Gianna Micieli ‘30
Where are you from?
I am from Málaga, a coastal city in the south of Spain.
Where and what have you studied before Holy Cross?
I studied a Bachelor’s Degree in Translation and Interpreting of English and Russian at the University of Granada. After that, I got my Master’s Degree in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language at the same uni, where I also started a PhD program in Linguistics just a year ago.
What is something interesting or fun about you that most people do not know?
When I was 8 years old, I started writing stories in my Spanish notebook every Friday. But I soon ran out of paper, so I taught myself to type on a computer and ended up finishing four short novels, two horror and two action-adventure. I also tried to write a dictionary of my grandparents’ dialect, but I gave up halfway through. You might find my “books” somewhere on a random online literature forum from the early 2010s, so please be gentle with third-grade me.
What brought you to Holy Cross?
After finishing my master’s degree, my classmates and I attended several information sessions and talks about opportunities to teach abroad. One of these opportunities was at Holy Cross, and one of those classmates was Laura Villegas, who was selected to be a LA last year. She told me so many wonderful things about the experience that I decided to apply and got accepted! So that’s the main reason I’m here now. So far, everything I’d hoped for at HC has come true, and I’m truly grateful for the opportunity.
Are you taking any classes at Holy Cross?
Yes, this semester I’m taking SPAN 326 (Foundations of Inclusive Spanish Language Teaching) and ARAB 101 (Elementary Arabic 1). After learning English, Russian, Chinese, and French, Arabic was the other major world language I’d always wanted to start learning, and it’s been an amazing course so far.
شكرًا يا نغم وإبراهيم،اللّهـم بارك (Thank you, Nagham and Ibrahim!)
Coffee, tea, or energy drinks during study sessions?
Well, of course, some dirty soda from Campion! Besides that, I’ve developed a huge passion for chai and matcha.
How have you seen the program impact yourself and your students?
Even though it’s only been two months, I feel like I’ve grown a lot as a person. This opportunity has also put to rest any doubts I previously had about my future. I know now that I want to become a professor and teach languages. As for my students, I’ve seen some go from considering dropping the course altogether because of their low grades to scoring over 90% on tests and showing up to every practicum full of motivation and excitement for the language. Seeing that kind of progress has been incredibly rewarding, and it reminds me why I want to pursue a career in teaching.
What’s your go-to song when you need motivation?
Titanium by David Guetta and Sia.
What do you enjoy most about being a “LA”?
It combines the best of both worlds: being a student while also being a teacher. You still have the energy to go on adventures and stay out late with friends, while also enjoying the freedom of adult life and being able to do whatever you want. Another thing I love is that I’m only a few years older than my students, so we share many similar childhood experiences and can truly connect with one another.
Where do you enjoy hanging out outside of class?
You will most likely find me chilling in the Spanish Lounge, grabbing ice cream at Cool Beans, or watching sports games at Croads.
Finish this sentence: “The “LA” program matters because…”
The LA program matters because it gives students the opportunity to interact authentically with native speakers their own age, who not only help them express themselves more confidently in the language but also introduce them to new cultures and perspectives that enrich their worldviews. The program is an investment in both young learners and those who will go on to become teachers and professors.
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