Scholarship Story: Anna Zittle ’22

Anna Zittle

Anna Zittle ’22 (mathematics, music)

Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship Program

The English Teaching Assistant (ETAs) Programs place Fulbright scholars in classrooms abroad to provide assistance to the local English teachers. ETAs help teach English language while serving as cultural ambassadors for the U.S.

What attracted me to this program: I plan to go to graduate school to further my study of mathematics. I have been accepted into a Ph.D. program at Virginia Commonwealth University, but after completing two senior honors theses here at Lafayette, I was thinking I might need a break from intense academic work. I’ll be deferring my acceptance to VCU to pursue this opportunity in the Czech Republic. I am a huge, huge fan of Czech composers and Czech music in general—both classical traditions and folk music—so that’s what motivated me to apply. I’m still expecting it to be a lot of hard work—I’ll be teaching English, which will be a new experience for me, but I’m very excited about the opportunity to immerse myself in a different culture.

How has Lafayette prepared me for this experience: I’ve had a number of opportunities to tutor other students in math, and I had experience working as a writing assistant. I learned a lot from my Lafayette professors, particularly Prof. Gary Gordon, who showed how important it is to make yourself accessible, how to be flexible as a teacher, and to use humor when possible.

What I hope to gain from the experience: I’m passionate about music, and the Czech Republic is a hub of musical activity. There are so many music festivals, and I really want to get involved while there—not just in the music scene, but in the community where I am placed. I plan to travel while I’m there and enjoy being immersed in different communities and cultures.