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Victoria Janega Hometown: New Preston, Conn. Major: Secondary Education - Spanish WCSU Degree: Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education - Spanish Internships: Student teaching Activities: Cheerleading, cardio kickboxing, tutoring, work part time at Oliva restaurant in New Preston Honors and Awards: May Sherwood Scholarship, Washington Citizen's Scholarship, Dean's List every semester, 3.96 GPA |
Victoria Janega is fascinated with foreign languages. "I love the Spanish language and want to share my interest for the language and the culture of its speakers with others -- that´s why I want to teach it," she says. "The first foreign language I studied was French, and I began studying it in middle school. I loved French, and one of my dreams when I was younger was to be able to communicate in another language. I took French through level four honors and then, when it wasn't offered for one semester, I began with Spanish my sophomore year in high school. I loved Spanish. My favorite thing about it was that I could roll my R's. So I decided to continue studying Spanish and French at the same time. In high school I completed French through the AP level and Spanish through level four. Ultimately I decided to study Spanish because I felt that the language was more fun and that I was better suiedt for it, and I would be able to use it more in my everyday life."
Janega first enrolled at Westfield State College in Massachusetts, but chose not to stay because they did not offer Spanish as a major -- only as a minor. "I came to WestConn simply because of the proximity," she says. "At that point, I had to commute to school and WestConn was the closest to my house. But I am so glad that I came here because the Spanish program is amazing. My professors are so knowledgeable and helpful. I learned so much from my Spanish studies here at WestConn."
Janega says she was lucky to have Assistant Professor of World Languages and Literature Dr. Alba Skar as her adviser. "Dr. Skar was the first person I met at WestConn," Janega says. "She has advised me and been helpful not only academically, but in many other ways. I feel that I could continue to have a relationship with her in the future."
Asked what she will remember most about her WestConn experience, Janega says, "Performing skits for classmates and going on field trips with my Spanish classes to New York and places in Danbury.”
Something else she speaks of fondly are her travel experiences. "My six-week trip to Chile and my study in Spain
were organized through the International Student Exchange Program that WestConn
uses for travel abroad," she says.
"While abroad, I also traveled with friends to
several countries in Europe, and, while in
Chile, I also went to Argentina on trips I organized
myself.
I learned so much from my experiences abroad. I
believe that all students should spend a semester
abroad or travel; you learn so much about yourself and
other cultures."
After graduation, Janega plans to "Teach Spanish, start grad school
and continue with my studies in Spanish and education
for English language learners."
Janega’s advice to new students entering WCSU is: “Get excited about what you are studying. You should
be excited anyway ... you´ll enjoy it more that way. This
is it, so go to class, do the work and enjoy the
pure pleasure of learning.”
