Teaching Matters
"Collectively, the Bok Center seminars accompanied me throughout my Ph.D. journey, guiding me from a novice with no teaching experience to a seasoned teaching fellow. The Professional Communication Program for International Teachers and Scholars in particular connected me with other international students, providing a safe space to share struggles and discoveries while adapting to a new environment. As a graduate student in psychology, where the majority are native English speakers, I bolstered not only my skills but also my confidence."
- Haoxue Fan, Psychology, Teaching Certificate Recipient 2023–24
"Teaching is a process of continuing learning throughout the years."
-Sophia Mao, English,
Teaching Certificate Recipient 2021–22
"In the video consultation, the Bok Center consultant helped me pinpoint the strengths and weaknesses in my presentation to help me improve students’ ability to digest material. We also had a deeply enriching conversation on how to teach material that might feel too complex and/or emotional in a classroom. This allowed me to experiment with some of the ways I approach complex material to make it more easily accessible to students and gave me useful pointers on how to facilitate deep conversation between students when presenting difficult or emotional material."
- Randa Wahbe, Anthropology, Teaching Certificate Recipient 2023-24
"I really refined my own techniques, in terms of interacting with students and bringing them the best educational experience possible."
-Charles Law, Astronomy,
Teaching Certificate Recipient 2021–22
"Reflecting on the many resources offered by the Bok Center that I have been able to take advantage of throughout the course of my six years at Harvard, I am grateful for the rich variety of support that they have provided me. Through courses and individual consultations on a breadth of documents and media, I believe I have become a more self-reflective, flexible and sensitive teacher, better equipped to address the needs of my students, and more confident in my ability to adapt to those needs as they necessarily will change over time."
- Elaine Fitz Gibbon, Music, Teaching Certificate Recipient 2022-23
"It helps to be part of a community of teachers/learners so that we can learn from each other and support one another. I, as a teacher, always continue to learn and grow (and reflection is an important part of this process). The second point might seem so simple and obvious, but this is one of the main takeaways and through lines of my teaching career thus far."
- Naohito Miura, Religion, Teaching Certificate Recipient 2022–23
"As an international as well as first-generation student, I recognized the hurdles I faced with public speaking, particularly in English, which is not my native language. The seminar Public Speaking for International Teachers and Scholars provided me with the tools to communicate more effectively, not just in the classroom, but in any scholarly or professional setting. The seminar’s interactive format offered ample opportunities for hands-on practice, and the confidence I gained has been invaluable."
-Yaowei Li, Environmental Science and Engineering, Teaching Certificate Recipient 2023–24
"Bok Seminars have offered this way in which to practice testing teaching ideas, especially when working with students who are new to my discipline."
-Isabel Bird,
History of Art and Architecture,
Teaching Certificate Recipient 2021-22
"I gained excellent feedback from the staff at the Bok Center but also my fellow PhD students."
-Aniket De, History,
Teaching Certificate Recipient 2021-22
"Beyond the realm of teaching, the Teaching Certificate program has also enriched my scholarly pursuits, providing me with a deeper appreciation for the intersection of teaching and research. I have come to recognize that effective teaching is inherently intertwined with scholarly inquiry, as it entails not only disseminating existing knowledge but also fostering a culture of intellectual curiosity and inquiry. Addressing these inquiries from my students allowed me to engage students more deeply, while also prompting me to refine my focus as a PhD student."
- Chengyu Fu, Government, Teaching Certificate Recipient 2023–24
"I recall being extremely nervous prior to my class video recording and right before my meeting with the Pedagogy Fellow, but he quickly eased the tensions by setting the stage for how the consultation would proceed. To this day, I can recall the three guiding questions he asked to support me as I took a more active and reflexive role in improving my pedagogical practices and philosophy:
- What are your learning goals for your students?
- How did you use class time in pursuit of those learning goals?
- How did it go?
These questions are simple, yet powerful because they encourage a teacher to focus on the most important objectives."
- Derek Robey, Sociology, Teaching Certificate Recipient 2022–23
Teaching Matters Video Series
In this video series we set out to showcase the value of teaching at a research institution. We interviewed faculty, graduate students, and recent PhDs from across the FAS about the impacts of teaching on them, their students, and the broader community; about the skills they’ve gained and developed; and how they see the connection between teaching and research.
Teaching Matters
What can you learn from teaching, as you think about your goals and your future career? The skills you develop as a teacher, such as communicating clearly, engaging different audiences, and working on a team, are a crucial part of your professional development.
Teacher-Scholar Spotlight
Bok Teaching Certificates
PhD students who participate in Bok Seminars, practice and reflect on their teaching, and develop a teaching portfolio can apply for one of our two Teaching Certificates.
We are here for PhD students!
MEET WITH US about the best ways to use our programs and resources, depending on your teaching and professional development goals.