HETEROGLOSSIA
is the concept that is guiding my teaching at Tsukuba University
is the concept that is guiding my teaching at Tsukuba University
- In "Second Foreign Language" Teaching, "The Art of Heteroglossia" makes use of the learner's prior (foreign) language knowledge. In doing so, it does not only connect to the learner's latent knowledge and experience of language construction and thereby optimizes his/her learning capacity. It also introduces the learner to realistic language experience in our multilingual global world.
- In Literature Teaching, "The Art of Heteroglossia" re-invents the concept of "world literature", adapting it to today's global world of "multicultural", "transnational" and "interdiscursive" concepts. It focuses on the shifting between new "local" and "global" perspectives heretofore unconnected in literature and cultural studies, and thereby enhances the critical and creative faculties of our students.
- The most important contribution of "The Art of Heteroglossia" to world society is, that it familiarizes all our young students with negotiating strategies so important in all academic, professional, economic and social sectors of today's global world.
"Heteroglossia" by Mikhail Bakhtin
- "Heteroglossia" is the most common Western translation of Mikhail Bakhtin's concept of "разноречие".
- In Discourse in the Novel, Bakhtin defines heteroglossia as "another's speech in another's language, serving to express authorial intentions but in a refracted way."
- Though invented in literary studies, the concept of "heteroglossia" can be transported from literary textual analysis to linguistic and philosophical research in general and to foreign language teaching and learning in particular.
- Bakhtin says: "In the act of understanding, a struggle occurs that results in mutual change and enrichment."
- As a foreign professor, my choice to do research and teach at Tsukuba University is guided by the endeavor to enhance international intellectual mutual exchange and enrichment.