Innovative Pedagogy Expo Showcases Teaching Tools for the Language Classroom

Clockwise from top left: Sydney Massey (teaching assistant, French), Annie Doucet (assistant professor, French), Li Yang (instructor, Chinese), Maria Comsa (teaching assistant professor, French), Sung Hye Yang (instructor, Spanish).

The World Languages and Digital Humanities Studio (JBHT 207) hosted the Spring 2025 Innovative Pedagogy Expo on Feb. 27. Five presenters from the Department of World Languages, Literatures and Cultures showcased a pedagogical tool and/or strategy they have used in their respective classrooms to complement language learning instruction, ranging from utilizing AI to Kahoot Quizzes to Voyant for Distant Reading.

Attendees were split into five groups to view each presentation (approximately 10 minutes) before moving to the next station. Presenters then held a brief Q&A with each group following their presentation.

The lineup of presenters, along with the titles of their presentations, are below:

Maria Comsa — AI: A Student Critical Thinking Partner
Annie Doucet — Voyant and Distant Reading
Sydney Massey — Teaching Time and Schedules Using Real-World Applications
Li Yang — How to Design a Multi-Functional Oral Exam
Sung Hye Yang — Enhancing Learning and Assessment With Online Quiz Tools: Kahoot & Forms

The follow-up roundtable of the expo will be from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday, April 10, at the WLDH Studio. Volunteers will test implementation of one or more pedagogical tools from the expo in their courses and share their findings, experiences and thoughts.

This story also appeared in the University of Arkansas News publication.