“I have learned that we all experience a similar journey, regardless our diverse backgrounds.”

I am a Chilean English teacher (EFL) with a MA in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) from the Universidad Metropolitana de Ciencias de la Educación. I have 15 years of experience as an educator and have worked in public policy design for the Curriculum and Assessment unit of Chile’s Ministry of Education.  

In 2018, I was granted a Becas Chile scholarship by CONYCIT to pursue studies at University of Toronto. I am currently pursuing my PhD in the Language and Literacies program. My work, nearly half-way through, frames and roots on critical pedagogy, specifically on the ways the EFL hidden curriculum is reflected in the pedagogical experiences of a group of secondary teachers and their students in suburban contexts within Chile’s education landscapes. 

Connecting with people from, literally, all over the world has been extraordinarily remarkable. That has been my greatest experience so far. I have learned that we all experience a similar journey, regardless our diverse backgrounds.  

At U of T, I found a space in which autonomy, reflection, discussion, and sharing are vast. My faculty in particular provides tremendous support; my colleagues build and strengthen my own research ideas. Without them, none of this would be happening. This happened to be a pivotal axis in the foundational stages of my academic journey. 

Building a life with my wife here in Toronto is an adventure. The university is located centrally, which makes life easier and accessible. The campus is amazing, full of green spaces, integrated into the busy and multicultural vibe of the city. This is a great place to spend your graduate studies. I know you will find it enriching in various forms.