By Kristine Overacre ‘09
Eric Gottlieb, associate professor of Mathematics and Computer Science at Rhodes, recently taught and conducted research in Chile while on a Fulbright Scholarship. He and his family lived in Talca, Chile, while Gottlieb taught calculus and investigated identities for wreath-symmetric functions at the University of Talca. A native of Miami, Florida, Gottlieb heard Spanish often and regularly, but he never took Spanish during his formal schooling. He only became proficient while completing a six-week archeological research project in the Atacama Desert in Chile in 1989.
Prof. Eric Gottlieb
How was teaching math in Spanish in Chile? Did you have any experience teaching your subject in a different language?
I taught a math course in Spanish at Rhodes before I went to Chile. The course was called “Calculo Applicalo,” which is Spanish for Applied Calculus. Teaching in Chile was an interesting challenge. I was able to express what I wanted to say, but I had a hard time understanding students’ questions, at least initially. With time I got better at it. But that part of it was challenging at the beginning.
How were the students at the University of Talca?
The students were extremely nice and friendly. When I left they held a party for me, a despedida as they called it. They were really kind, generous, and hospitable to me and my family. I even had the students over to my house one time and made them an American style breakfast, which is different from the style of breakfast commonly eaten in Chile. Chileans love meat. When they have a big party—like a despedida— the first thing that comes out is the grill.
The students were very open about things that are not discussed as openly here, such as political matters. Politics in Chile is kind of a hot button issue for many people because of the Pinochet dictatorship. Chile had a long standing democratic tradition which was hundreds of years old, the oldest stable democracy in South America, so when the democracy was overthrown, Chileans were shocked. It would be as if someone took over our country since the tradition was so well established. And the United States had a hand in this, so many of them came to our relationship with some misgivings. They were open about acknowledging that and that was something that had to be navigated, but I think we did it successfully. We each came to a better understanding of the other’s point of view and opinions. In fact, I’m still in contact with many of them.
What about the faculty?
The people in the math department at the University of Talca were incredibly welcoming. For example, they invited me to give a plenary address at a conference they organized. I was invited by a conference attendee to visit a private research facility called Centro de Estudios Científicos, where some very accomplished scientists are on staff. Both of these invitations were great honors for me.
That was my experience generally in Chile, that we were welcomed with open arms. People we barely knew would invite us to their homes for a meal. It made me a little embarrassed at the experience that visitors to our country sometimes get. I have met lots of people from different places but I never invited them to my house for dinner. That’s in stark contrast to what happened for us in Chile.
What motivated you to apply for the Fulbright Fellowship?
There were a couple of things. There was this [mathematical] problem that I was interested in, and my advisor thought that [a professor at the University of Talca, Luc Lapointe] would be a good person to work with.
I was also very much interested in having my children experience a culture other than their own. I felt it was a wonderful experience for them. By the time we left they were fluent in Spanish. More important, they have a sense of what it’s like to be in a different culture—you’re like a fish out of water. I have traveled a bit to other countries, but I was surprised how affected I was by being out of my culture for an extended period of time. Simply learning to use a phone was very difficult. On so many different levels there is a lot of adjustment, and that part was challenging and rewarding.
Do you have any advice for Rhodes students who are considering study abroad?
I think taking some time in another country is very much worth doing, especially a country where you don’t speak the language. I would encourage students to study abroad, to spend a summer somewhere or to combine a summer and a semester in your favorite place, wherever you want to go. It’s hard to see this while you’re in college but after college the opportunities to do that are going to be quite limited. The Buckman Center for International Education is there to help with information and grants. It’s a great way to acquire a language and a wonderful way to broaden your horizons in ways that you can’t anticipate.
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