“By learning you will teach, by teaching you will learn.”
Excite, Engage, and Empower
At the heart of my teaching philosophy lies a commitment to fostering an inclusive, collaborative, and transformative learning environment. Drawing from my teaching experience in the field of English language education, research background in educational technology, and a profound passion for social justice, I am excited to apply my teaching philosophy at Boston University.
To me, teaching is a collaborative journey, where students and educators come together to explore, learn, and grow. My foremost priority is to create an inclusive and equitable classroom environment where every student feels valued, respected, supported, empowered, and belonged. Rooted in social justice and critical pedagogy, my teaching philosophy encourages students to critically examine societal structures, fostering empathy, social responsibility, and awareness of inequities. I aim to prepare students as global and transnational citizens, promoting global awareness, cultural sensitivity, and a commitment to addressing glocal (both local and global) challenges.
I am a firm advocate of constructivist learning, which places students at the center of their educational journey. Through Project-Based Learning (PBL) and Task-Based Learning (TBL), I empower my students to take ownership of their learning, nurturing independence, autonomy, self-efficacy, and agency. I believe that students learn best when they actively construct knowledge together and engage in hands-on, practical, and experiential learning experiences.
Technology plays a crucial role in enhancing engagement and edutainment in my classes. I have utilized innovative tools like Augmented and Virtual Reality, and recently GenAI, to create immersive learning experiences that captivate, inspire, and future-proof. My commitment to critical digital pedagogy extends the principles of critical pedagogy into digital spaces, ensuring that technology is leveraged as a tool for social and educational advancement.
For example, my doctoral dissertation focused on designing, developing, delivering, and evaluating an English blended course, titled “Osaka University Global English Online (OUGEO),” with the aim of increasing global awareness and motivation via the use of Augmented Reality (AR) among Japanese learners of English. I also designed a project called “How Can I Change the World: Bookmarks for Puerto Rico” and connected my classes to a social media campaign initiated by a professor at the Universidad del Sagrado Corazón in San Juan after a massive hurricane hit Puerto Rico in September 2017. “A Virtual Trip to the Unseen Iran” is another project in which I used Virtual Reality (VR) to encourage critical thinking, cultivate empathy, dispel stereotypes about the Middle East with the focus on Iran, and develop global awareness in my students.
My teaching journey in Japan deeply influenced my approach to language education. I embarked on a journey to learn Japanese, allowing me to better understand the challenges Japanese learners face in learning English. This experience reinforced my belief in the power of multilingualism and informed my commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice work, and eventually brought translanguaging to my transformative teaching journey.
Since moving to the Netherlands, I have had the privilege of teaching at an international school where I work with multicultural and multilingual students. This diverse environment has further enriched my teaching, allowing me to advocate for multilingualism and foster an inclusive classroom that celebrates linguistic diversity.
In conclusion, I view teaching as a reflective process. I constantly engage in self-reflection, and I always seek opportunities for growth and improvement, engaging in action research to evaluate the effectiveness of my teaching methods. My teaching philosophy is encapsulated by three core principles: Excite, Engage, and Empower for a more just world. I try to ignite a passion for learning, engage students in transformative experiences, and empower them to be critical thinkers who contribute positively to our globalizing world. I look forward to bringing this philosophy to Boston University, where innovation, creativity, and global perspectives converge.