Rollins Profiles
A sense of community is one of the many characteristics that makes
Rollins College special. Let us introduce you to a few of the people
who make up our community. Meet some of "R-People!"
Gabriel I. Barreneche, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Spanish
Where were you born or what do you consider your
hometown?
Mt. Laurel, New Jersey, just outside of Philadelphia.
What is the best part about teaching at Rollins?
For me, the best part about teaching at Rollins is
having the opportunity to expose our students to new
ideas and perspectives through teaching language,
culture and literature.
How would you describe the academic atmosphere on
campus?
The academic atmosphere here
definitely keeps its focus on the importance of the
liberal arts, critical thinking and
self-expression. Rollins is truly a place where students
come to learn about themselves and their world.
What is your personal educational philosophy?
My philosophy is to teach students through
motivation. Students learn best when they are inspired
by or directly engaged in the material being
presented. I aim to create classes that relate to
students' interests and experiences, and then challenge
them to think beyond their own "comfort zones." Also, I do anything I can to keep a high energy level in
the classroom, which, in turn, greatly facilitates the
learning process.
What are your current research interests?
Currently I am researching the fusion of cultural and
linguistic spaces through Cuban and Puerto Rican
literature, specifically in the works of Guillermo
Cabrera Infante, Luis Rafael Sánchez and Ana Lidia
Vega. I am also interested in the role of this same
phenomenon in U.S./Latino writers.
What is your favorite movie?
Without a doubt, The Breakfast Club.
What is your favorite Web site?
www.philly.com,
where I keep up with all of my favorite Philadelphia
sports teams.
Please list a few of your favorite books.
Three of my favorites are Don Quixote by
Cervantes, The Name of the Rose by
Umberto Eco and The Great Gatsby by F. Scott
Fitzgerald.
What is one of your favorite quotations?
"Do or do not, there is no 'try.'"
~ Yoda, The Empire Strikes Back
What would be your dream vacation?
A road trip across my parents' homeland, Cuba.
What is something most people might be surprised to
learn about you?
As a graduate student in Los Angeles, I used to work
as a subtitle translator and editor, bringing Hollywood
"B movies" to the Spanish-speaking world.
Click here
to visit the Rollins College Hispanic Studies Web site.
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