Dear First-Year Writers,

I’m a first-generation college graduate, Italian-American living in a tri-lingual home (Spanish/Italian/English). I earned my B.A. in English and Creative Writing with a minor in Comparative Literature (CSULB), an M.A. in English Literature, Rhetoric and Composition (CSULB). Finally, I earned a PhD from UCLA in Italian Language and Literature with a focus on teaching languages which helps inform the way that I approach teaching English Composition. I’ve taught academic reading and writing (Italian and English) at CSULB, UCLA, Long Beach City College, Cypress College, Napa Valley College, Sierra College, and all LRCCD colleges including Cosumnes River College and Moorpark College. 

About My Doctoral Work:

As a doctoral student, I completed deep research practices in libraries in both the US and in Italy, so I appreciate in-depth and hands-on work. I focused on the transmission of cultural norms with a focus on gender through the translation of novels mainly between Italy, Britain, and Spain. Writing so often reflects social norms and even challenges those norms revealing much about the societies from which our textual artifacts derive. My doctoral work revealed the challenges of opressed voices from the past and these revelations and voices inform my teaching today.

My teaching is rooted in values of equity, social justice, and global citizenship. I draw inspiration from feminist thinkers and critical educators like Paulo Freire, Louise Dunlap, bell hooks, and Norman Fairclough. These scholars believe that education can—and should—be a form of activism that helps us reimagine and transform our society.

What This Means for You:

Your voice matters. In fact, your ideas, experiences, and ways of seeing the world will shape our learning together. In this class, we’ll co-create knowledge by reading, writing, and thinking critically about topics that matter—to us and to the world we live in.

We’ll examine language, culture, and education as social and political forces. Together, we’ll explore how texts, images, and public messages shape our beliefs about people, language, and society—and how we can respond creatively and critically. We'll ask questions like: How do we use language to make meaning, build community, or challenge injustice? And how can we learn to reinhabit our society in more inclusive and thoughtful ways?

This class will be a brave space where we reflect, collaborate, and challenge ideas with respect and curiosity. We’ll share our stories, negotiate meaning, and build trust as a learning community. I want you to leave this course feeling more confident in your reading, writing, and communication skills—and more aware of your own power and growth.

Please take some time to explore this liquid syllabus to set your expectations for the course and our learning journey together.

I look forward to meeting you, learning from you, and witnessing your academic and personal growth.

Sincerely,

Professor Cindy (Cinzia) Stanphill - Barandalla

She/Her/Hers/Lei/Ella