Educated to Bachelor’s degree, I have been a University Professor teaching young adults for the last 15 years. I believe that good language instruction prepares students to engage in authentic communication with real people in the real world. I am genuine

Our world is changing, quickly. As advancements in technology spur on globalization, communication between cultures is becoming increasingly more and more important. Language is the foundation of that communication; both to understand and be understood in more than one language is essential to fostering understanding in the emerging international community. I firmly believe that the path to making the world a better place is through individuals. If we are not working towards intercultural acceptance on a personal level, then striving for such understanding on a global level will do no good. Since language is merely a reflection of culture, and often a language class is the first exposure students have to that culture, the teacher’s role is a crucial one in developing cultural understanding. As a result of the emphasis on real-world applications, students begin to develop an awareness of their own cultural perspective. As we draw on authentic resources to explore and discuss relevant social, political, and cultural issues, our language classroom becomes a safe space to explore others perspectives and expand our own. This process of thoughtfully exploring and discussing differences across cultures is the key to intercultural development. Intercultural competence is not gained through simple contact with authentic communities and cultural resources. Learners must go through a process of critical reflection and integration in order to make sense of the multiple cultural perspectives discovered in the authentic resources. Teaching in a variety of settings to diverse populations has allowed me to research and experiment with approaches and methodologies, and to convert my teaching philosophy into a teaching practice.