Teaching Philosophy

"Why study a foreign language and literature?" It is a question we are all faced with at some point. I see language as a way of thinking. It is a tool by which one can understand others as well as develop new insights about oneself. Through a diversified approach emphasizing communication, students gain an inclusive view of the target language and culture. In discovering the realities of the subject, students are able to break through those stereotypes often imposed on other cultures. In so doing, they gain knowledge of their own culture and themselves. My goal as a teacher is to facilitate and encourage this process.

Language courses are often difficult to teach because while grammar is important, communication and understanding must be the primary goals. For this reason, I follow the communicative approach to second language acquisition. My students have often benefited from contextualized activities, in particular those with realistic situations that underline the development of aptitudes and skills applicable in the world at large. For example, when teaching the vocabulary of the house, I asked the students to prepare an advertisement for either leasing a furnished room or selling a house. The results were impressive. They searched the internet for sites in the target language and their finished products were creative and well done. It was a realistic task that required them to use their knowledge and creativity to arrive at a concrete goal.

I am always looking for new ways to get students to explore the target language and literature, whether it be through traditional class participation or through less traditional online formats. Online discussion tools provide an open forum wherein they can express their opinions and practice more freely without the restrictions of the classroom structure. The students are required to participate in the target language, a vital step towards more fluent communication. In order to encourage further communication, I ask students to work in groups to study various regions where the target language is spoken and to prepare a webpage that advertises a trip to the region studied. They are asked to include some cultural and geographical information, and to provide some realistic price quotes. The webpage must be in the target language and it is posted so that all the students in the course may have access to it. Not only does this activity promote awareness of the target culture and of available resources, the students must utilize a variety of skills (technological, research, business) in order to complete the task, a definite advantage to anyone going on the job market or continuing with education. Moreover, such an activity offers a rich and diverse learning experience wherein students are made responsible for their education, various modes of input are employed, and peer learning is encouraged.

In a world that is becoming increasingly globalized, I believe it is of the utmost importance to explore ways in which we can understand and appreciate other cultures. My hope for my students is that they learn to challenge the perception of others, to form their own opinions based in their experience. Learning a foreign language is the first step on that path of lifelong learning.