Domonique Smith

2/11/2020

Dr. Plothe

Q & A Story

Irina Tedrick, a Spanish teacher here at Savannah State. She says she enjoy
s being a professor here at Savannah State University. Tedrick was originally born and raised in

a small town in Europe called Montenegro. After moving to America, she was very determined

to teach and pass on knowledge to others. She enjoys the outdoors and traveling to different

countries. She is also on her last stages of finishing up her doctorates’ degree so she could pursue

her aspirations for teaching even more in the near future.

Domonique Smith: What courses do you teach here at Savannah State?

Irina Tedrick: I teach spanish1001, 1002, 2001, 2002, and also, I do more advanced classes in

study abroad in Costa Rica in the summer.

Domonique Smith: What drove you towards the passion of teaching?

Irina Tedrick: A Necessity. To be honest with you, at first I went to school to become a

diplomat, but I was living in the country that basically fell apart, and I think we had a civil

war… and when I came to live in America, I decided that I wanted to teach.

Domonique Smith: What drove you towards the passion of teaching?

Irina Tedrick: A Necessity. To be honest with you, at first I went to school to become a

diplomat, but I was living in the country that basically fell apart, and I think we had a civil
war… and when I came to live in America, I decided that I wanted to teach. Because I had

language skills, it was an amazing decision… and the more I did it, the more I liked it!

Domonique Smith: Was it easy or difficult to learn the Spanish language and culture?

Irina Tedrick: When I came into the field of Spanish language, it wasn’t too difficult, but it was

time consuming and very demanding.

Domonique Smith: What’s the most exciting activity or event that you like about study abroad?

Irina Tedrick: Study abroad itself is the most exciting event. It is something that gives you

renewed energy. But if I had to pick, it would be ziplining. All in all, I love spending time

outdoors.

Domonique Smith: What kind of impact do you think you make as a professor here at SSU?

Irina Tedrick: I wouldn’t get presumptuous and say I make a great impact, but I do love to see

that my students are actually learning. I think we make an impact off of each other as I should

say.

Domonique Smith: what are your plans for the near future of making Savannah State a better

and more improved institution?

Irina Tedrick: Right now, I’m working on a certificate in language ability, which will be

offered this fall to our students. I will have a class for this while in Costa Rica for study abroad

as well.