Our blog is doing a series of interviews with current course instructors in this summer semester. We had the pleasure of interviewing Dr Cassandra Chapman and getting to know her a little bit better. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship here at the University of Toronto and has taught courses here since 2019. Keep reading to learn more about her!
What attracted you to the UofT Linguistics Department?
I have always known about UofT and its linguistics department. I’ve attended numerous events and conferences in the past and have been very interested in the research that goes on in the department. Additionally, I was familiar with the faculty. Professor Susana Béjar was a committee member for my PhD thesis. When Professor Keir Moulton came to UofT it seemed like a natural transition for me as well. Dr Keir Moulton was one of the Principal Investigators for my postdoctoral fellowship.
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| Dr. Chapman at her convocation (2018) |
What makes UofT different from other institutions you have worked/studied at? Were you surprised by anything?
UofT is a well-oiled machine and has its unique flavour. It’s also very well-known and has a strong reputation internationally. It’s cool how we are located right in the middle of downtown Toronto. Most other universities are in their own little town, but UofT is embedded in the heart of the city. You get off at the St. George TTC station and you’re right on campus, no need to take a university bus or shuttle. UofT is heavily connected to the rest of the city, it is a great community to be a part of. Also the libraries here are amazing. They have such a collaborative nature as you can work alone slide many other hard-working individuals. It helps me be more productive. They are a great resource in helping to get work done.
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| Dr. Chapman presenting at a conference in Edmonton |
What have you learned from online teaching? What adjustments have you had to make from semester to semester?
The first course I taught fully online was JLP315 in the summer of 2020. I had to completely redesign the way it was taught to fit online learning. As a course instructor, you have to be aware of everyone's circumstances. Not all students are in one time zone, which means not everyone can be online at the same time. The material has to be accessible for everyone in a different way than it had to be before. Teaching can be challenging as I don’t get instant feedback from my students. I can no longer see students nod along or read the class like I could before. I’ve been including interactive activities, like polls, during lectures to help students engage more in class. The polls are also available for those who watch lectures asynchronously.
I've learned just how important it is, now more than ever, to stay organized and be on top of the work. It is a huge shift in style when it comes to both teaching and learning and it's easy to fall behind. I tell my students to make sure they are on top of all their readings and assignments, especially in the summer, since we go through the material very quickly. You need time to absorb the information presented to you, a lack of time management will make that very difficult.
I have noticed that students are now much more comfortable with being online. Students know how to work Zoom chats and navigate Quercus. There is no more fumbling around online, everyone knows what they are doing. We’ve all had to adapt to online learning, and we’ve all done a pretty great job!
Have you noticed any trends amongst your top students? Do their trends align with what you were doing as a student?
I want to start by saying I appreciate all my students. I definitely see myself in the students who can ask important questions that will allow for more questions to emerge. I’ve always asked a lot of questions about everything. That’s what science is, asking questions then coming up with more questions. It’s critical to ask when things are missing or asking about a confound in a study.
When I was in undergrad, I enjoyed going to Office Hours and getting to know my professors. I would ask about what is currently going on in the field of linguistics, not just course material. Those conversations sparked my interest in linguistics. I encourage my students to come to Office Hours. It’s a way you can connect one-on-one with your professor and that makes all the difference. I know it can be intimidating, especially online, but it is just a Zoom call. All you have to do in log on. Make yourself comfortable in your study space and then hop on that Zoom call! Some students worry about asking a silly question, but myself and other professors in the department are friendly enough where you can come to us with whatever questions you may have. Odds are there is someone else in the class who has the same question. There have been many times where I’ve answered a question on a discussion board or in Office Hours and then received emails from other students saying that they had the same question. Even if you don’t have a question, still come to Office hours to see what you don’t understand. When you explain and go over concepts you can find what you are missing and then you can fill in the gaps. When it comes to connecting with professors, you should always make the effort. Sometimes it can be what helps and inspires you the most.
Knowing everything you know now, what advice would you give to your undergraduate / graduate student self?
I would say to continue to be curious and continue to ask questions. Keep up the dedication and hard work because it does pay off. I would also say to always take risks and new opportunities. After my third year at the University of Ottawa, I did a guided research course over the summer. It was kind of like a thesis as I had to come up with a project and complete it on my own, with some guidance from my professor of course. In the beginning I was doubting whether or not I should go through with this. It was all so new to me and I didn’t know if I would be successful. I ended up pushing through the fear and worked super hard that summer. My interest in conducting my research started from that course. Honestly, if I did not go through that experience, I don’t know if I would have attended graduate school and ended up where I am today. It was a risk, but it was an incredible opportunity. Later on, I did a semester abroad at MIT. That was very intimidating and scary since, well, it's MIT. That experience ended up leading me to my thesis PhD. The biggest rewards and benefits came from the times when I had to take major risks. They were definitely worth it.
I would also tell my undergraduate self to spend more time learning about other subjects. Once you’re in grad school you have much less time for other things.
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| Dr. Chapman presenting at a conference in Mississauga |
Once COVID-19 is over, what do you have to do / accomplish?
SO MANY THINGS! I’m most looking forward to being able to do things and not have to worry about COVID. I had a baby during COVID and would love to take my family on a trip all together without having to think about quarantining and the whole COVID situation. It’s funny because before all the lockdowns most people were saying things like ‘I just want to spend time at home with my family’ and now people want to be anywhere but their homes. I would also like to have a BIG party to see all my friends and family without having to worry.
What are you currently working on?
I am currently teaching! I have already taught courses here at UofT (JLP315 and JLP374) as well as some first- and third-year syntax courses at Brock University. In the first summer semester, I taught JLP374 and I am currently teaching JLP315. I am also involved in an after-school program for high achieving middle and high school students. Together we focus on language arts and linguistics.
We would like to thank Dr Cassandra Chapman for taking the time to be interviewed and for providing us with the photos. To learn more about her research, please visit her website.
Keep a close eye on our blog to see who we will interview next! If you have any suggestions or requests, please email us at utlinblog@gmail.com.
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