Spanish Professor Continues Family Business

By Demetrius Trisvan (Whetstone Staff Writer)

When she was 26, Vilma Lazo-Butera found out that words can have an everlasting effect on a person’s life.

As Wesley College’s only full-time Professor of Spanish, Lazo-Buteras’ journey into teaching began 28 years ago when, as a student at the University of Honduras, a professor told her she was the most qualified for a scholarship.

“He told me I could, and should do it,” she said.

These words were all she needed.

“The grand prize was a full scholarship to the University of Delaware,” she said. “And I won.”

Over the next decade, Lazo-Buteras earned a bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Delaware and a Master’s in Spanish Literature. Her academic hunger grew from her roots.

She fit right into her family vocation: both parents, and four brothers and three sisters, were teachers or professors.

“My whole family loves to teach,” she said. “I guess it comes from our love of people.”

Lazo-Buteras first taught at Wesley as an adjunct in 2010.

Sophomore and Education major, Shaina Ibarrando can remember the first time she saw Lazo-Buteras.

“She was short,” she said. “She was also the nicest and happiest person ever.”

Lazo-Buteras knows how hard it can be to learn a foreign language.

“It took me two semesters to learn how to speak English,” she said. “I had no choice, being fully submerged in a culture is the best way to learn it.”

So it comes as no surprise that Wesley College & Sol Education Abroad collaborated to give students the chance to learn that way.

On May 2, Lazo-Buteras and five students will be traveling to Costa Rica to stay with a host family for three weeks and study at a local institution.

This will be the second year Wesley has offered the program.

Business Administration major CJ Cooper is taking advantage of the opportunity.

“I did the program last year, it’s a lot more organized this time around,” Cooper said. “I want to speak fluent Spanish so I can get a job in marketing and work in Spanish-speaking countries.”

Lazo-Buteras said she loves studying abroad.

“I would love to do it every year,” she said.

To qualify, all students have to do is take two years of foreign language in high school, sign a waiver, and get a passport.

She said each student pays $4,200 which includes air fare, program cost, three credit hours, as well as the entrance fees for all sites and recreation.

“I want to learn the culture, how they cook, and their family life,” Education Major Casey Beall said. “Plus, it will make me more valuable when I look for a job.”

The trip gives each student the chance to absorb the culture of Costa Rica, but it will also include a full academic work load.

“Students are expected to attend class for a minimum of three hours each day,” she said. “They also will be required to make an oral presentation, and take a final exam in order to complete the class.”

There’s still time to have fun.

“I love soccer,” Cooper said. “I have kept in contact with some friends I met last year, and hope to get in a couple of pick-up games.”

Some of the planned destinations and activities include a lagoon hike, a cooking class, visiting the La Fortuna Waterfalls and Arenal Volcano, Latin dance classes, trips to museums and parks, and rain forest zip-lining.

“I wish more students took advantage of this opportunity,” Lazo-Buteras said. “This is truly the opportunity of a lifetime.”