Q&A with Karen Curella

How did you become passionate about language?

My upbringing was infused with foreign language and culture in the most mundane ways — great German desserts and Italian dishes, as well as foreign phrases passed down from my great-grandparents and grandparents. There were frequent family gatherings with 20+ cousins, and it was fascinating hearing relatives intersperse Italian and English effortlessly into conversations. Languages were keys that unlocked stories of my families’ lives and customs, expanding my world. My high school counselor tried to dissuade me from taking both French and Spanish, and I am so glad that I held firm and insisted on doing so. I learned both languages ‘the hard way,’ as study abroad was not possible for me except for a college mini-mester in Mexico. Even though I haven’t studied Italian formally, knowing French and Spanish have enabled me to understand and intuit quite a bit.

What did you love most about teaching at FWCD?

In 39 years of teaching, I have been fortunate to have supportive administrators who endorsed Spanish and French caroling in neighborhoods; visiting a French bakery to learn how baguettes were made; starting an International Club; and making piñatas, moles, crêpes and French meusi in the name of helping the study of grammar and vocabulary come alive for the students. FWCD has always valued and supported the cultural components of language acquisition in many ways — through traveling abroad, visiting a local museum’s French art exhibit, presenting Hispanic folk dances at a neighboring school, and observing special days for other cultures during the school day. These activities have provided rich, lasting memories and sparked many students to continue their Spanish and French mastery well beyond their FWCD years.

Share some of your fondest FWCD memories. What do you miss about FWCD?

One of the most inspiring things I have witnessed involved National Junior Honor Society students voting to send their annual bake sale proceeds to Cancer Cares, Boys and Girls Clubs, the Ronald McDonald House, tsunami relief in Japan, wildfire relief in West Texas, hurricane relief in Galveston, to name a few. My French students put in months of work to host the Mardi Gras festivities for Lower School students. They learn their lines for the play, create costumes, fashion props and prepare fun games. Over and over, I have seen my students’ willingness to give and do their best. These standards and mindset have endured for decades and undoubtedly hold true in a special way during the challenges of the pandemic.

I will always cherish my FWCD time and am grateful for the countless sources of inspiration, support and guidance from fellow teachers, staff, parents, students and administrators. It has been a rich, challenging and rewarding 32 years.