On June 11, Japanese Teaching Assistant Sachi Schmidt-Hori received the University’s highest honor for graduate teaching. The coveted Excellence in Teaching Award is bestowed upon two graduate TAs each academic year for demonstration of extraordinary ability in the teaching and learning process.
Michael Shapiro, AL&L chair, observed, “Each year one or more of our TAs is nominated for this important recognition, but this is the first time that one of them has been selected. We’re all extremely excited that Sachi has been selected this year. She has been a mainstay of our Japanese language program for a number of years.”
Schmidt-Hori has been teaching for the Department for seven years. During that time, she has acquired broad experience within the language program; she has had a rotation in each of the four levels of modern language instruction, including a year-long appointment as an instructor. In 2003, she received her first recognition for her skill as an instructor: the Department’s 2003 award for Outstanding Teaching Assistant in Asian Languages and Literature.
Schmidt-Hori attributes her achievement to a department-wide commitment to language teaching. “I am especially grateful for my TA supervisor for the past two years: Dr. Judy Okada. She trusted me to be who I am in my class and constantly encouraged me to do my best. Prof. Amy Ohta generously provided me with advice and feedback in putting my teaching portfolio together. I thank these people and so many more.”
The award includes a stipend of $5,000. The second TA to be honored is Edmond Y. Chang of the English Department.
For a feature article on Schmidt-Hori, visit: http://www.uwnews.org/uweek/awards2009/profile.asp?id=49943
Photo by Mary Levin.