What should a foreign language degree program offer in the twenty-first century? As the humanities are being downsized and digital technology encroaches upon the role of a foreign language department, our answers to these questions cannot be one-dimensional. That our students reach a high level of proficiency in German language and history, literature, and culture remains a primary mission. Yet, we are also challenged to make German Studies appealing to an increasingly diverse student body. As a graduate student instructor (GSI), I have taught and empowered students by orienting my teaching around three core principles: relevance, accessibility, and inclusion. To do so, I have combined language learning with that of critical thinking, reading, and writing, lifelong and transferable skills. Cultivated in engagement with authentic cultural texts, my students come away with intercultural competencies for a globalized world. As a result of my successful pedagogy, I have attracted new students to the department and heightened the engagement of current ones. Together, my pedagogy claims the importance of German Studies for an undergraduate education and lays the groundwork for students’ success as learners and workers.

For a longer, more detailed description of my teaching philosophy and experience, feel free to contact me.