Ms. Lily Barcelona

Bio:

Upon learning Spanish, I had obtained my passport-the passport that would take me outside the borders of my ordinary existence, that would allow me to communicate with certain people who would change me, that would take me to the most unforgettable experiences of my life.

I wrote that in my journal in Peru in 2003 while reflecting on that summer.

My skills in Spanish have allowed me to have some of the best experiences of my life--studying abroad. My junior year in college I stayed in Granada and Toledo, Spain. After beginning my teaching career at Hinsdale Central, I pursued a Masters degree that took me to a different Spanish-speaking country each summer-including Spain (again), Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Peru. Each family that I stayed with and the people I met through those travels have taught me so much.

When I was introduced to Spanish in elementary school and then began studying it on a regular basis in 6th grade, I just fell in love with the language. In high school, I came across this quote of a poet named Ezra Pound, "The sum of human wisdom is not contained in any one language." I was fascinated by that simple statement and knew that I had to learn Spanish well enough to really experience what he meant.

As a native of these suburbs, I'm so excited to be teaching at Butler! Growing up in Willowbrook and Oak Brook, I attended St. Isaac's and Hinsdale Central. I live in downtown Chicago with my husband and in my free time, I love to travel, practice photography, and spend time with family and friends.

Education:

· Bachelor of Arts in the Teaching of Spanish: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
· Master of Arts in Spanish: California State University at Sacramento

Goal:

My goal is to get kids to love Spanish (or at the very least, appreciate it) as much as I do.

Why I Became A Teacher:

I'm a passionate person and I always want other people to try out the things that I love. What better way to do that than teach?!