Maria Gurovich (ANTH ’08) working a student at Our Lady of Mercy Community Outreach
What have you been doing since you graduated?
I have been working at Our Lady of Mercy Community Outreach and I’m currently getting my Master of Education in Languages, with a concentration in ESOL, from the College of Charleston Graduate School and I hope to graduate in May of ’13.
What is your current position?
I am an ESL (English as a Second Language) facilitator and instructor at Our Lady of Mercy Community Outreach on Johns Island where I coordinate a program of instruction for students of other languages. I also prepare lesson plans for multiple classes for volunteer tutors to implement. I teach and prepare lesson plans for multi-level classes. My job includes facilitating and conducting tutor training sessions throughout the academic year. Additionally, I organize and facilitate extra-curricular activities within the ESOL Program as well as translate documents from Spanish to English and interpret as needed. My job duties also include serving as a liaison between our clients and students and other social service agencies as needed.
What advice would you offer to new students at the College of Charleston who are thinking of declaring a major in Anthropology?
Having an anthropology major gives you a great basis for many professions. However, it is also a good idea to get another major or a minor such as Spanish. Having more than one major looks better on your resume and gives you more opportunites.
What advice would you offer to students graduating from the College of Charleston with a degree in Anthropology?
Look for jobs in many different fields and do not worry! Having a major in Anthropology is an asset and it will help you find a job that you will love. Getting my degree in Anthropology was an amazing experience. I would recommend it to anyone whether you would like to join the worforce after college or continue your education.
What was your most memorable learning experience in Anthropology?
There were so many! Definitely the course on the Central American history that now really comes in handy at my current work. As part of this course we watched many wonderful ethnographic videos that deepened my understanding of the world and us, humans.
How has your experience in Anthropology at the College of Charleston helped you in your career?
My experience in the field of Anthropology gave me a deeper knowledge and understanding of other cultures. I share this knowledge with the volunteers to help them be more effective teachers.
What unexpected benefits have you derived from a degree in Anthropology?
Every day when I plan classes my background in Anthropology helps me make them more interesting and relevant to human lives. Also, my Anthropology background gave me a lot of knowledge of other cultures.
What class did you most enjoy while earning your degree at the College of Charleston?
I loved Anthropology 342 Human Behavior and Evolution. We covered so many interesing topics such as human behaviors that we can observe today but can be explained in evolutionary terms. The course included topics from evolutionary psychology, evolutionary medicine to name a few. I learned a lot of facinating facts.
What class was the most applicable to your everyday life now that you’ve graduated?
Anthropology 205 Language and Culture really helps me in my everyday (professional) life as an language instructor.
What made you choose the College of Charleston over other schools?
I love Charleston! The Anthropology department had a very good reputation and it definitely lived up to my expectations.
How has an Anthropology degree made you a more well-rounded person?
The field of anthropology covers a variety of topics. Throughout my studies I learned about human behavior, human anatomy, archeology, and a lot of history that helped me understand other cultures and my own behavior.