Phoebe Brown ’24 Earns Fulbright to Spain

Phoebe Brown ’24 has earned a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) to Spain for the 2024-2025 academic year, giving her the opportunity to teach English in an early education school in the Canary Islands. “I have never been to Spain – let alone the Canary Islands – so I am very excited to venture there and learn more about the diverse culture of the Canaries,” says the biology major, who earned minors in Spanish and dance and had concentrations in global health and education studies. “I’m also looking forward to teaching and applying what I have learned at Oberlin while exploring new teaching methods at the local primary schools.”

How did Oberlin influence you to pursue the Fulbright?

I realized that the teaching and mentoring opportunities built into Oberlin’s curriculum set up students well for grants such as Fulbright. Like many Oberlin Fulbright grantees before me, my language teaching began through a program started by Kim Faber: Spanish in the Elementary Schools (SITES). As part of SITES, I took a Language Pedagogy course, which explores various pedagogical techniques and provides students with a groundwork of language through phonetics, culture, and bilingual education. I attribute much of my interest in language teaching and learning to that class and SITES, as they gave me plentiful opportunities to draft lesson plans, teach, reflect, and try again!

I am also grateful to have taken many wonderful Spanish courses at Oberlin. I took Elementary Spanish I, taught by Kim Faber on Zoom during my freshman year, mainly to fulfill my diversity credit. Despite the online class, this was the first time I realized that language learning could be fun; it spans more than grammar and conjugation charts! Whether I knew it then, I think that experience planted the seed for my interest in (language) pedagogy and encouraged me to continue taking Spanish language classes within the Hispanic studies department. 

One of my other biggest mentors throughout my four years has been Holly Handman-Lopez. Aside from my studies, I love to dance! Holly is one of those professors who endlessly cheers you on and advocates for you from the start. She is someone who has contributed significantly to my growth as an artist, as she has overseen many of the dance-related projects I have been involved in. 

I recently took a Dance Pedagogy course with Alysia Ramos, and I realized there is much overlap between teaching a language and dance. Both involve breaking down steps, memorizing patterns, and figuring out ways to communicate. I love watching Holly and Alysia apply this in their teaching; having such skilled mentors has been wonderful. Dance — and the support I’ve received from the Oberlin dance environment — are things I hope to bring with me abroad! 

How does pursuing the Fulbright align with your post-college life and career goals?

I plan to work in healthcare as a nurse or a physician assistant. I think the core of Fulbright is breaching cultural barriers, which is an essential part of working in health. A huge part of being a healthcare worker involves being a compassionate patient educator. Being a part of the Fulbright program will allow me to understand what being a compassionate educator means — and how that can be applied across many disciplines.

What’s the best advice you’ve received from your Oberlin faculty mentor?

Take advantage of Oberlin’s expanse of activities. Don’t be afraid to take the random courses that sound exciting, but don’t fit into your major. You never know what you might learn; don’t be afraid to be curious.

Activities Phoebe was involved in at Oberlin: Co-founded and co-presided the Adopted Obies Club; Ballet Oberlin Teacher; Vibe Dance Company Member; SITES Instructor (2022-2023), OWLS Clear Mentor (2023-2024).

If you’re a rising or graduating senior interested in Fulbright, connect with Fellowships & Awards to learn more about pursuing research or an arts project, obtaining a graduate degree, or teaching English in a foreign country of your choice following graduation.