Instructor Interview
In the pages linked below, Prof. Maya Honda describes various aspects of how she taught 24.S95 Linguistics in K–12 Education in spring 2023.
Why Teach Linguistics in Schools?
Using a “Backwards” Course Design
The Format of the Teaching Experience
Curriculum Information
Prerequisites
There were no formal prerequisites for Linguistics graduate students who wished to register for the class; graduate students from other departments and undergraduates were allowed to register if they previously taken a linguistics course, or with instructor approval.
Offered
24.S95 was taught for the first time in spring 2023; it will be offered again in spring 2024.
Assessment
- Prepared class participation and reflection essays: 50%
- Poster presentation: 15%
- Final Project Paper: 35%
Student Information
Enrollment
Fewer than 10 students
Breakdown by Year
Primarily second- and third-year graduate students; one undergraduate.
Breakdown by Major
Most of the students were studying linguistics, either at MIT or Harvard; one was in MIT’s chemical engineering program.
How Student Time Was Spent
During an average week, students were expected to spend 12 hours on the course, roughly divided as follows:
In Class (3 hours)
Met 1 time per week for 3 hours per session; mandatory attendance. Class sessions were conducted in a seminar format, with extensive discussion.
Out of Class (8 hours)
Outside of class, students read assigned texts, worked in teams and individually to develop lesson plans and a poster presentation, consulted with partner teachers at selected middle schools or high schools, delivered the lessons they had developed, and wrote a final project paper.
