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Ekaterina Trofimova
From languages to literature, Russian student Ekaterina Trofimova discovers new horizons at ASU.
Ekaterina Trofimova discovered she had a natural
facility for language while still in her teens. She earned her Bachelor's degree
in teaching French and English, with a minor in teaching music, at the respected
Komi State Pedagogical Institute (KSPI) in Syktyvkar, Russia, graduating with an
overall G.P.A. of 5.0/5.0 (equivalent to 4.0 in the US)
"Being a French
major did not mean that I would have to study only the material related to my
subject," says Ekaterina, "but also subjects to expand my horizons and obtain
knowledge in many areas of science." In addition to languages, her studies at
the Institute included comprehensive courses in philosophy, computer science,
mathematics, political science and history, which she believes were necessary to
her future as a language teacher. "We can use a foreign language to talk about
anything in the world," she says, "so I think a foreign language teacher has to
be aware of many aspects of life and science."
A one-year cultural
exchange program brought Ekaterina to the United States in 2005. While living
with an American host family, she began taking classes at Chandler-Gilbert
Community College and perfecting her English language skills. Classes in
management and marketing further rounded out her knowledge. "I consider these
subjects to be useful in assuming administrative duties in an academic
institute, in addition to teaching," she says.
"I realized that obtaining a Master's degree at ASU would give me greater career opportunities in the future," she says. Ekaterina received a University Graduate Fellowship (UGF) from the Graduate College and the Department of Languages and Literature after acceptance at ASU. She is also teaching courses in French as a Teaching Assistant in the Department of Languages & Literatures.
"My excitement about learning foreign languages and the
success that I have had in this field thus far has encouraged me to pursue a
graduate level degree in French literature," says Ekaterina. She is intrigued
with 19th century French literature as it relates to women and is planning to
research how the author Guy de Maupassant portrayed women in 19th century
society and its parallels to contemporary feminism.
Ekaterina plans to graduate in the summer of 2008. Her immediate plans include a Summer Study Abroad Program in Quebec to get more French language experience in a francophone region, as well as long-range plans to travel to the Greek isles to learn the Greek language.
"I realized that obtaining a Master's degree at ASU would give me greater career opportunities in the future," she says. Ekaterina received a University Graduate Fellowship (UGF) from the Graduate College and the Department of Languages and Literature after acceptance at ASU. She is also teaching courses in French as a Teaching Assistant in the Department of Languages & Literatures.
"My excitement about learning foreign languages and the
success that I have had in this field thus far has encouraged me to pursue a
graduate level degree in French literature," says Ekaterina. She is intrigued
with 19th century French literature as it relates to women and is planning to
research how the author Guy de Maupassant portrayed women in 19th century
society and its parallels to contemporary feminism. Ekaterina plans to graduate in the summer of 2008. Her immediate plans include a Summer Study Abroad Program in Quebec to get more French language experience in a francophone region, as well as long-range plans to travel to the Greek isles to learn the Greek language.