching Assistant – University of New Mexico
Fall 2006 Outstanding Teaching Assistant – University of New Mexico
July 2006 Copán Field School Program Scholarship, University of New Mexico
Spring 2006 Outstanding Teaching Assistant – University of New Mexico
Fall 2005 Outstanding Teaching Assistant – University of New Mexico
2002 - 2005 Dean’s List, 7 semesters, Bloomsburg University
2002 – 2005 Bloomsburg University Honors Program
2004 - 2005 Bernard and Frances Young Scholarship, Bloomsburg University
2004 – 2005 Continuing Honors Scholarship, Bloomsburg University
Spring 2004 National Dean’s List
Spring 2003 Phi Sigma Iota - International Foreign Language Honor Society, Bloomsburg University
2003 – 2004 ARAMARK Scholarship, Bloomsburg University
2003 – 2004 Bernard and Frances Young Scholarship, Bloomsburg University
Fall 2001 Dean’s List, LaSalle University, Philadelphia, PA
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP
Modern Language Association, 2007, 2008
Pennsylvania State Education Association, 2005
REFERENCES
Anthony J. Cárdenas-Rotunno
Professor of Peninsular Spanish Literature
Department of Spanish and Portuguese, University of New Mexico
ajcard@unm.edu
Susana D. Rivera
Associate Professor of Peninsular Spanish Literature
Department of Spanish and Portuguese, University of New Mexico
susanar@unm.edu
Kimberle S. López
Associate Professor of Latin American Literature
Department of Spanish and Portuguese, University of New Mexico
klopez@unm.edu
Luke Springman
Chair – Department of Languages and Cultures, Bloomsburg University
Associate Professor of German
lspringm@bloomu.edu
Last updated on: December 8, 2008