Borbala Gaspar
- Lecturer, French and Italian
- (520) 621-7349
- Modern Languages, Rm. 549
- Tucson, AZ 85721
- bgaspar@arizona.edu
Biography
Ph.D. in Second Language Acquisition and Teaching (language use, pedagogy and an interdisciplinary minor in Italian literature), University of Arizona 2020
MA degree in ELL (UofA), and a B.A. degree in Teaching Italian as a Foreign language from Szeged, Hungary.
15 years of teaching experience at the University of Arizona. Starting from 2007 at all four undergraduate levels and general education courses.
Mentoring philosophy:
My mentoring philosophy is anchored in three key principles: envisioning, collaboration, and fluidity. Envisioning is a vital element, as it allows both the mentor and mentee to articulate a shared vision of success. This collaborative foresight helps us set meaningful goals that guide our journey together. Collaboration defines my approach to mentoring. I view it as a partnership where both mentor and mentee engage in mutual learning and reflection. This interactive process enriches the experience for everyone involved, fostering a deeper understanding and growth. Fluidity is essential in my philosophy, recognizing that mentees are at the center of the mentoring relationship. This principle acknowledges the need to adapt to ever-changing circumstances, emerging opportunities, and evolving interests. By remaining flexible, we can ensure that our mentoring experience remains relevant and impactful.In summary, my mentoring philosophy emphasizes a dynamic partnership built on shared vision, collaborative learning, and adaptability, creating a transformative journey for both mentor and mentee.
Degrees
- Ph.D. Ph.D., Second Language Acquisition and Teaching
- University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States
- Shifting Goals in Italian Learning: Imagination, Multilingualism, and Agency in the Narratives of Underrepresented Foreign Language Learners
- M.A. M.A. in Teaching English as a Second Language,
- University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States
- B.A. Teacher of Italian
- University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
Work Experience
- University of Arizona (2021 - Ongoing)
- University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (2020 - 2021)
- University of Arizona, Arizona (2013 - 2020)
- University of Arizona, Arizona (2007 - 2013)
Awards
- Excellence in Service
- Spring 2021
- Nominated for ACLS Emerging Voices Fellowship Program
- Fall 2020 (Award Nominee)
Licensure & Certification
- Quality Matters online course improvement, Quality Matters-University of Arizona (2023)
- Inclusive Leadership Program (1 year) University of Arizona, University of Arizona (2023)
- Teaching First year, First generation undergraduate students, University of Arizona (Edge) (2021)
- Career Champion Certificate, Student Engagement and Career Development (2021)
Interests
Teaching
Italian language and culture courses;General educational courses;Development of inclusive curricula;Development of learning strategies;Supporting and mentoring students' in career choices;Interest in developing courses related to my field of studies such as multiliteracies/ multiculturalism and multilingualism, literacy and teaching methodology;Interest in developing a 100% engagement courses using project-based learning approaches and community outreach
Research
Second Language Acquisition and teaching: Material development and learner engagement/motivationMy research focuses on how (underrepresented) language learners maneuver through social and symbolic power as they gain agency, use their imagination and engage in pedagogies such as project-based learning, task based, (multi)literacies and living literacies. Social justice topics incorporated into course materials
Courses
2025-26 Courses
-
Intermediate Italian I
ITAL 201 (Fall 2025) -
Intermediate Italian II
ITAL 202 (Fall 2025)
2024-25 Courses
-
Elementary Italian II
ITAL 102 (Summer I 2025) -
Intermediate Italian I
ITAL 201 (Spring 2025) -
Intermediate Italian II
ITAL 202 (Spring 2025) -
Women In Italian Society
ITAL 330D (Winter 2024) -
Elementary Italian II
ITAL 102 (Fall 2024) -
Independent Study
SLAT 699 (Fall 2024) -
Intermediate Italian I
ITAL 201 (Fall 2024) -
Intermediate Italian II
ITAL 202 (Fall 2024)
2023-24 Courses
-
Elementary Italian II
ITAL 102 (Summer I 2024) -
Intermediate Italian I
ITAL 201 (Spring 2024) -
Intermediate Italian II
ITAL 202 (Spring 2024) -
Women In Italian Society
ITAL 330D (Winter 2023) -
Intermediate Italian I
ITAL 201 (Fall 2023) -
Intermediate Italian II
ITAL 202 (Fall 2023)
2022-23 Courses
-
Elementary Italian II
ITAL 102 (Summer I 2023) -
Elementary Italian II
ITAL 102 (Spring 2023) -
Intermediate Italian I
ITAL 201 (Spring 2023) -
Intermediate Italian II
ITAL 202 (Spring 2023) -
Women In Italian Society
ITAL 330D (Winter 2022) -
Elementary Italian II
ITAL 102 (Fall 2022) -
Intermediate Italian I
ITAL 201 (Fall 2022) -
Intermediate Italian II
ITAL 202 (Fall 2022)
2021-22 Courses
-
Intermediate Italian II
ITAL 202 (Summer I 2022) -
Elementary Italian II
ITAL 102 (Spring 2022) -
Intermediate Italian I
ITAL 201 (Spring 2022) -
Intermediate Italian II
ITAL 202 (Spring 2022) -
Intermediate Italian I
ITAL 201 (Fall 2021) -
Intermediate Italian II
ITAL 202 (Fall 2021) -
The Novel
ITAL 250D (Fall 2021)
2020-21 Courses
-
Intermediate Italian II
ITAL 202 (Summer I 2021) -
Intermediate Italian II
ITAL 202 (Spring 2021) -
Women In Italian Society
ITAL 330D (Spring 2021) -
Intermediate Italian I
ITAL 201 (Fall 2020) -
Intermediate Italian II
ITAL 202 (Fall 2020) -
Women In Italian Society
ITAL 330D (Fall 2020)
2019-20 Courses
-
Women In Italian Society
ITAL 330D (Summer I 2020) -
Intermediate Italian I
ITAL 201 (Spring 2020) -
Women In Italian Society
ITAL 330D (Winter 2019) -
Intermediate Italian I
ITAL 201 (Fall 2019) -
Intermediate Italian II
ITAL 202 (Fall 2019)
2018-19 Courses
-
Women In Italian Society
ITAL 330D (Summer I 2019) -
Intermediate Italian II
ITAL 202 (Spring 2019) -
Women In Italian Society
ITAL 330D (Winter 2018) -
Intermediate Italian I
ITAL 201 (Fall 2018) -
Intermediate Italian II
ITAL 202 (Fall 2018)
2017-18 Courses
-
Women In Italian Society
ITAL 330D (Summer I 2018) -
Intermediate Italian II
ITAL 202 (Spring 2018) -
Women In Italian Society
ITAL 330D (Winter 2017) -
Intermediate Italian I
ITAL 201 (Fall 2017) -
Intermediate Italian II
ITAL 202 (Fall 2017)
2016-17 Courses
-
Women In Italian Society
ITAL 330D (Summer I 2017) -
Intermediate Italian II
ITAL 202 (Spring 2017) -
Women In Italian Society
ITAL 330D (Winter 2016) -
Intermediate Italian I
ITAL 201 (Fall 2016) -
Intermediate Italian II
ITAL 202 (Fall 2016)
2015-16 Courses
-
Intermediate Italian II
ITAL 202 (Summer I 2016) -
Women In Italian Society
ITAL 330D (Summer I 2016) -
Intermediate Italian II
ITAL 202 (Spring 2016)
Scholarly Contributions
Books
- Gaspar, B., & Warner, C. (2024).
Gaspar B., Warner C., Multilingual making in a second-language poetry club
A resource guide for teachers. Center for Educational Resources in Culture,
Language, and Literacy, University of Arizona (open educational resource).
. https://cercll.arizona.edu/l2poetryclub/: CERCLL. - Gaspar, B., Bellocchio, L., Cavatorta, G., Fabbri, F., & Meli, M. R. (2021). Italian in Wonderland.
Chapters
- Gaspar, B. (2021). The Effects of Multimodal Communication on the Development of New Types of Learner Imagination. In CALICO Book series Volume "Identity, Multilingualism, and CALL"(p. 30).
- Gaspar, B. (2022). The Effects of Multimodal Communication on the Development of New Types of Learner Imagination. In Identity, Multilingualism and CALL(pp In L. Klimanova (Ed.), Identity, multilingualism and CALL - Responding to new global realities (pp. 328-352). Equinox eBooks Publishing.). doi:10.1558/equinox.43419
- Gaspar, B., & Berti, M. (2020). Gaspar B., & Berti M., (2020). A project-based approach for oral assessment. in: Gorsuch G. (2020). In “Tests that Second Language Teachers Make and Use”. Cambridge Scholars.
Journals/Publications
- Gaspar, B., Warner, C., & Diao, W. (2020). Enterprising or Imagining Multilingual subjects: Beyond Commodity-centered discourses of FL teaching and learning. https://cms.arizona.edu/index.php/multilingual.
- Diao, W., Warner, C. N., Gaspar, B., Gaspar, B., Warner, C. N., & Diao, W. (2021). Enterprising and Imagining Multilingual Subjects: Beyond Commodity-Centered Discourses for FL Teaching and Learning. Critical Multilingualism Studies, (28 pgs).
- Gaspar, B., & Warner, C. (2021). Project-based Learning as Living Literacy: Imagining Transcultural Subjectivities in the Italian classroom. Second Language Research and Practice, 30.
- Gaspar, B., Timlin, C., & Wang, Y. (2018). Gaspar B., Timlin C., Wang Y., (2018). Technology Use in Collegiate Foreign Language Program;. Journal of Second Language Acquisition and Teaching https://journals.uair.arizona.edu/index.php/AZSLAT/article/view/23108.
- Warner, C. N., & Gaspar, B. (2021). Project-based Learning and the Development of Transcultural Subjectivities: Case Studies from Italian. Journal of Second Language Research and Practice, (27 pgs).
Presentations
- Bellocchio, M. L., Gaspar, B., & Cavatorta, G. (2025). The Italian in Wonderland Platform for Language and Culture Learning: Beginners Level. Language OER Conference. Online: The University of Kansas - Open Language Resource Center.
- Bellocchio, M. L., Gaspar, B., & Cavatorta, G. (2025, February, 27-28). Italian in Wonderland: An OER Initiative for Language and Culture Learning – Successes and Lessons Learned. 2025 OERizona Conference. Online: Open Textbooks for Rural Arizona consortium, a collaborative grant-funded initiative supported through the Fund for the Improvement of Post-Secondary Education (FIPSE).
- Bellocchio, M. L., Gaspar, B., & Cavatorta, G. (2024, February 17).
Italian in Wonderland: An Open Educational Digital Platform to Teach and Learn Italian.
. 2024 Language OER Conference. The University of Kansas, Lawrence (KS), (zoom online): The University of Kansas. - Cavatorta, G., Bellocchio, M. L., & Gaspar, B. (2024, May 3).
Italian in Wonderland: An Open Educational Digital Platform to Teach and Learn Italian. IMLC/Fullbright Heys Title VI Grand OER Workshop. Baylor University, Waco, Texas (zoom online), May 3, 2024.
. IMLC/Fullbright Heys Title VI Grand OER Workshop. Baylor University, Waco, Texas (zoom online). - Gaspar, B. (2023).
AATI-Catania. Invited Guest-Roundtable: Why study college-level Italian in the U.S.
. AATI. - Gaspar, B. (2023). Italian in Wonderland: A Digital Open Education Platform for Italian Courses. ACTFL conference. Chicago-ACTFL.
- Gaspar, B. (2021, January). The Promises and Pitfalls of Inclusivity in Language Teaching Panel:Italian Language Learning as Resistance and Reimagination. MLA 2021.
- Gaspar, B. (2020, February). Gaspar B., “Making learning meaningful: Highlights of two Intermediate Italian learners”. SLAT Roundtable.
- Gaspar, B., Bellocchio, L., & Cavatorta, G. (2020, Spring). Italian Language in Wonderland. AATI conference Tucson (cancelled).
Poster Presentations
- Gaspar, B. (2023).
AATI-Catania. Title: Using the Multiliteracies Framework to Engage Foreign Language Learners of Italian with Social Justice Topics
. AATI (American Association of Teachers of Italian. Catania-Sicily.
Case Studies
- Gaspar, B. (2020. Gaspar, B. (2020). Shifting Goals in Italian Learning: Imagination, Multilingualism, and Agency in the Narratives of Underrepresented Foreign Language Learners.(p. 236).
Other Teaching Materials
- Bellocchio, M. L., Gaspar, B., & Cavatorta, G. (2021.
Italian in Wonderland (Modules 9-10-11-12) (with Letizia Bellocchio & Borbala Gaspar) An Open Source Online Textbook and Workbook for Italian 201.
. University of Arizona. - Cavatorta, G., Cavatorta, G., Bellocchio, M. L., Bellocchio, M. L., Gaspar, B., & Gaspar, B. (2020.
Italian in Wonderland (Modules 13-14-15-16) (with Letizia Bellocchio & Borbala Gaspar) An Open Source Online Textbook and Workbook for Italian 202.
. University of Arizona.
