Maggie Smith ‘11 recognized as Foreign Language Association of Georgia Teacher of Promise
Maggie Smith '11, high school French teacher, was recently named the Foreign Language Association of Georgia (FLAG) Teacher of Promise. This award recognizes a teacher in his or her first, second, or third year of teaching who shows the promise to be an outstanding teacher and leader in foreign language education. Smith is in her fourth year of teaching, but she was nominated last year when no award was given due to the pandemic. FLAG extended the award's term by one year.
“Ms. Smith is an excellent teacher who has already achieved so much in terms of inspiring our students to learn French, to love the Lord, and to grow up to be the men and women that God wants them to be. A visit to her classroom reveals students that are not simply learning French, they are conversing, researching, investigating, participating in discussions, and having fun while learning. More succinctly, they are engaging with class content in a meaningful way that leads to a greater understanding and appreciation,” said Modern and Classical Languages Department Chair Suzanne Ragains, who taught Smith when she was a Wesleyan student.
Reflecting on her teaching philosophy, Smith shares that “[f]oreign language education has to be more than verb charts, vocabulary lists, and occasional cultural mini-units; it must be deeply relational, student-centered, and designed in such a way that addresses student motivations and interests and lessens student worries and dislikes.”
Since graduating from Wesleyan in 2011, Smith earned a bachelor of arts in French, international affairs, and political science and a master of arts in teaching world languages with an emphasis in French. She earned both degrees from the University of Georgia.
“I am so grateful to have the opportunity to live out my teaching philosophy every day at Wesleyan, surrounded by supportive and generous colleagues and mentors, and I am humbled to receive this recognition from FLAG!” said Smith.
