Student Spotlight: Andrea Ferreira

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Andrea Ferreira, a first-semester student from Brazil, is admiringly dedicated to learning and an absolute pleasure to work with.  Ms. Ferreira started learning English in primary school, but due to the implementation of the grammar-translation method and lack of communicative practice throughout the next several years of formal education, she was unable to achieve a level of proficiency high enough for her own standards.  Because she was passionate about language and wanted to improve her skills, Ms. Ferreira enrolled in online courses in Translation and Subtitling.  Again not making ideal progress, Ms. Ferreira decided it was time to travel abroad and try language learning in an alternate way.  Endorsements of the Middlebury Institute’s Interpretation and Translation (T&I) program by several friends in the field and a long-standing love of American culture are what brought Ms. Ferreira here today.

Currently, Ms. Ferreira is working on further developing her language skills at the IEP with the eventual goal of matriculation into the T&I program. After only four weeks in the IEP, she notices a definite improvement.  She says she is much more comfortable talking in English and using English, can use synonyms and alternate word forms much more quickly, and can understand a larger percent of what she hears.  She takes notes more efficiently and has incorporated organizational strategies into her writing, presentations, and everyday conversations.  Living in the United States has given Ms. Ferreira the invaluable experience of improving her communicative competence as she is required to not only function within an academic setting but also to communicate with neighbors, settle housing issues with her landlord and utility companies, and integrate herself into her church community.  Ms. Ferreira occasionally feels like she won’t make it, but she is surrounded by an incredible support system made up of individuals who continuously motivate and remind her that she is on the right track.  We are proud to have Ms. Ferreira with us.

Written by Sadie Hunsinger

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