Name: Natasha Gillette
BYU–Hawaii employee since… January 2024.
My job at BYU–Hawaii is… assistant professor of EIL/TESOL.
I grew up in Temple View, New Zealand.
I chose to teach at BYU–Hawaii because… I was a student at BYU–Hawaii from 1995 to 1998. That was my first time outside New Zealand, where I began my journey of becoming my own person. As a first-generation high school student, this campus changed everything for me. I saw the spiritual and secular learning principles intertwined at the higher education level. There were numerous examples of diverse role models who emphasized the importance of education and helped me realize that I had many opportunities available to me. It has taken me a while to come back to this campus, but I have known since I left in 1998 that I wanted to come back here to teach because this campus is where I learned to dream, and for the past few decades, I have been putting the work in to make those dreams a reality.
My favorite thing about teaching is that it’s my only job where I feel completely stretched. I face new unknowns every single lesson, even if I am teaching the same course, and I feel exhausted at the end of every day. Teaching keeps me excited to learn and motivates me to develop better ways to explain complex concepts. I constantly feel like I have so much to learn to become a better teacher, but it pushes me outside of my comfort zone, and I feel constant growth.
What sparked my interest in my field is a long story. My parents and grandparents grew up in a time in New Zealand where it was outlawed for them to speak our native language (Māori) in school; instead, English was required and enforced with violent consequences for speakers of Māori. In this context, English was used as a weapon to conform, assimilate, and eradicate the Māori language, with the intent of disrupting social life, customs, and our general existence. This continues to have intergenerational impact and trauma today, even with revitalization efforts over subsequent generations. In an effort to address this trauma, I have reflected on how English can be a tool. I can see how English can provide learners with additional learning and employment opportunities, and in many cases, positive outcomes. Seeing the same language used as a tool helps bring things back into balance for me. When working with English language learners, I try to validate their first language and help them see how that is an important part of who they are and that English can add to that, rather than the other way around.
The best advice I've ever received about teaching… "Take things on the chin." One of my favorite graduate school professors, Grant Eckstein, taught me that good teachers help their students feel safe in their classrooms, even if that means we have to humble ourselves and let some things go. That advice helps me to be a better teacher and a better person. President Camille N. Johnson mentioned similar advice during this year’s university Ohana Meeting when she encouraged BYUH employees to be ‘quick to observe,’ to notice our students and their needs, and to give them the benefit of the doubt as we assist and serve them.
My favorite hike on the island is the Ehukai Pillbox Hike because it is quick, has a great view, and reminds me of historical events that have shaped Oahu.
During the summer months… I try to unwind and destress by traveling to visit family members that I don't get to see very often, such as my parents and siblings in New Zealand and Australia.
What's one thing that can instantly make your day better? Food is my love language, so someone making or bringing me food is the best!
I'm currently reading a couple of different books related to teaching, reading, and listening, but I just recently finished reading Alan Paton's classic "Cry, the Beloved Country." I love how books can make us feel many real emotions and motivate us to do good and learn from others.
I'm currently working on… I have been collaborating with Professor Sukhbaatar to provide English lessons for different schools in Mongolia. The students in my TESOL 425 (Teaching Vocabulary) are simultaneously learning how to teach vocabulary and applying these skills while teaching English to Mongolian students online through Zoom sessions multiple times throughout the semester. I am so impressed with our TESOL students' willingness and resilience in dealing with many of the challenges of teaching English to beginning English language learners, remotely. I am just beginning to work with the CES church schools in the Pacific to create resources to scaffold/adapt the required government curriculum in English for students and teachers who are non-Native English speakers. I hope to include TESOL majors from these Pacific nations as we adjust the scope and sequence and develop activities that can be used to support the teaching of English for Non-native English teachers in these church schools.
My most cherished moment… is meeting my husband and beginning our family.
Students don't think I notice…how kind and patient they are with me and with each other. We have the best students at BYU–Hawaii.
My advice to incoming first-year students is…let people help you.
My advice to graduates is… you are ready!
My favorite spot on campus is the corner of Hale 1 and Hale 3. That is where my husband and I met as students 30 years ago. There used to be benches there, and students would always hang out there. Now, there are just rubbish bins there, but that spot still has sentimental meaning to me.
If I could travel anywhere, I would go to… There are so many places I would love to go. As an EIL teacher, I would love to travel to all the countries my students are from.
One item on my bucket list is learning to play the piano. I have always admired the skill and focus required to play an instrument.
When I have 30 minutes of free time… I like to catch up on the memes, videos of our grandson in the family group chat that have taken place during the day, and other updates. My family members live in other states and countries, so staying in touch can be challenging for a large family of adult children.
My hobby is… I grew up in a family of nine children where my mum sewed all our clothes for us, so while I am not a great seamstress, I enjoy trying to make my own clothes or at least mending or upcycling items. I love the pioneer motto, "Fix it up, wear it out, make it do or do without." Other hobbies include inexpensive ways to renovate and decorate our fixer-upper home.
On Friday nights, you can find me Deep cleaning my house so I can enjoy my Saturday.
On Saturday mornings, I enjoy the sunrise and ocean view while eating breakfast on my patio.
