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Draws out shy students learning Spanish

Montreal - 2 June 2003 - Amparo Garavito, a Colombian graduate in International Law and Diplomacy and the former Consul of Columbia in several major North American cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Toronto and Montreal, was presented with the Centre for Continuing Education’s Award for Distinguished Teaching by McGill University’s Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Heather Monroe-Blum, at today’s Convocation Ceremony.

When introducing Professor Garavito, Ina Dieguez, Program Director for the Spanish and Portuguese programs offered by the Centre, explained that the winner of this award, chosen after a rigorous selection process, must have demonstrated not only an unswerving commitment to high quality teaching but also the ability to motivate adult students to develop their skills with confidence and assurance. This Amparo Garavito has undoubtedly done.

Professor Garavito holds a first degree in Spanish language and literature, after which she continued her studies in International Relations and Diplomacy. Both degrees are from Jorge Tadeo Lozano University in Bogotá, Columbia. Following her studies and her subsequent role as Consul of Colombia, Amparo Garavito taught in a wide variety of academic and business settings. Since 1993, she has taught all 4 levels of Spanish in the Certificate of Proficiency Program as well as the post-certificate course in Spanish for Business at McGill’s Centre for Continuing Education. In this capacity, according to Ina Dieguez, “her skills as a diplomat” have served McGill’s multicultural students well and drawn “even the shyest students out of their shells” with her genuine concern for each student’s particular learning process.

In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Mrs. Garavito also has been involved in a number of development activities. She has written a Business Spanish textbook, which is currently in press. In addition to this, she has participated in the creation of the Web site for the Centre’s Spanish and Portuguese programs and in the ongoing work of the Spanish and Portuguese Program Committee.

A deserving winner of the Distinguished Teaching Award, Amparo Garavito clearly upholds McGill’s commitment to excellence.