Nurturing Creativity and Innovation in Language Instruction: Perspectives and Practices

From incorporating multimedia resources to promoting authentic communication and cultural immersion, this session offers valuable insights and practical tips for educators seeking to inspire creativity and innovation in their language learning classrooms.

To view a recording of this session, please visit the Geddes Language Center MyMedia page.

Mark Lewis (Moderator), Director, Geddes Language Center

Mark Lewis is the Director of the Geddes Language Center at Boston University. Over the course of his career, he has led numerous educational technology departments centered on faculty development, instructional support, mentoring, and course re-design using technology. His interests include and assessment, the digital humanities, and hybrid-online course development. He has worked in the e-learning industry supporting system integration for a variety of platforms, including adaptive learning and media tools. He has also performed the role of external evaluator in NECHE reaccreditation efforts, specializing in distance learning programs.

Interactive Learning: Exploring Mentimeter's Role in Second Language Acquisition

María Datel, Coordinator of Spanish Language Program and Master Lecturer of Spanish, College of Arts & Sciences

María Datel is a Master Lecturer in the Department of Romance Studies, where she serves as the overall coordinator for the Spanish Language Program. She was a fellow in the Designing Anti Racism Curricula Fellowship Program and co-organizes the Second-Language Learning and Disabilities Conference and Indigenous Voices Week with the Center for Latin American Studies. María teaches courses in Spanish language, Spanish for heritage learners, and second language pedagogy. With research interests centered around anti-colonial pedagogies, she has devoted the past few years to creating a more inclusive and equitable Spanish-language classroom that is attentive to marginalized cultures, particularly those of Latin America. María has presented nationally and internationally on decolonization, antiracist teaching, and research-based pedagogical practices. She is honored to have received several awards for her work.

Christina Michaud, Master Lecturer of Writing and Associate Director of ELL Writing, College of Arts & Sciences

Christina Michaud is a master lecturer and the associate director of English language learning in the CAS Writing Program. Her research interests include antiracist pedagogy, generative AI and multilingual writers, and experiential learning.

Melodies of Learning: Enhancing Chinese Language Acquisition by Music at BU

Yating Fan, Lecturer of Chinese, College of Arts & Sciences

Yating Fan, a Lecturer in Chinese at the Department of World Languages and Literatures, instructs students across all levels at BU. She co-developed the CAS Public Speaking course and designed the LC 318 curriculum, integrating Chinese language with public speaking. She focuses on second language acquisition and instructional technology to enhance pedagogy. Her recent initiatives include promoting social justice in language classrooms, creating supportive media for Chinese learners, and integrating AI into language education.

Reading Ancient Texts with Images: Geddes Mini-grant Project

Laurie Glenn Hutcheson, Coordinator of Ancient Greek and Latin and Lecturer of Classical Studies, College of Arts & Sciences

Laurie Hutcheson is a lecturer in CAS's department of Classical Studies. There, she oversees the language programs in Ancient Greek and Latin. She is especially interested in making ancient texts come "alive" for her students, especially through performance, art, and conversation. She writes about Homeric poetry.

Podcasting en Español: Nurturing Creativity and Innovation in Language Instruction

Philip Noonan, Lecturer of Spanish, College of Arts & Sciences

Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Philip is currently Spanish lecturer in the Department of Romance Studies at Boston University. His primary areas of interest in research and teaching are AI use in the language classroom, music and protest in Latin American social movements, and orality and the literary lecture in 1920s and 30s Spain, which served as the focus of his dissertation. Recently, Philip has been working with an AI collaborative group at Boston University to advance unique projects on the use of generative artificial intelligence in the language classroom. His current project deals with the use of AI chatbots to build student confidence prior to spoken assessment.

Azlin Perdomo, Lecturer of Spanish, College of Arts & Sciences

Azlín Perdomo is dedicated to teaching world languages through the lens of social justice with a project-based, communicative, and thematic approach. Her main goal is to stimulate students to build knowledge through practical and culturally inclusive content. Through her teaching, Perdomo encourages students to immerse themselves in other cultures, promoting social consciousness, intercultural competence, and critical thinking. Perdomo strongly believes that beyond the mastery of curricular material, true education instills in students the desire to think deeply about themselves and the world around them. Azlín’s hopes and goals are that students will take what they learn in the classroom and have a tangible impact on their communities.

Edgardo Tormos Bigles, Lecturer of Spanish, College of Arts & Sciences

Edgardo was born and raised in Puerto Rico. He earned his PhD from Boston University's Department of Romance Studies in 2022. Edgardo has taught courses from the First Semester (LS111) all the way up to Introduction to Literature (LS350) at Boston University since 2016. He has designed a course for Heritage and Native Speakers (LS309) and is currently working on an Antiracist Curriculum as part of BU’s DAC fellowship. Edgardo enjoys collaborating with colleagues on pedagogical initiatives that incorporate social justice and cultural diversity in the language classroom.

Carmen Torre Perez, Lecturer of Spanish, College of Arts & Sciences

Carmen Torre Perez is a lecturer of Spanish in the Romance Studies department. She holds a PhD in Hispanic studies and, as a teacher and scholar, strives to bring understudied or marginalized topics to the forefront. She is particularly interested in the study of underground and pop music cultures in Latin America, from punk to reggaeton.