Language Link Leaders – Spring 2012

Arabic
Maysam Homsi
mhomsi@bu.edu
2013
SAR and SPH/Health Science and International Health

“I enjoy leading Language Link groups because I get to meet students who are as interested and excited about learning Arabic, as I am to be sharing my knowledge with them. Arabic is such a versatile language and what I enjoy most is that it can be so descriptive, so poignant and so expressive.”

 

Chinese
Cynthia Li
sijiali@bu.edu
2012
SMG/Accounting and Finance

“My name is Cynthia Li （李斯嘉）.   I am born and raised in Beijing, China.  I have tutored Chinese and ESL in high school and as well as here at BU.  I want to help everyone learn about the Chinese culture and language.”

 

French
Isabelle Richardson-Borfiga
rbi@bu.edu
2012
CAS/Mathematics and International Relations

“I love working at the ERC doing the French conversations because there is a great interaction among the groups. It’s a great place to learn French and understand the culture that matches the language!”

 

German
Lisa Buckmiller
lbuckmil@bu.edu
2014
GRS/International Relations and International Communication

“Growing up in Germany, my language and culture have never been of particular interest for me until I spent more and more time abroad, as they were a daily norm. I really came to love explaining my culture and language to people with different backgrounds over the last years. After receiving my certificate to teach German last year, I was eager to teach at BU. Language Link is a great way of learning and teaching a language in a more informal setting as the regular classroom.”

 

Hebrew
Hila Landesman
hilaland@bu.edu
2012
CAS/Economics and Environmental Policy

“Hebrew is a very important language to me because of its significance historically and culturally. I grew up speaking Hebrew and enjoy sharing my love for the language with others by helping them express themselves. This is my third year leading Hebrew Language Link groups and it’s been a lot of fun.”

 

Italian
Elsa Molinari
molinari@bu.edu
2014
SMG/Business Administration and Management

“I love the Italian groups because all the students always bring different perspectives to the conversations. We always learn something new about Italy, Italian, and many other topics, it’s fun!”

 

Japanese
Ayaka Matsui
ayakam@bu.edu
2012
CAS/International Relations

“Welcome to Japanese Language Link! My class focuses on learning practical speaking Japanese in a fun and casual setting. All levels are welcome, and no need to be nervous about speaking up. Japanese is such a living language, it constantly undergoes changes in how young people speak. We will be experiencing Japanese culture such as Japanese food and Karaoke as the semester goes on as well. Hope to see you there!”

 

Korean
Ivory Kim
ivorykim@bu.edu
2012
CAS/Psychology

“I have been leading Korean conversation groups for the past 3 years now. I love the Korean culture and the language itself and the fact that I can be a way to introduce to you my passion gives me joy and happiness. I love that Korean is an expressive language and want to help YOU to experience the beauty of it as well. Can’t wait to meet you!”

 

Portuguese
Rafaella Cardoso
rafaella@bu.edu
2012
CAS/Economics and International Relations

“Portuguese is a beautiful language that’s been getting more and more attention in recent history!  I’ve been lucky to have grown up with Portuguese in my household despite having moved to the United States from Brazil when I was four.  The Portuguese Discussion group is a great way for you to practice and further develop your language skills.  I would really recommend the discussion group to anyone interested in the language, especially if you are taking any of Boston University’s Portuguese courses!”

 

Russian
Julia Sinitsky
sinitsa@bu.edu
2014
CAS/International Relations

“Having grown up in a Russian household I have enjoyed Russian poetry, literature, cinema and cuisine from a very young age.  I love leading language link groups because it allows me to interact with people who are intrigued by Russian culture and who wish to improve their Russian speaking skills.  It gives me great pleasure to impart any knowledge I have to those who are interested in learning Russian.”

 

Spanish
Edgar Pizarro
epizarro@bu.edu
2014
CAS/International Relations

“Hola! Well what can I say; Spanish is a beautiful language that has very much become a big part of our everyday lives in America. My passion for Spanish ranges from its customs, dialects to its very tasty and amazing cuisine. The Spanish conversation groups not only enhance students’ conversational skills but also give them understanding in colloquial expressions that might not be customarily used in normal classroom settings. During the semester we will also be watching award-winning films while making sure you obtain an optimal fluency level and might even have the chance to catch some Hispanic food in between. Yum!”

 

Turkish
Deniz Gürbüz
dgurbuz@bu.edu
2012
CAS/International Relations and Psychology

“Hi! I’ve been leading the Turkish group for about two years now and I have been enjoying the experience immensely! I think learning a language is a difficult process and in the midst of working on grammar, writing skills and pronunciation it is easy to forget about learning the culture behind that particular language. Through my groups, I try to provide insight to Turkish culture – which I think is a really rich and interesting –  while facilitating the learning experience!”

 

American Sign Language Group Leaders
For more detailed information about the ASL Language Link please contact the School of Education’s Deaf Studies Program at (617) 353-5191 or deafstdy@bu.edu