2025 Hall of Fame Nominee
West Lafayette, IN
The students I have the privilege to work with live in an increasingly interconnected and complex world. As they move toward adulthood, all of these young people, regardless of age, academic ability, background, or career aspirations, will have to navigate local and global challenges with others whose languages and cultures may be different from their own. Supporting my learners as they face this reality is no small task, and it is imperative to expand their worlds through access to high quality language instruction and opportunities to explore and connect with other cultures.
When most people consider language instruction, they think of mastering a system of communication. Indeed, it is essential to teach vocabulary and grammar, but I feel that developing relevant linguistic proficiency brings much more to students than just knowing words and phrases. They find their voice and can use that to nurture relationships with other speakers. They are able to advocate for themselves and others, foster understanding and cooperation, and bridge the gap to others with different worldviews. These are tremendous personal and professional benefits, but they do not occur in a vacuum. When we study how others communicate and how we must communicate with them, we are doing more than just using words. In fact, we are challenged to process and understand perspectives in a new world, and this is where students begin to expand their cultural competence.
Cultural competence must transcend surface-level knowledge of customs and traditions, though, to get to the heart of a culture: values, beliefs, and lived experiences. This is an incredible challenge because students come with preconceived notions about the “right” way to live. I feel it is my job to provide both mirrors and doors; mirrors for learners to examine and consider their own practices and products and doors to access the many, many ways that others live happily on this planet. This can be difficult, even uncomfortable work, but in a time where misunderstandings and prejudice lead to division, pressing my learners to become more understanding, empathetic, and accepting people through cultural competence is a powerful antidote.
World language courses are unique because the goals they strive for - language learning and cultural competence - ultimately promote peaceful coexistence. They give us skills to engage in meaningful dialogues and a starting point from which to break down barriers that fuel stereotypes and discrimination. When we have a clearer picture of the struggles, aspirations, and values of others, we begin to see them as fellow humans also trying to do their best and make their mark on the world.
It is an honor to serve my students each day and join them on the journey of learning new ways to communicate and see the world and themselves. I hope that through their experiences in my classroom, they will come away with an appreciation for language and culture and be prepared for the challenges they'll face now and throughout their lives.