Lately, she has spent a lot of time thinking about this topic. As
America gains worldwide infamy for mass shootings, political division
and one of the highest COVID-19 death tolls of a developed nation, she
has questioned what exactly her country represents on the world stage.
“There are very specific things I’m angry about,” she said. “So I’ve
spent time reflecting on what it is I appreciate about my country that I
can impart in my classroom.”
Chiesi said she likes that Americans have opinions and aren’t afraid
to share them. That we have a culture of discourse and dialogue. That we
value creativity and ingenuity.
“Those are things you can share and put into your curriculum: Think
outside the box. Be creative. Come up with an idea and express your
opinion,” she said.
It’s a pleasant source of optimism. And one she credits UD with helping her develop.
“I love being a teacher and helping people learn and doing it through
language,” she said. “I’m not sure I would have had this journey
without UD. Studying with international students and teachers there
really helped inspire me.”
French instructor Flora Poindexter was particularly influential.
“She loved French and made language learning low-stress, engaging and
fun,” said Chiesi, who works to infuse those very qualities in her own
lessons.
Since graduation, Chiesi has become fluent in English and French and
conversant in Italian, Arabic, Turkish and Spanish. But she will always
be an English major at heart.
English is genderless and “not desperately polite,” she said. It is
the language of the internet and international commerce. And as the
language gains even greater global footing, it holds the potential to
build tolerance and create richer cultural exchanges.
“A lot of misunderstanding comes from living in isolated contexts
without access to other ideas and opinions,” Chiesi said. “The more we
can understand each other and talk things out, discuss, debate and not
go straight to violence, the better.”