Most students approach Spanish language classes with a great deal of pragmatism, she said, hoping they will increase their marketability. Double majors among undergraduates are not uncommon. The most satisfying undergraduate teaching experience, though, perhaps comes from watching students explore another country. Davis encourages students to study abroad if possible. In fact, she's currently creating a study abroad program in Madrid with the University Carlos III, which will enroll undergraduates next fall and, she hopes, will permit graduate exchanges.
Students gain a much broader sense of who they are when they live in another country.
You watch them come into their own. Courtney M. Crawford, a junior from Clive, Iowa, approached the idea of studying abroad with excitement but also a bit of trepidation. Davis, however, infused a sense of encouragement and belief that carried him throughout the trip. Professor Davis was a source of immense information and advice. She really cares about all of her students.