PHILOSOPHY OF TEACHING

My teaching philosophy derives not only from my pedagogical training, but also from my experiences as a student. My aim is to impart a love of learning and an appreciation for the ancient Egyptian civilization—an extraordinary culture that lasted over three millennia. Through the study of their art, architecture, language, history, and religion, we can come closer to understanding how this ancient society functioned, why it endured for so long, and what wisdom it holds for us today.

In my language classes, I foster a welcoming and enjoyable learning environment that addresses multiple learning styles while also keeping the material fresh and engaging. My goal is to provide my students with the essential tools for reading and interpreting ancient texts: a large working vocabulary, solid knowledge of grammar and syntax, and analytical skills for decoding grammatically ambiguous passages. I have devised new methods to explain complex forms, and created focused worksheets, vocabulary lists, and interactive games. I've also written two grammar books (Middle Egyptian and Demotic) for use by my students, which present the complicated grammatical system in a clear and concise manner, emphasizing its most important components and serving as a useful reference and supplement to the grammars available today.

 

COURSES AT UC BERKELEY

INTRODUCTION TO EGYPTIAN HIEROGLYPHS (EGYPT 100AB)

INTRODUCTION TO DEMOTIC (EGYPT 204A)

DEMOTIC TEXTS (EGYPT 204B)

PTOLEMAIC EGYPTIAN HIEROGLYPHIC TEXTS (EGYPT 205)

INTERMEDIATE MIDDLE EGYPTIAN (EGYPT 101AB)

LATE PERIOD HIERATIC (NES 198)

RELIGION OF ANCIENT EGYPT (NES 103)