Deanna Kibap
Name: Deanna Kibap
Specialty/Program:
BA French Language and Literature and Spanish Language and Literature
Certificate in International Learning
Certificate in Translation Studies
What inspired you to want to study a foreign language and its culture?
Finding a program I felt truly passionate about was not an easy feat; that's when my path ended up leading me to MLCS, where I was fortunate to have the experiences and opportunities I was looking for. Languages were all around me from the time I was little and the enthusiasm to learn more has always stayed with me. I enjoy all types of international music and movies, trying new cuisines and getting to know others different from me. I have always been curious about cultures and the world, and even more so after the travel bug bit me many years ago.
Have you had any memorable experiences you’d like to share?
I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to study abroad in both Spain and France during my program. My time in Granada, Spain was truly transformative. I got to live and study in another country where I knew no one while living new experiences, improving my languages skills, making memories that will last a lifetime, and befriending amazing people from all over the world. In La Rochelle, France, I was reunited with fellow students from the University of Alberta, where we had great times, got to know our classmates better and had a culturally immersive experience as we lived with host families.
Do you have any advice to give potential/current students?
The biggest piece of advice I can give is to get out of your comfort zone. Go meet new people and discover linguistic and cultural events around campus or in your community! There are many different classes offered by the faculty that can introduce you to new topics and open doors to new interests. Based on experience, I would also highly recommend looking into study abroad programs. This is the best way to be immersed in a language and culture and would greatly complement your studies in MLCS. Another thing I enjoyed about the faculty is that smaller class sizes allowed us to get to know our professors better. What’s more, as you progress in your program, your classmates start to form a little family. It is definitely uplifting to be surrounded by other supportive and like-minded people who want to learn more about the world around them.