Language Department

List of 16 members.

• 

  Ms. Cheryl Grens 

  Spanish Teacher/Department Chair

  Bio

  Cheryl Grens’ path to the head of the classroom began in childhood. 

  
  

  “My mom was a teacher and I wanted to be like her,” says Ms.Grens, “Anytime we had a day off, I got to be her assistant in the classroom.”

  
  

  Then in junior high, she became a student of Spanish. She soon used her ability to speak another language to connect with Spanish speakers in her neighborhood. She found the ability to communicate inspiring. She also loved what she describes as the two-fold beauty of language.

  
  

  Ms. Grens explains, “There’s a mathematical approach to plugging in variables and learning the formula, and then once you get comfortable putting together sentences, it becomes an art of communicating and understanding the culture.”

  
  

  Knowing she wanted to share the magic of her mother’s work and her own passion for language, Ms. Grens followed in some very important footsteps to become a teacher…and she loves it. The progress her students here at Saint Ignatius College Prep make every day and over the course of the year really motivates her. She elaborates, “When I see students put themselves out there and try - just the effort - I love seeing…the students get out of their comfort zone and just try to speak the language.”

  
  

  Her work with them is her way of helping them open their world to connection and cultural opportunities, from food, to music, to film and beyond. What a gift!
• 

  Ms. Karin Alfaro 

  Spanish Teacher

  Bio

  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.
• 

  Fr. Aaron Bohr , S.J. 

  Chinese & Social Studies Teacher

  Bio

  Fr. Aaron Bohr, S.J.,  is something of a renaissance man. He teaches both Chinese Language and World History at Saint Ignatius College Prep, making him one of the few teachers with multiple specialities. But his academic knowledge and experience as a Jesuit go far beyond those two domains. 

   

  Fr. Bohr, like all Jesuits, received advanced education in theology and philosophy. “Catholic theology and social teaching make their way into my classroom each and every day,” he shares. Fr. Bohr begins each class with a communal prayer, a reminder to his students that God is present at every moment of our lives. 

  
  

  Fr. Bohr sees himself not just as a teacher, but as a mentor for the students. “The Jesuits across campus are here to help our students,” he shares. “I want my students to know that they can approach me with any personal or theological concerns that arise.” 

  
  

  Fr. Bohr is especially passionate about teaching Chinese, the language with the most native speakers in the world. “My father is a retired Professor of Chinese History and my mother is ethnically Chinese,” he reflects. “For me, Chinese language was a gateway that allowed me to access both my personal heritage and one of the richest and most fascinating cultures on the planet. I want to share that with my students.” 
• 

  Dr. Franco Cirulli PhD 

  Latin/Greek Teacher

  Bio

  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.”
• 

  Ms. Courtney Crawford 

  Spanish Teacher

  Bio

  Ms. Courtney Crawford describes her path to becoming a Spanish teacher as one of immersion in the language and culture of Spanish-speaking countries. “I studied and lived in Mexico, and then later in Madrid,” she shares. “The traveling, the arts, the dance, the host families - my ability with the language and my appreciation for the culture blossomed when I was able to immerse myself.”

  
  

  Likewise, Ms. Crawford’s Spanish classes at Saint Ignatius blend language instruction with cultural immersion. Ms. Crawford has brought speakers, muralists, dancers and musicians from Chicago’s various Latin communities to Saint Ignatius. “The Spanish speaking world has such a rich tapestry of cultures, many of which live right here in Chicago,” she says. “I hope to bring that to life for my students and make the exploration of those cultures an interactive and exciting experience.” 

  
  

  Ms. Crawford's commitment to immersing her students in Spanish culture also includes implementing and leading numerous cultural exchanges, namely trips with students to Spain, the Chile Exchange Program and service trips to the United States-Mexico border. “These are great opportunities that open up students’ worldview by connecting them with communities that they’ve likely never interacted with,” she says.

  
  For Ms. Crawford, the values central to the Jesuit mission drive her pedagogical philosophy. “This is a school that emphasizes spiritual formation, fine arts, social justice and cura personalis,” she says. “All of those aspects form the mission of the school and the day to day activities of this school.”
• 

  Ms. Anna Donko 

  Spanish Teacher
• 

  Mr. Fernando Fonseca 

  Spanish Teacher

  Bio

  What Mr. Fernando Fonseca appreciates the most about the Jesuit mission is commitment to social justice and helping others. Indeed, Mr. Fonseca’s journey to Saint Ignatius College Prep is an embodiment of that mission.

  
  

  Originally from Mexico, Mr. Fonseca moved to Nicaragua to work supporting homeless individuals of that community. He later moved to Colombia to attend university and later to teach. It is there that he first learned about the Jesuits. 

  
  

  “It is such a privilege to use my talents and knowledge to help make someone’s life easier,” he shares. “That is why I wanted to become a teacher: to use my skills to help students better understand Spanish language and culture.”

  
  

  Mr. Fonseca teaches two levels of Spanish language, as well as Spanish Heritage, a unique course offered at Saint Ignatius College Prep. Spanish Heritage is designed for students who already have a command of Spanish, and allows them to study advanced grammar and vocabulary as well as readings and media from the Spanish-speaking world.

  
  

  “We have many students at Saint Ignatius who use Spanish frequently at home,” he says. “Spanish Heritage is a unique opportunity for those to really hone their Spanish vocabulary and grammar, and to dive deep into Latin and Spanish culture.”
• 

  Mrs. Lauren Gillilland 

  Spanish Teacher

  Bio

  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.”
• 

  Ms. Anca Guiu 

  French Teacher
• 

  Ms. Kellye Guzik 

  French Teacher
• 

  Ms Erin Johnson 

  French Teacher
• 

  Mrs. Ana Krause 

  Spanish Teacher
• 

  Dr. Miriam Leung PhD 

  Chinese Teacher

  Bio

  Dr. Miriam Leung sees every Chinese symbol as a story. One of her favorites is 學, a verb meaning “to learn.”

  
  

  “Can you see the story in this symbol?” she asks as she takes a laminated print of the character off her classroom wall. “The top of the action resembles two hands holding a book, and the bottom half is the symbol for a child,” she explains. “學 tells us a story, that we learn when we are kids and continue to learn throughout our entire lives.”

  
  

  Students in Dr. Leung’s class learn to see the faces, the meaning and the story behind Mandarin. They also use their knowledge of the language as a vessel to learn about the culture. “My goal is that my students can use the language creatively and appreciate the richness of Chinese culture,” she shares. Her students, for example, have completed projects including designing restaurant menus, writing postcards, and drawing China plates, all of which are hung on the back wall of her classroom.

  
  

  學, or learning, is on Dr. Leung’s mind quite frequently when she is at Saint Ignatius College Prep. “Saint Ignatius is unique, because I can learn both intellectually and spiritually each day alongside the students,” she says. Dr. Leung, who’s originally from Taiwan, sees herself as being called to pursue education and knowledge in the United States, and her time at Saint Ignatius is the culmination of that journey. 

  
  

  “Saint Ignatius is a special place,” she says, “one where academics, family, spirituality and learning can all come together.”
• 

  Ms. Rebecca McBride 

  Spanish Teacher
• 

  Mr. Matthew Sparapani 

  Latin/Greek Teacher

  Bio

  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