Giuseppe Ficocelli

I am a passionate educator who is dedicated to fostering a positive and inclusive learning experience. I am also continuously eager to expand my skills and knowledge to support my students better.

While undertaking my PhD in London, I tutored both Latin and Ancient History for three years at the GCSE (Grade 11 equivalent) and A/AS (CEGEP/College equivalent) levels. Most of my students were enrolled in a homeschooling program, as many suffered from various physical and non-physical illnesses that took them out of school. I benefited tremendously from this experience as I learned how to interact with and teach adolescent students, some of whom suffered from learning disabilities, anxiety, and various other disorders. I also refined my ability to adapt lessons for individual students or groups, ensuring they met the government curriculum requirements. Moreover, I was fortunate that during my studies, I resided in Germany for three months, where I gained valuable experience expressing my ideas and research in English to a non-native English-speaking audience. This is a valuable skill when teaching students from diverse, multilingual backgrounds.

After defending my doctoral dissertation, I was offered to instruct a combined field trip for both John Abbott College (A-level) and University of Ottawa students to Spain, where, over eighteen days, I taught the historical and archaeological history of Ancient Spain. The trip focused particularly on Roman history, and the topics of discussion with the students revolved around imperialism, the exploitation of indigenous (ancient Iberian) peoples, and the reception of this topic in our modern time. These topics are vital for students as critical thinkers. As an educator and supervisor on the trip, I learned how to support and care for many students, particularly first-year CEGEP students. Most of them had never travelled without their parents and were navigating a completely unfamiliar environment.