Teaching, diversity and inclusion

I have taught as a Teaching Assistant at the University of Pittsburgh mainly in

beginning to intermediate language courses, as an Instructor at the University of

Kentucky (language and literature) as a Visiting Assistant Professor at Cornell

University (language, literature, and film) and at the Universidad "Simon Bolivar”

in Caracas, Venezuela (language, literature, literary and cultural theory).

My experience includes then a wide variety of courses on canonical and non-

canonical aspects of Latin American literature working with students of very

different backgrounds: Women, African Americans and U.S. Latinos among

others. As a person coming from the Caribbean (I’m from Margarita, an island on

eastern Venezuela) during my whole life I have been exposed to the beauty and

complexity of cultural interaction and the fascinating multiplicity of identities in

one of the most diverse regions of the Americas.

At the same time, I have kept in mind always that teaching on Latin America or

Latin American related courses (civilization, culture), also imply a dialogue

between North and the Hispanic Caribbean and South America, between these

and Hispanic communities in the United States, and finally with what has come

to be called "globality." This last dimension has become more central to me

through my experiences as a diplomat in the Middle East. One model for such a

pedagogy might be the work of José Martí, who lived and wrote "between " Latin

America, North America and Spain.

As Spanish language teacher, I believe students need an

enthusiastic, involved, and patient mentor who will inspire them to become

familiar with another language and culture. I try to create a friendly, comfortable,

mutually engaged environment. At the same time, I aim to get my students to

use and practice the target language as much as possible. For students wanting

an advance level of competence in the language, I believe in the virtues of study

abroad, when that is feasible.

As a teacher of literature and culture, my role is to have my students engage in

the analysis of literary and cultural texts, and literary history and theory, relating

to Latin America and the Caribbean, in ways that encourage their own critical

thinking and openness to diversity and tolerance. As a scholar engaged in

postcolonial and cultural studies I believe it is of the greatest importance to

transmit in my classes some of the richness of cultural differences and how the

study of such differences can make us better human beings and powerfully

enhance our understanding of the world.

For the same reason although my teaching gives a strong emphasis to the

canonic, especially in 19th century and 20th century literature, it also extends

beyond the canon to questions of testimonio, film and media and social

history. Although centered in literature and literary criticism, my approach is

interdisciplinary. I aim for a learning environment that encourages all students to

participate and contribute actively to the goals of the course.

One of the main objectives of my classes is to foster the ability of my students to

read closely, think critically, and critique in a well-informed manner the literature

and culture of Latin America. In this way, I try to impart to my students my own

sense of wonder and respect for different lands, cultures, and peoples.

Juan Antonio Hernández, September, 2017