(Here at Pascack Valley, we are very fortunate to have talented and caring teachers who provide us with so much knowledge and expertise. Have you ever wondered about how and why our teachers chose to work in the field of education? Or what experiences have shaped who they are, and what makes them special?)

Signora Barbara Borghi is one of PV’s Italian teachers. However, she also possesses many unique talents and gifts outside of teaching, such as being able to speak five different languages. The tragic events of the 9/11 terrorist attacks changed her perspective on life and refocused her to utilize her talents in a different way. She grew up in Italy, and firmly believes that learning other languages can be an important factor for leading a successful life.

“It was September 11, 2001. I had been working for a company in the area of business, specifically marketing. When I came home from a business trip in Tokyo, it was the morning of September 11. My colleagues and I were stopped at the Boston Airport for a day because of the attacks. I banded together with a bunch of strangers to get rental cars 10 miles away from the airport. When I finally came home, I made a promise to my son, that I would always be able to come home to see him,” Borghi said.

The experience of being so far from home and away from her small child on 9/11 changed her perspective on life and her career direction.

“That’s when I decided to switch jobs. But, where was I to go? I thought about it for a bit, and decided to put my multi-linguistic skills to good use. I would teach!” she said.

Her enthusiasm for becoming a teacher in the United States was thwarted when she learned she couldn’t become a certified teacher right away. She had graduated from a European university and was disappointed to learn that the requirements were different to become a teacher in the United States.

“When I tried to become a teacher here, I couldn’t because I graduated from the University of Italy, and I needed thirty credits in Italian to be a teacher. In a few months, I got the credits, and here I am now,” she said.

Borghi grew up on Lake Como in Italy. Every summer, she’d go to see her cousins in the canal city of Venice and cosmopolitan city of Milan. She enthusiastically said that they are her favorite Italian cities.

Borghi would describe her personality as smart, generous, and diverse. And, “diverse,” she truly is, as a multi-linguist who speaks a total of five languages: Italian, French, English, German, and Spanish. She can also read written Dutch, Portuguese, and Romanian.

Her favorite thing about working at PV is the students.

“When they first enter the school, you meet them, and then watch them grow to become young adults. It’s a truly amazing experience,” she said.

According to Borghi, the most rewarding aspect of teaching is getting to see students understand a language, and learn how it helps them achieve in life.

“After all, learning another person’s language can help you make friends all across the world, and learn about another person’s culture,” she said. 

Borghi has a valuable and memorable piece of advice for the student community here at PV: “Whatever you do, do with your heart,” she said. “Follow your heart to find what you’re good at, and learn as much as you can about it!”