Teaching Philosophy Robert Hultgren “The limits of my language are the limits of my world.” ­Ludwig Wittgenstein In my experience, one of the most important things that students can learn is the validity of another’s opinion. Now more than ever, it is paramount that we learn to communicate with one another and cross culturally. In the 20th and 21st centuries, entire ideologies have been formed on the basis that some people do not see the world in the same way that others do. I have seen first-hand the danger these ideologies represent. I have also seen the impact that an education can have on the critical thinking process. Learning to speak someone else’s language represents the most significant factor in recognizing the value in another. In my experience, the formation of cognitive maturity, and thus sociability, depends on one’s capacity to see one’s own reality as a single perception among a valid plurality. The study of other cultures and languages thus opens the possibility for individuals to see beyond the centrality of their own lives, an essential rite of passage in becoming a mature and fair human being. As a teacher, I hope to share my knowledge with students as they find not only their own view of the world, but also discover the myriad views around them. I hope to accomplish this goal by forming meaningful, respectful bonds with each of my students. In this sense, I hope to form mentor-mentee relationships in which I guide learners along their path of language and cultural acquisition. However, I also emphasize the role of learners in this relationship, who help to guide me, letting me know the best way to communicate not only empirical knowledge, but lessons about life as well. Now more than ever we have the technological means to enable and enhance cross-cultural communication. Our educational systems value foreign languages. Business opportunities provide incentives for students to learn these languages. I plan to use the current educational and business environment to not only provide high quality language acquisition skills, but also enable students to see the value in worldviews and opinions that may differ from their own.