This interactive workshop included a viewing of the DVD, Teaching in America: A Guide for International Faculty, which offers insights from more than 20 international faculty members and teaching assistants at Harvard University, all of whom have experience teaching American students. The interviews and classroom sessions covered topics such as breaking down cultural barriers, preparing for class, dealing with language problems, keeping class discussions lively, and responding to student concerns.

This interactive workshop included a viewing of the DVD, What Students Want: Teaching from a Student’s Perspective, which offered insights into what motivates, excites, or frustrates students in North America, how students view teaching, how they learn best, and what role students think faculty can play in the learning process. The video also covered topics such as race and gender, relations among students, professors, and teaching assistants, lecturing and discussion leading, and student views of good and bad teaching. There was informal discussion throughout.

While all those involved in teaching at the University of Windsor were welcome to attend, this workshop was of particular interest to people from another country or those for whom English is an additional language.

During the interactive three-hour workshop, participants had the opportunity to reflect on different aspects of cross-cultural encounters and explore their own cultural self-awareness. There was also a viewing of the video, A Different Place, followed by an informal discussion.

Engaging lectures can transform the classroom experience for instructors and students alike. This interactive workshop will focus on efficient and effective lesson planning, student engagement strategies, and approaches to lecture delivery that maximize learning.