Instructor Profile - Char Murphy
Char Murphy
Meet Char Murphy - by Barbara McLean February 2017
If you are one of the many students being led by your nose toward the delicious odors emanating from a classroom at Bishop’s House of a morning, you are in Char Murphy’s heavenly territory. She cooks tapas for her Spanish class, every week! “I love to cook and try new things and I love to teach Spanish so it is a perfect match”. And indeed it is! Teaching at OLLI since 2001 when OLLI was DILR, Char has been combining learning with all manner of classroom fun keeping laughter, cultural exchange, and storytelling as method. “I have a mug that says DILR – the mug was my payment for teaching the class” she laughingly relates. The class, taught by Char in English and Spanish, is always a continuation from the prior semester. While it builds on knowledge and has a text book LEARNING SPANISH THE FAST AND FUN WAY, it is also very accepting of new faces and voices – in Spanish, of course! The class discusses history, reads poetry, children’s books, and listens to Spanish music at the beginning of class. Many of her students travel, bringing back adventures to share in class. Char has encouraged education through sharing, and has created a community of learners devoted to things Spanish.
This bright, delightfully spunky lady, born in Iowa City, Iowa is brimming with energy and enthusiasm as she devotes herself to family, teaching and volunteering. She graduated from Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa, taking her Junior Year abroad as a Spanish immersion experience at the University of Madrid, Spain where she studied literature, history, music, philosophy, and art at the Prado Museum. There while Francisco Franco was in power, Char recites many stories, observations and information about that extraordinary era in Spanish history. “ I felt comfortable walking through Retiro park by myself, but when there was a protest on campus, the police were quick to shut it down so as tanks came through, we had to run!” she reports. “The Civil Guard was everywhere, and if I missed a day at school, they would know it and the following day, they would let me know they missed me. They kept track of everyone. And if an article came out in the newspaper that was critical of Franco, he would have all the newspapers removed from the newsstands, the article cut out, and the newspapers replaced. It was an exciting time”, she acknowledges.
While there, Char often traveled throughout Spain with friends, often by train or “autostop” (hitchhiking), even climbing the Rock of Gibraltar. Following college graduation, Char continued her education, receiving a Masters degree in Spanish Literature from Purdue. Char and Jim were married in a university chapel the summer she graduated. Although he has an advanced degree in Philosophy, Jim has worked in the Insurance Industry so the Murphy family has moved many, many times. “With four children born in five years (one set of twins), we were busy and happy” she reports. “And now we have twelve grandchildren, six boys and six girls - we are thrilled!”
Char has taught just about every level Spanish class in high schools since she graduated from Purdue. “Often, I was THE whole Spanish language department” she chuckles. She often became a substitute teacher when her children were younger.
It is not just teaching that has occupied this talented, energetic lady. She has loved doing community volunteer work in the many towns they have made home whether it was with the arts, symphony, or a social service organization. And, she is still at it! She has continuously read for the Library for the Blind in almost every city she has lived in and, touchingly, has had a neighbor for whom she read. “My friend had MS so my dog and I would go over every day and read an hour with her. It was usually my book club selection. I was able to read to her every day for 15 years and I have just loved doing it.” The joy of this is clearly evident on Char’s face as she smilingly describes the pleasure she feels from being with people she has found a way to help.
Lest you think this is enough, read on! Char goes to exercise class five to six times a week, adding three swimming classes weekly in the summer, finds time to take a long morning walk with her dog Maisie, and as season ticket holders, attends DPAC, Symphony , and Ballet performances with Jim. Needlepoint, knitting, and cross stitch keep her fingers busy. She has infused husband Jim with her love of travel and they have journeyed to many Spanish speaking countries – and beyond. The Murphys are active at Immaculate Conception Church, serving as Eucharistic Ministers. Char also serves on the Bereavement committee that makes lunch for mourners after funerals. This past December, Char and Jim took a NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC hiking tour in Argentina and Chile that required 6 to 11 mile hikes every day on rough and hilly trails. “The mountains in Patagonia are spectacular. Most of the other trippers were the ages of our children!”
The Murphys have now lived in Durham 17 years…..the longest they have lived anywhere. They love the area and its people, but take trips often to visit their children and grandchildren. Char is so friendly and they have lived in so many places that they now have friends all over the country. And it is easy to understand why. OLLIstudents wanting to learn or further enjoy Spanish with a charmingly intelligent teacher will be delighted with Char’s class. She is truly a Spanish inspiration!
If you are one of the many students being led by your nose toward the delicious odors emanating from a classroom at Bishop’s House of a morning, you are in Char Murphy’s heavenly territory. She cooks tapas for her Spanish class, every week! “I love to cook and try new things and I love to teach Spanish so it is a perfect match”. And indeed it is! Teaching at OLLI since 2001 when OLLI was DILR, Char has been combining learning with all manner of classroom fun keeping laughter, cultural exchange, and storytelling as method. “I have a mug that says DILR – the mug was my payment for teaching the class” she laughingly relates. The class, taught by Char in English and Spanish, is always a continuation from the prior semester. While it builds on knowledge and has a text book LEARNING SPANISH THE FAST AND FUN WAY, it is also very accepting of new faces and voices – in Spanish, of course! The class discusses history, reads poetry, children’s books, and listens to Spanish music at the beginning of class. Many of her students travel, bringing back adventures to share in class. Char has encouraged education through sharing, and has created a community of learners devoted to things Spanish.
This bright, delightfully spunky lady, born in Iowa City, Iowa is brimming with energy and enthusiasm as she devotes herself to family, teaching and volunteering. She graduated from Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa, taking her Junior Year abroad as a Spanish immersion experience at the University of Madrid, Spain where she studied literature, history, music, philosophy, and art at the Prado Museum. There while Francisco Franco was in power, Char recites many stories, observations and information about that extraordinary era in Spanish history. “ I felt comfortable walking through Retiro park by myself, but when there was a protest on campus, the police were quick to shut it down so as tanks came through, we had to run!” she reports. “The Civil Guard was everywhere, and if I missed a day at school, they would know it and the following day, they would let me know they missed me. They kept track of everyone. And if an article came out in the newspaper that was critical of Franco, he would have all the newspapers removed from the newsstands, the article cut out, and the newspapers replaced. It was an exciting time”, she acknowledges.
While there, Char often traveled throughout Spain with friends, often by train or “autostop” (hitchhiking), even climbing the Rock of Gibraltar. Following college graduation, Char continued her education, receiving a Masters degree in Spanish Literature from Purdue. Char and Jim were married in a university chapel the summer she graduated. Although he has an advanced degree in Philosophy, Jim has worked in the Insurance Industry so the Murphy family has moved many, many times. “With four children born in five years (one set of twins), we were busy and happy” she reports. “And now we have twelve grandchildren, six boys and six girls - we are thrilled!”
Char has taught just about every level Spanish class in high schools since she graduated from Purdue. “Often, I was THE whole Spanish language department” she chuckles. She often became a substitute teacher when her children were younger.
It is not just teaching that has occupied this talented, energetic lady. She has loved doing community volunteer work in the many towns they have made home whether it was with the arts, symphony, or a social service organization. And, she is still at it! She has continuously read for the Library for the Blind in almost every city she has lived in and, touchingly, has had a neighbor for whom she read. “My friend had MS so my dog and I would go over every day and read an hour with her. It was usually my book club selection. I was able to read to her every day for 15 years and I have just loved doing it.” The joy of this is clearly evident on Char’s face as she smilingly describes the pleasure she feels from being with people she has found a way to help.
Lest you think this is enough, read on! Char goes to exercise class five to six times a week, adding three swimming classes weekly in the summer, finds time to take a long morning walk with her dog Maisie, and as season ticket holders, attends DPAC, Symphony , and Ballet performances with Jim. Needlepoint, knitting, and cross stitch keep her fingers busy. She has infused husband Jim with her love of travel and they have journeyed to many Spanish speaking countries – and beyond. The Murphys are active at Immaculate Conception Church, serving as Eucharistic Ministers. Char also serves on the Bereavement committee that makes lunch for mourners after funerals. This past December, Char and Jim took a NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC hiking tour in Argentina and Chile that required 6 to 11 mile hikes every day on rough and hilly trails. “The mountains in Patagonia are spectacular. Most of the other trippers were the ages of our children!”
The Murphys have now lived in Durham 17 years…..the longest they have lived anywhere. They love the area and its people, but take trips often to visit their children and grandchildren. Char is so friendly and they have lived in so many places that they now have friends all over the country. And it is easy to understand why. OLLIstudents wanting to learn or further enjoy Spanish with a charmingly intelligent teacher will be delighted with Char’s class. She is truly a Spanish inspiration!
Editor's Note : If you would like to show appreciation to the profiled instructor, you can email to instructor-profile@olliatduke.org