Brian Serwicki, Latin Teacher
"In the Corner With Brian Serwicki"
Brian Serwicki, East Aurora Schools' Latin teacher, was born in South Korea and then adopted as an infant. He grew up in Amherst and attended Canisius College for his undergraduate work, and then the University of Buffalo for his graduate degree. As a young man Brian worked a variety of jobs from delivering newspapers, to dishwashing, cashiering, and refereeing at Lasertron. Between 2000 and 2007 he served in the Marine Corps Reserves and was stationed in Iraq for a year in 2005. He went on to work as a nurse in an assisted living care facility, and then a substitute social studies teacher.
What made you choose to become a Latin teacher?
I had an outstanding Latin teacher in high school: Dr. Thomas Virginia. You don't realize as a student all of the extra work and commitment involved in teaching, but looking back at the education I received, I know that the discipline, work ethic, and thinking skills that I draw on today are owed in large part to the teachers I had growing up. Dr. Virginia would stay after school for hours helping me with concepts, projects, and independent study assignments. His passion for Latin and teaching was clearly evident. I am lucky to have had such a wonderful education and it is my hope to provide the same level of commitment, passion, and creativity for the benefit of my own students.
What is your response to people who call Latin a dead language?
One of the things that struck me in college was how Latin extended into all parts of our lives. A deep knowledge of Latin and Classical thought really has the potential to change the way we see the world. There is very little in our political debates, books and movies, religious beliefs, and histories, our social and economic trends, science, medicine, our law, or our language that hasn't been done before, or shaped by the Romans.
I try to emphasize in my classes just how useful this ancient knowledge is in today's world. We spend whole units focusing on the medical and legal applications of Latin; we look at English derivatives with every vocabulary word we learn. I've taken students on filed trips to the Buffalo Zoo and the Body World's Exhibit to see firsthand how Latin is used in science. I want my students to come out of my class not only being able to recite, "amo, amas, amat" as the primary things they remember, I want them to leave my class with a deeper appreciation of history, mythology, literature, and art. I want to give them an edge as they pursue different professions. I want them to have the tools to really understand how languages work, how to learn languages, and how to better communicate in their own language.
It is my hope too that what students learn in class excites them. We use games, music videos, projects, and skits based on ideas like: focus on form, interactionism, and input-output theories. This aims at making difficult grammar and necessary homework, more accessible.
What has impacted you the most with regard to your students?
I am very fortunate to work in East Aurora, with such a creative, energetic, and capable staff. My students are bright and involved, their interests vary widely and they keep me sharp and challenge me every day to be on top of my game. I teach a variety of grade levels so I get to watch students grow up from middle school, and I meet parents who are supportive, involved, and willing to communicate.
To whom would you recommend your class?
There is something for everyone in Latin. I ask my students at the beginning of every year what they are looking to gain from the class and the responses vary: some hope to improve SAT scores, some to improve their mastery of English, some take it because they have a special interest in a particular topic, and some because their friends signed up for the class. I believe all of these students can take from the class what they were looking for and more. Latin is not an easy subject, but I believe anyone can be successful.
Will you talk a little bit about the trip you are organizing to Rome for the summer of 2011?
This past summer, my wife and I had the opportunity to travel to Italy for our honeymoon. It was the first time I had ever traveled to Europe. What an unforgettable experience! To stand on the steps of the Colosseum, to walk the streets of Pompeii—to realize that beneath your feet there once stood men and women who lived and died under the reign of the Caesars, who with their own eyes once gazed upon the same statues, mosaics, and frescoes which are now yours to view.
I wanted to provide my students with the same opportunity. My students have devoted years to studying Pompeii and Rome. So given the chance to have my students actually walk the streets of Pompeii, to enter Roman temples, and to sit in Roman theaters and senate houses, I of course seized it. With the guidance of teachers at East Aurora who have done this type of thing before, and with recommendations from Latin teachers in neighboring districts, I set up a trip to Rome, which includes guided tours of the Vatican, the Forum, and the Colosseum. We will also spend a whole day in Pompeii, a night in Sorrento, and a visit to Capri. It is my hope that students will be as overwhelmed as I was at the sights, the food, and the overall experience. When they see something for the first time, I want them to turn to their parents or their friends and explain to them what they have learned. I am looking forward to the opportunity of teaching students more about what they will see in and around the city of Rome. Because this trip has no official connection to the district, the invitation to join us is open, although I do reserve the right to take people who will act responsibly. Contact me at: brian.serwicki@gmail.com for more information if you are interested.
Are you really running a marathon October 10th in Chicago?
Yes, and I would like to thank all of the faculty, staff, and administration who donated to the Komen for the Cure drive for the Chicago marathon. East Aurora Schools has to be one of the most giving and supportive work places in the area. We have been able to raise over $1,700.00 for this cause. Check out the website at: http://www.active.com/donate/Chicago10/BSerwic for details. I am running this marathon for my grandmother, who suffered from breast cancer, and my father who has fought two bouts now with lung cancer. My father-in-law, Thomas Foels, and my good friends Dawn and Mike Odrzywolski who have run and biked for causes such as this one have been the driving forces behind me doing this. Thank you to them and to everyone at East Aurora for your inspiration.
In the spirit of community collections, last year our three school buildings collected a total of $5022.00. Places that benefitted from these "dress down Friday" donations varied widely, from FISH of East Aurora, to local families in need during the holidays, to the Massachusetts Avenue gardening project, to Angel Flight, and Bosom Buddies. This month, Alathia Yuhnke is coordinating the Komen walk in Buffalo in the hopes of raising $5000.00 toward a cure for cancer. There is still time to donate, or even sign up for this very worthy cause.