James Clemens High School, Madison, News, RSS Facebook, RSS General, RSS Twitter, Schools
 By  GreggParker Published 
8:32 am Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Mary Crouch at James Clemens earns grant to study in Spain

Mary Crouch has earned the Joanna B. Crane Scholarship from the Alabama Association of Foreign Language Teachers. Crouch teaches Spanish at James Clemens High School. (CONTRIBUTED)

Mary Crouch has earned the Joanna B. Crane Scholarship from the Alabama Association of Foreign Language Teachers. Crouch teaches Spanish at James Clemens High School. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – A grant from the Alabama Association of Foreign Language Teachers will help Mary Crouch to study in Spain.

Crouch teaches Spanish at James Clemens High School.

Crouch earned the association’s Joanna B. Crane Scholarship. An Auburn University graduate student, Crouch studies abroad each summer and will use the grant at the University of Salamanca, one of Europe’s oldest and most prestigious universities.

Along with deferring costs, the grant will allow Crouch “to travel more and participate in more activities while in-country.” Salamanca, capital of the province of Salamanca, lies in the Castilla y Leon region and is about 200 kilometers west of Madrid.

“The wonderful thing about being in a Spanish-speaking country for me is that there is a fully constructed cultural and linguistic context. Participating in communication is strongly encouraged,” Crouch said.

“The chance to explore the culturally diverse cities of Spain is truly priceless and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Crouch said. She will visit Madrid, Barcelona, Granada and Sevilla and taste the culture with lessons in guitar, cooking and dance at the Universidad de Salamanca.

A winery tour, bullfights, kayaking and festivals also are on Crouch’s itinerary. She will live with a host family.

With these experiences, Crouch can incorporate language, culture, up-to-date techniques and second-language acquisition back in her classroom at James Clemens.

Studying and living abroad “is an absolute imperative for all language teachers. It gives one the ability to broaden perspectives and mindsets,” Crouch said.

Other American teachers will be studying in Salamanca. Crouch will take classes with other teachers and graduate students in Spanish language and literature from all over the world.

Crouch has taught in Decatur, Fayetteville, Tenn. and as a Fulbright English teaching assistant at a university in Ibague, Colombia. She earned a bachelor’s degree at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. She expects to finish a master’s degree at AU in 2015.

Crane, the scholarship’s namesake, was an influential foreign language teacher in Alabama.

Also on The Madison Record
Tri-agency traffic enforcement targets speeders on I-565
Madison County Record, News, The Madison Recor, ...
By STAFF REPORTS 
July 16, 2025
MADISON  – In a united front to crack down on excessive speeding, the Huntsville Police Department (HPD), Madison County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) and t...
Local athletes set for North-South battles
A: Main, Madison County Record, News, ...
Bob Labbe 
July 16, 2025
MADISON - Some of the top rising senior high school athletes are about to invade the Alabama Capitol City of Montgomery July 21-25 for the 29th annual...
NASA, Orion to host Marshall’s 65th anniversary celebration this Saturday
A: Main, Events, Madison County Record, ...
Staff Reports 
July 16, 2025
HUNTSVILLE - NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center is inviting the community to help celebrate the center’s 65th anniversary during a free public event ...
Chamber needs nominations for ‘Military Family of the Year’
A: Main, Business, Events, ...
Gregg Parker 
July 16, 2025
MADISON – Madison Chamber of Commerce is encouraging residents to identify a family who has upheld a strong commitment to country and community. The c...
ADOC: Health care worker tried to smuggle meth, narcotics into correctional facility
Madison County Record, News, The Madison Recor, ...
Staff Reports 
July 16, 2025
LIMESTONE COUNTY - A health care employee was arrested Friday for allegedly attempting to transport almost 200 grams of methamphetamine and other narc...
Central Office values Becky Tucker as ‘Staff Member of the Year’
Madison County Record, News, Schools, ...
Gregg Parker 
July 16, 2025
MADISON – Becky Turner doesn’t get hung up on labels. No matter her job title, Tucker feels called to be a servant leader. Her colleagues at Central O...
Brett Burgess named ‘Teacher of the Year’ at James Clemens
Madison County Record, News, Schools, ...
Gregg Parker 
July 16, 2025
MADISON – Brett Burgess wanted to work in Madison City Schools for association with the best in his field, both academic and coaching. James Clemens H...
Olivia Skillern named James Clemens theatre department’s artistic director
Bob Jones High School, Madison, Madison County Record, ...
Gregg Parker 
July 16, 2025
MADISON – For Olivia Skillern, it’s ‘as if I never said goodbye’ (to quote a line from “Sunset Boulevard”). With her new job in the Theatre Department...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Our Latest E-edition
Latest Stories
YUM! Spicy yet savory poppers
MADISON - Your guests won’t be able to have just one of these sweet and savory poppers. With a touch of heat from the cayenne pepper, and sweetness fr...
July 16, 2025
poll