As a passionate Teaching Assistant in the Languages, Cultures, and Literatures department at the University of New Mexico, I, Thierry Samuel, am dedicated to transformative education. My journey has taken me from teaching French in Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 to now guiding students through Mandarin Chinese Level 2 this Spring 2024, embodying my commitment to lifelong learning and cultural exchange.

My teaching philosophy aligns with John Dewey's wisdom: "Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself." I strive to create a joyful, stress-free learning environment where students embark on a journey of discovery. My approach nurtures independent thinking and cultivates an insatiable curiosity for languages and cultures.

In my classroom, I lead learners in a discovery enterprise, aiming to make them independent and curious. I believe in making learning a pleasurable experience where significant progress is achieved without stress.