Calling to Teach
Educational Mission, Active Research Agenda & Core Values
Professor Emeritus and Founder of Teletandem Brasil
Universidade Estadual Paulista - Assis, 2010
VCU, Fall 2019
Calling to Teach
My path to teaching was non-traditional, but it allowed me to immerse myself deeply in Spanish and Latin American culture and civilization. However, my true calling emerged from a passion for Spanish and Portuguese—and a desire to share the transformative power of multilingualism with my students.
As a language learner, my success stemmed from connecting with native speakers and immersing myself in authentic cultural content. This experience informs my teaching philosophy, which integrates technology, media, and real-world immersion activities to engage students and highlight the advantages of multilingualism.
To create authentic language-learning experiences, I regularly collaborate with TESOL and EFL educators in Mexico, Colombia, Spain, Brazil, and beyond, incorporating international virtual exchanges into the classroom. These partnerships provide students with valuable immersion opportunities, reinforcing language acquisition through meaningful, real-world communication.
Educational Mission
I believe a well-rounded liberal arts education, delivered by passionate and skilled faculty, empowers students to become critical thinkers and lifelong learners while equipping them with the skills and knowledge essential for success in their chosen fields.
My mission is to design engaging, student-centered curricula that foster linguistic proficiency, intellectual curiosity, and cultural awareness—motivating learners to take ownership of their education and cultivate a lifelong passion for learning.
Active Research Agenda
My research on international virtual language exchanges began with my doctoral dissertation, where I sought to address gaps in language curricula by developing immersive, action-oriented solutions through instructional design, action research, and technology.
Recognizing the limited access to quality immersion experiences, I initiated class-to-class and peer-to-peer virtual exchanges with EFL teachers worldwide. These structured interactions enhance linguistic proficiency by providing authentic, real-world engagement with native speakers.
Through collaborative instructional design and evaluation, my research partners and I:
- Design and refine virtual exchanges to maximize immersion.
- Employ action research methods to assess the effectiveness of teletandem interactions.
- Continuously improve exchange models based on student outcomes and engagement data.
Maintaining an active research agenda that informs my pedagogy and instructional practice is essential to my work as an educator. By innovating immersive learning strategies, I aim to bridge cultural divides, enhance language education, and equip students with global competencies for success in an interconnected world.
Core Values for Education
For me, education is not just about teaching and learning—it’s about engaging with the world, fostering connections, and embracing lifelong growth.
I believe that a truly transformative education is built on the following core values:
- Dedication – Commit fully, give maximum effort, and pursue excellence.
- Excellence – Strive for the highest standards in learning, teaching, and leadership.
- Professionalism – Lead with integrity, sound judgment, and a deep sense of responsibility.
- Inclusiveness – Honor every stakeholder, foster respect, and create space for all voices.
- Integrity – Be authentic, sincere, and unwavering in ethical principles.
- Humility – Listen more, speak with purpose, and lead by example.
- Gratitude – Recognize the value in every experience and express appreciation genuinely.
These principles shape my approach to education, mentorship, and leadership, ensuring that I create meaningful learning experiences that empower students and foster global citizenship.