Corina Murcia grew up enjoying the warm seas of her birthplace, Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina. This semester, she leaves all that behind in exchange for the rolling plains of DeKalb.

Murcia is an English professor at the Universidad de Cuyo, located in the city of Mendoza. Recently, she received the Fulbright Teacher Exchange grant, given to those who demonstrate the highest level of academic achievement at the university level. While she initially had qualms about embarking on the 5,000-mile journey, she realized the potential for an opportunity such as this.

“At the university where I work in Argentina, we got the information about the program inviting somebody from the school to participate,” Murcia said. “At that school, there is a teacher who participated two years ago, and she suggested I come and live the same experience she had. I thought it was a good idea, so I spoke with my boyfriend and my family, and they said, ‘Well, it all sounds really good,’ so that’s why I decided to come.”

Here, Murcia will teach Spanish to several groups of students, which she admitted to be “very exciting.” She believes there are many differences between students in Mendoza and DeKalb, which gives her a fresh perspective on her teaching methodologies.

The most notable difference, she said, is American students are more apprehensive to speak the language within the classroom. It is a difference she would love to help eradicate.

“I would like to help my students here to feel more comfortable when speaking [Spanish],” she said. “My objective, at a personal level, is to help students speak more: among themselves, with me and without fear.”

Murcia already made friends within the department, including NIU Spanish professor Dr. Mirta Pagnucci, who also received a Fulbright grant.

On Sept. 26, Pagnucci will take Murcia’s place at the Universidad de Cuyo to teach English literature and composition to students becoming English teachers.

“I like the opportunity of living in a Spanish-speaking country for four months,” Pagnucci said. “I’m really looking forward to it. It’s going to be a great semester.”

Like her counterpart, there are some boundaries to overcome. Whereas nearly every building at NIU is equipped with “smart classrooms,” the lecture halls at the Universidad de Cuyo are not as technologically advanced. But teaching in a different environment is all part of soaking in the culture of a different country, she said.

“I’m very spoiled with all the technology,” Pagnucci said of American classrooms. “I would say that they’re not using as much technology as we are; they don’t have as many resources as we do.”

Technological setbacks aside, the thrill of seeing a different crop of students and sleeping in a different bed will make it all worthwhile.

“I’m really looking forward to experiencing the culture and living with a family for the whole semester,” Pagnucci said. “It’s going to be great working with [Murcia’s] colleagues.”