Meet the faculty of the Modern Languages Department
Jane Griffin
Associate Professor and Department Chair
How did you become passionate about the language you teach and the cultures associated with it?
I grew up in Southern California surrounded by the Spanish language and Hispanic cultures and have been drawn to both from a very early age. Spanish was always my favorite subject in school, but I learned most of the language by working in restaurants and speaking with Spanish-speaking co-workers. In college I studied abroad in Santiago, Chile, where my love of the Spanish language and Hispanic cultures reached new heights. I’ve been hooked ever since!
Describe one class you have taught recently that was especially interesting and/or rewarding.
In the fall of 2018 I taught an advanced Spanish course called Gender Benders in Latin American Literature. I loved this class because it allowed me to bring so much of my own research on Gender Studies into the classroom. Since a young age I’ve been fascinated by figures such as Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, María Luisa Bombal, Eva Peron, and Pedro Lemebel. Studying these figures alongside some truly exceptional Bentley undergraduates was a highlight of my teaching career.
What is one research or curricular project you are currently working on?
For many years I’ve been studying a literary contest in Santiago, Chile called Santiago en 100 Palabras (Santiago in 100 Words). In the past few years the contest has expanded to multiple cities around the globe, and I am currently studying that expansion. I’m also working on a paper on the editorial politics of Chilean writer Pedro Lemebel.
What advice do you have for Bentley students wanting to learn a foreign language?
My advice is to practice the language outside the classroom as much as possible. I always tell my students who study Spanish to get summer and/or part time jobs working alongside other Spanish-speakers and to practice with them as much as possible. Study abroad can also be an excellent way to improve language skills if a student is committed to undergoing an immersive experience. Listening to podcasts and audiobooks in another language is also great practice.