Capstone Project

(100 word summary)

We inaugurated the monthly newsletter “RLL in the Classroom,” featuring instructors and their reflections on pedagogy, events of interest, and relevant Bok Center resources. In RomLang 210, we assisted with the training of the new teachers in RLL through demo lessons and class observations and consultations. We organized two panels on teaching and the job market, and one for the rising G3s about to start teaching. Monthly social events around the Cambridge area provided the occasion to reconnect as a teaching community.

RomLang 210: Language Pedagogy: Theories, Approaches, and Practices

What we did:

RomLang 210, the mandatory pedagogy course for new TAs and TFs in RLL, consists of an intensive pre-service seminar that takes place in August, the week before the beginning of classes, and three sessions distributed through the Fall semester. This year, the course head, Dr. Nicole Mills, opted for extending the course to make it the full year (Fall and Spring).

We participated in the class both during the pre-service seminar and for the class sessions throughout the year.

Main tasks:

• Three demo lessons each
• Observations and feedback sessions (16 instructor)
• Student/alumn panel: “Looking to the Future: Professional Development”
• Assisting Dr. Nicole Mills each session

RomLang 230: Teaching Languages, Cultures and Literatures

What we did:

Throughout the spring semester, we collaborated with Dr. María Luisa Parra and Prof. Virginie Greene in their "Teaching Languages, Cultures and Literatures" course. We worked with them to create a syllabus that would fit the needs and interests of the students enrolled, compiled the corresponding materials, and put together a Canvas site for the class. During the semester, we assisted them in class and, for the last penultimate week of classes, we organized and moderated a panel on the job market with alumni from RLL’s doctoral program.

Main tasks:

• Giving input on the syllabus and class design in general
• Assisting Prof. Greene and Dr. Parra each week in class
• Panel organization and moderation during the penultimate week of classes (”Panel on the Academic Job Market with RLL alumni”)

RLL in the Classroom: A Newsletter

What we did:

• Our most ambitious project this year was the monthly publication of a newsletter that focused on the experiences of RLLs TAs/TFs and professors in their role as language and literature teachers. What pedagogical practices circulate in RLL? How do we conceive of education within our department? What inspiring experiences can we share with others from RLL and other Harvard departments?
• In total, we released five numbers. The first four included interviews with TAs/TFs from each of the sections of our department (Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and French), and the fifth included an interview with Josiah Blackmore, professor of Portuguese literature and current RLL Chair.
• One of the interests behind the publication of this newsletter was to create bridges between the different sections of RLL, since sometimes there is not enough communication between them. We also wanted to inspire new RLL instructors with ideas, as we know that being faced with teaching a course four days a week for the first time is a challenge that can be overwhelming. That is why, in addition to the interviews, we included pedagogy resources from the Bok Center and events of interest in the area and beyond related to education.

The five numbers of the newsletter can be found here

Rising G3s Pizza Panel

What we did:

One of our last tasks of the year was organizing a panel dedicated to the rising G3s, who will start teaching for the first time at RLL in the fall of this year. The idea of the panel, which included the two of us, one of the future RLL PFs, and an experienced instructor from the department, was for future instructors to be aware of the resources available to them as student workers at RLL, and to have the opportunity to dialogue and ask practical questions to colleagues who have been in their shoes before.

For this panel, we ensured funding from the department and provided pizza to the students. The atmosphere was more pleasant and with the necessary informality that allowed the students felt comfortable when asking questions.

Monthly Social Events for TAs and TFs of RLL

What we did:

The most fun part of our role as PFs!

After a year of distancing and exclusively virtual interactions, when we arrived at Harvard in the fall we felt like our teaching team needed to reconnect. For this reason, we secured funding to organize social events every month to which we invited all the TAs and TFs of RLL.

The events were well received and served to generate dialogue and release work-related tensions in an informal and friendly atmosphere.

Our events included:

• A first informal meeting in September under one of the tents on campus
• Donuts and cider in October
• A visit to L.A. Burdick Chocolates in November for a cup of hot chocolate
• Two visits to The Cellar for drinks, one in March and one in April