Dr. James R. Krause
Hometown: Salt Lake City, UT
Graduate Degrees: PhD Spanish and Portuguese (Vanderbilt, 2010), MA Portuguese (Vanderbilt 2007), MA Spanish (BYU 2005).
Majors: BA Spanish (BYU 2003)
Minor: Latin American Studies (BYU 2003)
How I learned Portuguese: At BYU after my mission.
Luso-Brazilian areas of interest: 19th, 20th-century Luso-Brazilian and Spanish American literature, Comparative Latin American literature, Southern Cone fantastic literature, Translation Studies, and Literature of the Americas
Previous experience in Luso-Brazilian countries: I studied in São Paulo (Winter 2002), Lisbon (Summer 2004) and Rio de Janeiro (Summer 2006). I've been back to Brazil several times for research and I've spent a week or more in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, and Curitiba.
Academic and professional plans: I plan on staying at BYU, teaching Portuguese and Spanish classes, and publishing on my research interests.
Graduate Degrees: PhD Spanish and Portuguese (Vanderbilt, 2010), MA Portuguese (Vanderbilt 2007), MA Spanish (BYU 2005).
Majors: BA Spanish (BYU 2003)
Minor: Latin American Studies (BYU 2003)
How I learned Portuguese: At BYU after my mission.
Luso-Brazilian areas of interest: 19th, 20th-century Luso-Brazilian and Spanish American literature, Comparative Latin American literature, Southern Cone fantastic literature, Translation Studies, and Literature of the Americas
Previous experience in Luso-Brazilian countries: I studied in São Paulo (Winter 2002), Lisbon (Summer 2004) and Rio de Janeiro (Summer 2006). I've been back to Brazil several times for research and I've spent a week or more in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, and Curitiba.
Academic and professional plans: I plan on staying at BYU, teaching Portuguese and Spanish classes, and publishing on my research interests.
Cai Olsen
Hometown: Fort Worth, Texas
Graduate Degree: MA Luso-Brazilian Literature
Undergraduate Major: Portuguese
How I learned Portuguese: My father, who grew up in Brazil, taught me a little when I was young. Other than that, I learned through years of personal study.
Luso-Brazilian areas of interest: Brazilian music (Particularly from the 1960s-80s); Portuguese grammar; Brazilian culture
Previous experience in Luso-Brazilian countries: 10 day vacation in João Pessoa, Brazil
Academic and professional plans: After graduating from BYU, everything and anything that involves moving to and working in Brazil.
Graduate Degree: MA Luso-Brazilian Literature
Undergraduate Major: Portuguese
How I learned Portuguese: My father, who grew up in Brazil, taught me a little when I was young. Other than that, I learned through years of personal study.
Luso-Brazilian areas of interest: Brazilian music (Particularly from the 1960s-80s); Portuguese grammar; Brazilian culture
Previous experience in Luso-Brazilian countries: 10 day vacation in João Pessoa, Brazil
Academic and professional plans: After graduating from BYU, everything and anything that involves moving to and working in Brazil.
Danny LeFoll
Hometown: East Hampton, CT
Graduate Degree: BS Finance
Undergraduate Major: BS Finance
Undergraduate Minor: Portuguese
How I learned Portuguese: Mission to Brazil
Luso-Brazilian areas of interest: Brazilian music (Bossa Nova & Fernando e Sorocaba), Brazilian food (Tucanos & Lucy's), and Business in Brazil.
Previous experience in Luso-Brazilian countries: Two years in Brazil, and at least 54 minutes in little Brazil in New York City.
Academic and professional plans: Following graduation, I plan on working for a few years in finance or strategy and then transitioning to business school.
Graduate Degree: BS Finance
Undergraduate Major: BS Finance
Undergraduate Minor: Portuguese
How I learned Portuguese: Mission to Brazil
Luso-Brazilian areas of interest: Brazilian music (Bossa Nova & Fernando e Sorocaba), Brazilian food (Tucanos & Lucy's), and Business in Brazil.
Previous experience in Luso-Brazilian countries: Two years in Brazil, and at least 54 minutes in little Brazil in New York City.
Academic and professional plans: Following graduation, I plan on working for a few years in finance or strategy and then transitioning to business school.
Suzanne Shibuta
Hometown: Corona, California
Graduate Degree: MA Luso-Brazilian Literature
Undergraduate Major: Linguistics
Undergraduate Minors: Portuguese and Japanese
How I learned Portuguese: On my mission in Japan, and later while taking classes at BYU.
Luso-Brazilian areas of interest: Brazilian culture and literature, relations between Japan and Brazil.
Previous experience in Luso-Brazilian countries: 5 week trip to Brazil, including research in São Paulo and Paraná.
Academic and professional plans: After graduating from BYU I plan to continue my studies with Portuguese, with the ultimate goal of living in or teaching about Brazil.
Graduate Degree: MA Luso-Brazilian Literature
Undergraduate Major: Linguistics
Undergraduate Minors: Portuguese and Japanese
How I learned Portuguese: On my mission in Japan, and later while taking classes at BYU.
Luso-Brazilian areas of interest: Brazilian culture and literature, relations between Japan and Brazil.
Previous experience in Luso-Brazilian countries: 5 week trip to Brazil, including research in São Paulo and Paraná.
Academic and professional plans: After graduating from BYU I plan to continue my studies with Portuguese, with the ultimate goal of living in or teaching about Brazil.