Subject Areas of Competence and Interest:

• Latin American Studies (literature, culture and history)
• Literary Theory and Criticism
• Translation theory and practice
• Spanish Language
• Bilingual Education
• Second language teaching methodology

Contracts and internships are particularly fruitful for advanced and graduating students. I consider internships more useful than contracts since they give students the opportunity to learn through a working experience, which they would never get in a classroom. Students in their last year can develop interesting contract projects, providing that they have sufficient background, the right level of commitment and motivation, and a well-defined subject and plan of study. The following guidelines should be carefully read by students interested in my sponsorship.

• I do not like to sponsor contracts to learn the basics of Spanish language for which classes are best. I would agree to sponsor contracts to enhance Spanish skills through reading, writing or the systematic study of grammar.
• I accept traveling contracts only from former students and when the trip is essential to the development of the proposed work.
• I like to see a well-written statement of the project, a preliminary bibliography and their plan to accomplish the work, before agreeing to sponsor students for contracts. Sometimes, I help students to define the contract, especially if they have worked previously with me.
• References from other faculty and the quality of students' previous work are also important indicators of students' ability to carry out contracts.
• Students doing contracts for 12 or 16 credits will meet weekly with me.Their weekly work report should evidence full-time dedication to the project. Students doing contracts for 8 credits will meet with me bi-weekly. Students who miss more than one meeting should expect loss of credit.

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