Bianconi Publishes Article
Celia Bianconi, Master Lecturer in Portuguese, has published a piece in the journal, Portuguese Language Journal. Her work appears in a special edition of the journal titled, Voices of Leadership: Women in Portuguese Language Programs in U.S. Higher Education. Bianconi’s article is called, “The Journey of a Lifelong Transformation,” and describes her path to becoming a Portuguese teacher. From her piece:
“My journey as a teacher of Portuguese as a Foreign Language (PFL) began not with a conscious decision to become a teacher, but with a deep-seated desire to stay connected to my roots. Born and raised in Brazil, I initially moved to the United States for a short stay before returning to my job in advertising in São Paulo. However, my plans soon changed. In addition to improving my English, I developed an interest in continuing my studies. I became acquainted with various academic programs and decided to pursue a master’s degree in Brazilian and Portuguese literature at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where I was awarded a Teaching Assistantship. Under the mentorship of Professor Peggy Sharp, I began what would become a lifelong passion for teaching and cultural exchange.”