Saint Ignatius College Prep offers junior and senior students the opportunity to attain the Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy and the Global Seal of Biliteracy.
The Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy and the Global Seal of Biliteracy are awarded to students to certify that they are biliterate in English and one or more world languages. A biliterate person must be able to read, write, speak, and understand another language in addition to English at the intermediate high or greater proficient level.
Karin Alfaro knew from a young age that she wanted to learn as many languages as possible.
“My parents lived in France, so they always cultivated an appreciation for living abroad and learning about other cultures,” says Alfaro.
That appreciation ultimately led her to learning Spanish as a child.
In school, Alfaro studied Spanish. She loved the subject matter, as well as her professors. It was their teaching that ultimately inspired her to pursue a career in education.
Before Alfaro retires, her goal is to visit all twenty-one countries where Spanish is the official language.
She says, “I want to continue to expand my knowledge and have more authentic material to share with my students. That way when I talk about a place, I can say I’ve been there.”
Alfaro hopes her students use their knowledge to communicate with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
“The whole point of a language is to create community and connections,” says Alfaro.
Her advice for students: Follow your curiosity. Even if it feels crazy, and you don’t know why. You’re usually being led to the best places.
Two subjects captivate Dr. Franco Cirulli: philosophy and language.
“When we unite these two disciplines,” he says, “we get Latin - a language where philosophy is embedded in every word. Take the Latin word gratia,” he shares, “Gratia can mean a mindset of gratitude, but it can also mean a favor done for the sake of friendship. The word is a philosophy itself - it shows us that thankfulness and kindness are bonded, or perhaps, inseparable.”
Dr. Cirulli teaches four years of Latin, a Greek elective, and he moderates the Classics Club at Saint Ignatius College Prep.
Latin might be a “dead” language, but Dr. Cirulli believes it can be an exciting path to uncover the origin of much of our contemporary philosophy and language. “With Latin, we can step into a time machine and view the ghost that stalks our languages, laws and ideas,” says Dr. Cirulli. “And in my classroom,” he pauses and grins, “we can revive it.”
Education and Jesuit tradition are central points to Dr. Criulli’s character. His mother was an English teacher in his home town of Foligno, Italy, and he maintains this dedication to excellence in the classroom. “Education is about confronting a tradition,” he explains. “It’s not about accepting that tradition, necessarily, but rather giving it our best ear and incorporating our own experiences and ideas into it.”
The Latin acronym that guides Saint Ignatius’ mission - AMDG - inspired Dr. Cirulli to join Saint Ignatius in 2021. “Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam is not an abstract idea. We can glorify God by making him present everyday in our interactions with others. That’s why I wanted to become an Ignatian.”
From the moment she took her first Spanish class in middle school, Lauren Gillilland has been captivated by the language and its culture.
“Spanish has always been my passion. I’ve loved learning it ever since I was in school,” says Gillilland. “I also had amazing Spanish teachers who inspired me to travel.”
Their inspiration and her desire to learn took her on a journey across the globe. One of her favorite stops was Buenos Aires, where she lived for more than a year.
“I loved feeling like a local... going to museums, making friends and tango dancing,” says Gillilland. “The city has so much culture that I now get to share with my students.”
The highlight of Gillilland’s day is seeing her students get excited about what she’s teaching them. She says she appreciates their curiosity and willingness to learn, as it makes her job easier and even more enjoyable.
One rule in Gillilland's class: No speaking English.
She explains, “It’s the best way for them to learn and really feel like they’re a part of the culture.”
One of Matthew Sparapani’s greatest inspirations is his father, an English professor.
When Sparapani saw his dad’s passion for sharing knowledge and helping students, he knew that he, too, wanted to become a teacher. He also loved books. Having grown up reading C.S. Lewis, Lord of the Rings, and a range of literature that got his imagination going, Sparapani cultivated a curiosity about the world around him. An avid learner, he focused on two languages that contributed to civilization building: Latin and Greek.
When it came time for his job search in the field he loved, the only available, full-time Latin teaching position was at Saint Ignatius College Prep. Sparapani had never heard of the school. He said, “It felt like a sign from God leading me to teach here.”
Latin has been part of the Saint Ignatius curriculum for 154 years. So Sparapani feels like he’s “part of continuity” when it comes to preserving the historical legacy of Latin at the school. He’s even taken the tradition and used it as a platform to explore new ways to enjoy the language. That’s how Latin Days, a fun, deep-dive into the classics for the Junior Wolfpack, came to be. Sparapani also leads the Classical Odyssey which is a trip to Italy and Greece, and he guides the Classics Club and Latin Honors Society.
When he’s not in the classroom, you’ll find Sparapani coaching Freshmen Boys Soccer and JV Girls Soccer. In any free time that’s left, he and his wife Alison travel the world and enjoy photographing nature in the places they visit. Some of Sparapani’s favorites include Italy, South Africa and Iceland. He and his wife have written two books that highlight nature photography and hiking. They also have a blog (https://takeahikephotography.com/ ) in which they share the beauty of nature they’ve been fortunate enough to see first hand. It’s not a traditional classroom, but in a way, it’s teaching!
Sparapani says, “The longer you teach, the longer you love it.”
Fr. Jean-Audrey Touloulou SJ
Saint Ignatius College Prep
Saint Ignatius College Prep, a Jesuit Catholic school in the heart of Chicago, is a diverse community dedicated to educating young men and women for lives of faith, love, service and leadership.