Arnot, Mike; Instructor |
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Office: 24-124
Phone: (509) 533-3597
Email: Mike.Arnot@spokanefalls.edu
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When I was 4 years old, my family moved from Georgia to southern Spain, land of tapas, flamenco, bull fighting and ancient
traditions. This unique experience of growing up in two worlds had a great influence in my life, from a business career in
International Sales in Latin America to now teaching Spanish at the College and University level here in Spokane.
To go from selling products to international customers to introducing students to Spanish has been a fascinating and fulfilling
change for me. The benefits of being bilingual are life changing. I know this and actively encourage students to seriously
consider a major or minor in Spanish (or any major language) as it opens so many doors at a cognitive, personal and career level.
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Cengiz, Aaron; Instructor |
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Office: 5-137
Phone: (509) 533-3701
Email: Aaron.Cengiz@spokanefalls.edu
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This is my first quarter teaching Spanish as an adjunct at SFCC. I'm currently a full-time instructor at North Idaho College,
where I've been teaching since January 2012.
I received my BA in Spanish from Utah State before receiving my MA in Spanish translation/interpreting from the University of
Wisconsin-Milwaukee. As a masters student I got my first experience teaching Spanish and got my first full-time job after at the
University of North Carolina at Pembroke. After a year teaching there, I decided to pursue my PhD. I attended and finished my
doctoral coursework at SUNY Binghamton in upstate New York. I'm currently working on my dissertation in translation studies which
includes my translations of two books by Chilean author Carlos Cerda. I hope to defend within the year. While studying at
Binghamton, I taught Spanish regularly for two years at Broome Community College which is also in Binghamton, NY.
I'm originally from Glendale Arizona, and am excited to be in this area. I love the outdoors, running, cycling and spending time
with my family.
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Estrada, Hadda; Instructor/ Gateway to College Academic Success Coach |
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Office: 24-212
Phone: (509) 533-3646
Email: Hadda.Estrada@spokanefalls.edu
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My name is Hadda Estrada, and I was born and grew up in Paris, France. I spent most of my life in France where I got the
opportunity to travel throughout Europe. After I graduated from the University of Marne-la-Valle in Business Administration, I
decided to pursue my interest in communication and languages.
I moved to Monroe, Louisiana and went to the University of Louisiana at Monroe (ULM) where I furthered my education in Business
Administration. In 2001, I graduated with my BA in Economics. Soon after, I enrolled in the Master of Arts in Communication with
a concentration in Mass Communication. I received my MA from ULM and began teaching Communication courses for over 7 years. As a
Speech Instructor, I taught students from diverse academic, socioeconomic, and cultural backgrounds to combat fears associated
with public speaking and to help them realize speaking attributes.
In 2006, I began working as a Retention Advisor and Communication Studies Instructor and was strongly committed to academic
advising, retention and graduation efforts. I was involved in all aspects of the Student Success Center's functions, to include
advising, teaching, program development and management. I also taught multiple sections of University Seminar each semester.
This class was part of ULM's First Year Experience and the Learning Communities program, a very critical component that impacted
every incoming freshman at the institution. I worked very closely with students each semester to help them transition both
socially and academically to the university.
In 2010, my family and I moved to Spokane. We enjoy being outdoors, going on hikes, and riding our bikes. Our love and passion
for traveling and discovering other cultures is never-ending. All my family lives in Europe, so we try to visit them as much as
possible.
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Johnson, Erin; Spanish Instructor |
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Office: 5-107B
Phone: (509) 533-3948
Email: Erin.Johnson@spokanefalls.edu
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Learning the Spanish language and experiencing Latin culture has enriched me thoroughly and made my world a more colorful place.
However, Spanish is more than just fun, interesting and fulfilling – it is incredibly useful! Over three hundred million people
speak Spanish as their native language and over 20 countries are considered to be Spanish–speaking. By learning to speak this
beautiful language one can communicate with diverse people in the US and abroad, gain a more global perspective, and develop a
valuable skill for work or travel. I am thrilled to be able to share the passion I have for Spanish with my students as they begin
their own journey as a language learner.
I grew up in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and stayed in the area for college. I received my M.A. in Spanish from
Washington State University where I also taught a variety of Spanish courses. As an undergraduate student at the University of
Idaho, I studied abroad in San Jose, Costa Rica and Torino, Italy. My travels also include trips to Mexico, Spain, and Panama. I
am a major advocate for studying abroad and am very excited that SFCC students have the opportunity to do so!
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Valenzuela, Gabriel; Instructor |
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Office: 24-124
Phone: (509) 533-3472
Email: Gabriel.Valenzuela@spokanefalls.edu
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ngora, Lope de Vega, Garcilaso de la Vega,
among others), Cervantes and also the masterpieces of 16th and 17th century theatre (Calderon de la Barca, Tirso de Molina, among
others). Gabriel, like most Spanish students at one point or another, has followed Don Quijote on all of his journeys and the
quixotic nature of Don Alonso has indeed rubbed off! Having studied Italian, Gabriel has also descended into the deepest circles
with Dante Alighieri and Virgil in La Divina Commedia. His primary focus and interest in Italian is found in Boccaccio's
Decamerone, and on quite the opposite end of the spectrum, the genre "Gialli", which is the Detective Novel series.
Teaching language and culture is a deeply rooted passion. His first experience was in a classroom very similar
to the one found on the SFCC campus: In his 3rd year at the UO, Gabriel was assigned a position whereby he gained valuable
experience teacher assisting in Spanish classrooms at Lane Community College in Eugene, Oregon. It was through these months of
tutoring and teacher assisting that Gabriel began to hone his skills and learn many lessons by watching the teachers in their
classes, and two years later he earned a fellowship to teach Italian at the University of Oregon while contemporaneously pursuing
coursework toward an M.A.
An Oregonian through and through, Gabriel has learned that not all roads lead to NE Portland and is now
discovering the jewel which is Spokane. He is very excited to learn what "snow" really means, and at the same time escape from the
land of the incessant rain cloud. He is proud to represent SFCC and work with such remarkable colleagues and bright students.
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