MARIANELLA JARA

Spanish Senior Lecturer
&
University College Academic Advisor
University Of North Carolina Wilmington

EDUCATION

M.A. in Spanish

M.A. in Liberal Arts and Hispanic Studies.

B.A. in Political Science and International Relations

I teach courses in elementary and intermediate Spanish.  I love taking students abroad during summer school.  I have directed the Summer Study Abroad Program in Úbeda, Spain in several occasions.  
In addition, I serve as the advisor to the Spanish Club and I teach Honors Seminars on the subjects of Islamic / Arabic Spain and Costa Rican culture, history and environmental issues.  I actively  support the Hispanic -Latino community by encouraging students to help and engage in community service in different local organizations. In my free time, I teach English as a second language to Hispanic immigrants in the Wilmington community and interpret at various non- profit organizations and clinics.  My personal interest is in Latin American and Spanish literature by women as well as Costa Rican ecology and conservation and Islamic / Arabic Spain history and architecture.

BACKGROUND

I am a "TICA", born and raised in Costa Rica.  Since I was young, I  developed a special interest in other cultures and languages.  I attended the Universidad Nacional in Heredia,  where I studied  International Relations and English. At the age of nineteen I was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to study at   I had a wonderful time at LSU studying and meeting people from all over the world and of course cheering for  the TIGERS. 

I graduated from LSU in 1997and I returned to Costa Rica where I had different jobs until I decided that it was time to attend graduate school. 

FAMILY

I  am married to a wonderful "Wilmingtonian", a rare find,  it seems that most people in Wilmington are from somewhere else.
 

Jeremy is a music teacher, a wonderful person and musician who has played in different local bands.

We love music, going to  concerts, traveling, spending time with family and friends.

HOBBIES & FAVORITES

I love traveling, reading, jogging, biking and cooking.  I love going anywhere in the world to explore new cultures, languages, adventures and try new food.  Reading is like food to my soul.  I am a firm believer in studying abroad, I think every student should travel to grow and become a well rounded individual.  This is why I love taking students overseas.  I love every minute I spend with the students abroad, seeing their smiles, answering their questions and realizing how much they learn and enjoy.  I have studied abroad in Ecuador, France and the United States.

Lyon, France

                                       Mitad del Mundo                                                          Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica           
                                       Quito, Ecuador

SPAIN STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMS