Laney Alegría Willard de Laurente

law595@psu.edu

SUMMARY

I am a graduate student at Penn State working toward a doctorate in Hispanic Linguistics. I

worked as a Spanish, English, and piano teacher in Lima, Peru, with my Peruvian husband for
two years. I have lived and worked in three Latin American countries, Mexico, Paraguay, and
Peru, in addition to having visited others such as Colombia, Ecuador, and Brazil. I earned a
bachelor’s degree in Spanish and served as President of Sigma Delta Pi.

EDUCATION

Penn State University

Hispanic Linguistics M.A./Ph.D. — 2018-2023

Current grad student in five year master’s and doctorate program. Subjects being taken: Theory
and Techniques of Teaching Spanish, Generative Syntax, Phonology, Psycholinguistics,
Portuguese for Romance Speakers, and French Oral Communication and Reading
Comprehension.

Southern Virginia University

Spanish B.A. — 2014-2016

Private liberal arts university located in Virginia in the United States. Four year degree in
Spanish; accomplished in two years. Relevant courses taken: Introduction to Spanish Literature,
Spanish Grammar and Writing, Spanish Phonetics and Pronunciation, Culture of Spain, Survey
to Iberian Literature, Culture of Spanish America, Survey to Spanish American Literature,
Advanced Spanish Grammar and Writing, and Business Spanish.
Thesis: ¨Boca arriba con los ojos abiertos entre las hogueras: análisis de tres cuentos de Julio
Cortázar”
Thesis Advisor: Iana Konstantinova

International TEFL Academy

TEFL Licensure — 2015

Obtained licensure for Teaching English as a Foreign Language. Learned principles of grammar
and phonetics, lesson plan creation, classroom management, and instruction of students of
varying ages. Taught for ten practicum hours.
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EXPERIENCE

Test Prep Instructor and Admissions Advisor, Grad School Gurú

Lima, Perú — November 2017-August 2018

Advised student applying to undergraduate and graduate programs in the United States and
Europe including review of application materials. Corrected essays and gave personalized
standardized test prep for exams such as the TOEFL.

Spanish Teacher, Translator, and Co-Founder, Spanish Lessons with the Laurentes
Lima, Perú — February 2017-August 2018

Planned and delivered personalized Spanish lessons alongside native-speaking husband to

individuals and groups of foreigners. Offered special classes of advanced Spanish grammar and
regional vocabulary. Tutored in subjects of Spanish and Latin American literature and history.
Translated documents for businesses and individuals.

English Professor, National Agrarian University of La Molina

Lima, Perú — April 2017-August 2018

Gave instruction as a university professor in a public university in Lima. Taught upper level
English classes to native Spanish speakers. Employed skills of course creation and fostering
positive relations with students of different backgrounds and needs. Created all exams and
course material aside from textbook.

Business Interpreter, Fair Kind

Lima, Perú — April 2017

Served as a live business interpreter during a three day show for a fair trade company that
purchases and sells artisanal products made in third world countries. Employed English and
Spanish relating to product specifications, buying and selling negotiations, and logistics.

English Teacher, Elevate English

Asunción, Paraguay — May-August 2016

Employed for a company based in Paraguay. Taught English to children, teenagers, and adults.
Used a unique curriculum based on grammar through conversation. Piloted a brand-new
children’s course and provided feedback for its content creation.

English Teacher, International Language Program

Pachuca, Hidalgo, México — August-December 2015

Taught children in a private school in Mexico ages three to eleven. Employed teaching method
of modeling. Gained ability to effectively manage the classroom. Created entirely new lesson
content for each lesson. Developed improvisational abilities according to new situations.
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LANGUAGES

English​​: native speaker

Spanish:​​ fluent
French:​​ intermediate
Portuguese: ​lower intermediate
Latin:​​ multiple semesters of classes taken and worked as a tutor

AWARDS/HONORS

Provost’s List
Maintained distinction of being on the Provost’s List during every semester of undergraduate for
which a minimum GPA of 3.5 was required.

Marriott Scholar
Awarded highest annual institutional scholarship for outstanding academic and personal
achievement.

LEADERSHIP

President of Sigma Delta Pi

Elected president of university’s chapter of the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society. Held
responsibilities of carrying out induction ceremony and organizing projects.

President of Adopt-A-Grandparent Society

Co-founded volunteer organization at Southern Virginia University. Organized visits and events
at local nursing homes.

INTERESTS

Classical and jazz piano. Learning regional vocabulary. Reading. Exploring local areas. Hiking
and long distance running (member of university cross country team).