Marianella Jara teaches beginning to middle intermediate Spanish courses. In 2014, she was awarded the title of Senior Lecturer. Also, in 2014 she won the "Lecturer of the Year Award' awarded by the Center for Teaching Excellence. In 2010, Ms. Jara received the Dicere Aude Award for excellence in teaching. She loves taking students abroad during the spring and summer breaks. She has served as the director of six summer study abroad programs to Spain and an Honors Seminar / field experience focusing on the Arabic, Islamic influence in Spain . She has been the Spanish Club adviser for nine consecutive years. As the adviser to the Spanish Club she helps organize events to help the Hispanic community in Wilmington as well as activities that foster appreciation for the Spanish Language and Hispanic Culture. She has also taught a Spanish for Educators class. Through this class students volunteered and helped support the first fully bilingual immersion program in New Hanover county at Forest Hills Elementary. In addition, Ms. Jara along with Ms. Rider, and Ms. Kelley produces the FLL Newsletter yearly. Recently she has created and taught a Spanish 120 synchronous course. Currently she is developing an Honors Seminar about Costa Rican culture and environmental issues that will take students to Costa Rica during Spring break and help with international volunteering projects. She is also working on a study for publication and presentation on The Acquisition of Spanish Dialectal Features by L2 Spanish Students.
