Recent University of Alabama graduates Seema Kumar and Elyse McLaughlin received U.S. Fulbright Scholarships to teach the English language in a foreign country through the Fulbright International Education Exchange Program.

Kumar and McLaughlin will study abroad during the 2012-2013 academic year in an effort to “increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries,” according to the Fulbright Program’s website. Transportation, tuition, book and research allowances and living expenses for the year will be provided by the program.

After previously studying abroad in Granada, Spain, in the spring of 2011, Kumar chose to apply to Spain to further travel around the country. Kumar says she is excited to experience a completely different region of Spain in Santander.

“I love the diversity of Spain, and I’m excited to get to explore the country further,” Kumar said. Kumar will be teaching students ages 13 to 15 at a secondary bilingual school, IES Montesclaros, in Reinosa, a small town just outside of Santander. Kumar says she will have several different teaching roles within the school, helping with aspects such as math, music, history, geography, citizenship and ethics in English.

“One of my greatest passions is learning and experiencing other cultures, so I cannot wait to be fully immersed in this unique opportunity,” she said.

In Kumar’s initial application, she proposed side projects as a part of Fulbright’s mission to promote cross-cultural sharing and understanding. One of the project ideas included a book club involving different people and books to help understand other cultures.

Kumar feels as though her background in biology and Spanish, as well as aid from previous UA faculty members and mentors, has prepared her for the upcoming trip.

“I feel very confident about my Spanish skills and ability to communicate,” Kumar said. “I know that I have such a great support system from UA, and it really has made all the difference.”

However, she says the most rewarding part will also be the most challenging part.

“Being totally immersed in a community in a different culture is such a rare opportunity,” said Kumar. “I know that the transition won’t be easy, but I also know that I’ll learn to adjust and grow to love this community and its people.”

East of Spain, McLaughlin will be studying in Cosenza, Italy, in hopes to “gain insight into the Italian way of life, learning and teaching while inspiring an appreciation of the American individual and culture.”

McLaughlin hopes this insight can one day apply to her own early-childhood classroom and be shared with other professionals in her field.

UA’s New College Interdisciplinary Program led McLaughlin to focus on early childhood development and dance, with a minor in Italian. In addition to pursuing her passion of dance, McLaughlin says she was also “very passionate about working with children in the classroom and learning more about how they develop.”

McLaughlin later graduated with a master’s degree in human development and family studies and served as a graduate assistant at UA’s Children’s Program. McLaughlin feels her experience as an undergraduate and master’s student at UA has set her up for success as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant.

“The opportunities to live, work and observe the Italian approach to teaching and early childhood education will shape my teaching style in the classroom while I am in Italy and for the rest of my life,” McLaughlin said.

She will be assisting a high school English class, as well as volunteering with area preschool programs to observe Italy’s famous Reggio Emilia and Montessori approaches, which focus on creativity in young children.

“Elyse is an intelligent and incredible young woman,” UA professor April Kendrick said. “I feel that she will be an excellent representative for the University of Alabama in Cosenza, Italy, and that this amazing opportunity will be mutually beneficial. I, along with so many others in the department of human development and family studies, am so proud of her.”

As part of the Fulbright experience, McLaughlin will be expected to share her culture with the students in her classroom. McLaughlin will prepare videos and slideshow pictures of Tuscaloosa and the UA campus, as well as present football shakers.

“I have even purchased a T-shirt from the SUPe Store that has ‘Roll Tide’ translated into 16 different languages on the back of it, including Italian,” McLaughlin said.

McLaughlin feels the most challenging aspect of the Fulbright program will be the idea of being half a world away from her support system. However, McLaughlin says she has faith the entire experience will be rewarding in ways she cannot imagine.

“When I return to the U.S., I will bring with me the knowledge and experience of teaching and learning in an environment that is distinctly different from any that I have experienced before,” she said. “I feel that this will allow me to reenter the early childhood classroom with a new perspective on how to creatively implement emergent literacy activities, as well as multicultural experiences with the children that I teach.”