Michael Eza

The Road To Teaching



Posted: Wednesday, November 16, 2011

by Michael Eza

Dr. Sonia Cintrón-Marrero is a professor of Modern and Classical Languages at Eastern Connec
ticut State University (ECSU).   At the desk in her office right before lunch in front of her neatly shelved books from behind thin brimmed glasses and long curly black hair she says that
     “When you teach you learn more because you have to be very well prepared.”
     However, Professor Cintrón-Marrero didn’t always feel this way.  When she first began teaching she recalls how there weren’t many other jobs for women, it was the sixties and women were needed in the fields of nursing or as secretaries and of course teaching. Professor Cintrón-Marrero was offered a job teaching seventh and eighth graders after graduating.  She enjoyed the subject and the literature and culture of Spanish, but the students of her inner-city classroom of New York City were not the easiest to teach.  Many of them did not want to be there.
     After a short time Professor Cintrón-Marrero received recommendations from two of her former professors to continue her education and join the masters program at the University of Connecticut (UCONN).  This was a shocking and new experience.   At the time there weren’t busses in the area and when she and her companion (who was also beginning the program) arrived, they had to hitch-hike a ride from downtown Willimantic to UCONN.  Professor Cintrón-Marrero remarks how the driver said
“My wife doesn’t like me driving because I drink too much.”
     The two of them ended up departing with this suave fellow at a gas station just outside of UCONN where they found another ride into campus with a professor.  The program at UCONN was intense. Professor Cintrón-Marrero began teaching Advanced Composition and Grammar to students around her own age (at the time Professor Cintrón-Marrero was twenty–two). 
This was a difficult task for her, but she persevered because “I enjoyed so much being with those who wanted to be there.” She said.  Also she was never afraid to ask for a professor's help when she needed it.
Today, in Dr. Cintrón-Marrero own classes she will typically try to begin personably by asking basic questions that relate to the students.  Once she has a topic that they can relate to, she uses it to explain the history, culture and significance of the language.
“Where is Alberto (an absent student she explains) today?”  she asks, “Quien Sabe?” she says which means –who knows?
The best way to learn another language is to immerse in that languages books and culture, but most importantly “…to travel.” Professor Cintrón-Marrero says.  “You have to not be afraid of making a mistake in order to learn.”
Michael is an activist who has helped solve problems with the environment, children's health and he has helped to find missing children.

Take a look at some of his stories and feel free to comment, like, or high 5 them. He generally writes about all sorts of topics, most of his recent topics are about teaching, writing and poetry.

Love the words! Wryte Stuff.
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