Adriano
Duque
Department
of Romance Languages and Literatures
Villanova
University
Teaching
Philosophy
As a teacher, my aim is to provide students with a learning
environment that will enable them to understand and critically evaluate the
motivations of individuals in their own world and in other cultures. More
importantly, I want my students to understand, intellectually and emotionally,
that their present lives are the result of a network of connections and
influences that go beyond their own normal perception.
My approach to student assessment reflects my two goals. First,
the student is expected to generate the learning material by engaging in a
series of activities inside and outside the classroom. Second, students are
given the opportunity to understand that material in written and oral
assignments that emphasize the skills of critical thinking and listening
acquired during the semester.
I believe in a flexible manner of instruction, responsive to the
personal experience of every students and the unique atmosphere of the class.
In conducting a language or literature course, I am aware of studentŐs
different experiences and invite them to share them with the rest of the class.
Every student, regardless of their language skill and their background, can
improve his or her ability to engage in the creative process of learning.
Drawing comparisons between Queen Isabella of Castile and Paris Hilton, or collecting
folk songs from Latino workers in Philadelphia, I invite students to explore
the possibilities of every approach, and to use their personal and collective
experience as a powerful learning tool.
Being at Villanova has allowed me to participate in the
intellectual and personal development of my students inside and outside the
classroom. Through my work as a language and Medieval literature instructor, I strive to enrich a
studentŐs ability to think about, discuss and examine foreign and local
cultures with a new awareness of their social and humanistic significance.