My Teaching Philosophy

My teaching philosophy is rooted in relational pedagogy and cross-cultural understanding. Informed by Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed and Pedagogy of Hope. I view education as a form of refusal and a process of making changes. I embrace a strength-based approach, with a deep belief that learning is a process of meaning making and relation building, and education is a transformative practice rooted in community stories and aspirations. Through my teaching in PK–12, higher education, and community-based settings across Taiwan, Alaska, and the Pacific Northwest, I have designed and delivered inclusive and culturally sustaining curricula that engage students’ learning and empower them to be the critical consumer of knowledge and active agents of change.

Chiayi, Taiwan                            

Photo taken by Huiyu Lin, 2022

This photo was taken during my fieldwork with the Cou community in Chiayi, Taiwan. The rainforest and the fog took me back to my childhood and reminded me of the landscapes, stories, and communities that first shaped my understanding of learning. As I traveled between the Cou community and my hometown, I often reflected on my own educational journey across Taiwan, Alaska, and Washington. Each place taught me something different about education: Taiwan taught me the importance of language, culture, and community; Alaska deepened my understanding of Indigenous knowledge, cultural responsiveness, and the many ways people learn and make meaning; and Washington provided opportunities to connect these experiences through research, teaching, and community engagement. These experiences continue to shape my teaching philosophy. I believe that meaningful learning begins when educators recognize and honor the knowledge, identities, languages, and lived experiences that learners bring with them. Just as my own growth has been enriched by learning across cultures and communities, I strive to create learning environments where students feel valued, connected, and empowered to contribute their perspectives, experiences, and ways of knowing.

Course Taught

Teacher Education

  • TEDUC 502 | Learning about Learning

  • TEDUC 519 | Linguistics for Teachers

  • EDUC 251 | Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity

  • EDUC 280 | Introduction to Education, Communities, and Organizations: Re-Envisioning Education

Early Childhood & Family Studies

  • ECFS 403 | Early Childhood and Family Studies Major Core Pathway Senior Capstone

  • ECFS 402 | Social Policy and Young Children and Families

  • ECFS 401 | Understanding Early Childhood and Family Studies Research

  • ECFS 303 | Exploring the Landscape of The Early Learning

  • ECFS 330 | Creative Thinking and Expression in Early Childhood Development and Learning

Early Care and Education

  • ECE 403 | Early Care and Education Major Core Pathway Senior Capstone

  • ECE 402 | Social Policy in Early Care and Education

  • ECE 401 | Research in Early Care and Education

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