Scholarship Story: Kevin Manogue ’22

Kevin Manogue

Kevin Manogue ’22 (mathematics, physics)

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 this scholarship will enable me to do: I will be working as a language assistant in English classes at a Colombian university. I will receive a stipend to support housing and food, and be working in coordination with my supervisor professors and a Fulbright mentor. Outside of classes, I will be working on a project to support a local astronomy/science promotion organization. I love physics and science education, and I am excited to be able to help Colombian students (of all levels) learn more about astronomy and physics. The placement will last from August 1 to May 31. 

How Lafayette has prepared me for this experience: My experiences working with the Academic Resource Hub as an individual tutor, SI, and MSG have been extremely helpful in developing my skills as a teacher. I also worked with the Landis Center for Community Engagement to found Building Bridges, a volunteering organization aimed at providing English and ESOL classes to parents at Paxinosa Elementary Schools. I learned so much about language instruction through Building Bridges. Outside of this, my classes with Professors [Adrian] Espinoza-Staines and [Olga] Rodríguez-Ulloa in the Spanish department were hugely impactful on me. They galvanized my interest in Latin American culture and showed me time and again the immense complexities of Latino identities. 

How this will benefit me: I have always loved teaching and working in academic settings, and I hope that this experience can allow me to grow and improve as a teacher. Beyond this, I think that language classes offer a unique opportunity for connection between people of different cultures. I hope to help promote new conversations and amplify the voices of the students with whom I will be working. I hope to work in education and academia, potentially pursuing a Ph.D. in either language teaching or mathematics. I’m hoping that this year will allow me to learn more about my preferences as an instructor, and maybe even synthesize my interests in STEM and languages.