I have taught for a good number of years now, and have taught courses of all types - language, literature, linguistics, culture, bilingual studies, grammar, conversation, etc.

For me teaching is extremely important. I am constantly rethinking the process, and never afraid to experiment and to try new approaches to teaching and learning. However, some things remain constant. I believe that what the students learn must always seem relevant to them, interesting and immediately applicable. I believe, too, that teachers must learn what inspires and motivates students, what their goals are, what interests them, and what experiences and talents they bring to the classroom - and then use that in teaching. All of this is encapsulated in my Philosophy of Teaching

I am a big believer in task-based instruction and active learning, that is, learning through doing - projects, pursuing topics of interest to the students, and use what is taught in a relevant, fun and meaningful way. I am excited about the possibility of distance learning, and combining efforts with other instructors at other universities to offer our students a wider array of courses via distance learning technology.

Since I've been at Texas Tech, here are the courses I've taught:

FALL 2007

LING5322/LING4311, Methods of Teaching Modern Second Languages
French 1507, French Comprehensive Review
 

Spring 2008

FREN4303, Advanced French Conversation
French 1507, French Comprehensive Review
 

Summer II 2008

CLT5310 - Literature and Cultural Studies
 

FALL 2008

French 1507, French Comprehensive Review

LING5383, Seminar in Second Language Acquisition: Life with Two Languages
 

Spring 2009

FREN2301, A Second Course in French I
 

FALL 2009

French 3303, French Conversation
French 3304, French Grammar

FREN5327, Civilisation Française

 

Spring 2010

FREN4303, Advanced French Conversation
FREN2301, A Second Course in French I