College of the Pacific

Kathy Richman (French)

My approach to teaching rests on the premise that we are all continually learning. I respect my students' knowledge and capacity to learn, and my role is to help them expand their ways of thinking. I learn a great deal from my students, and I encourage them to learn from each other as well as from me. I promote an atmosphere of mutual respect in the classroom and believe that it fosters intellectual curiosity and openness.

In my courses, I insist on a thorough knowledge of course materials, rigorous arguments, and clear, persuasive writing. In courses on French language I set the goal of approaching as nearly as possible the level of a native speaker. I also emphasize the cultural aspects of French-speaking countries as essential -- and very pleasurable -- parts of language learning. In courses on literature and French studies, I think is important to understand the social and historical contexts of the works we study. I focus primarily, though, on analyzing the texts closely and developing arguments about their meaning and structure.

Learning is a great pleasure for me, and I enjoy sharing this pleasure with my students through teaching.

Kathy Richman
Assistant Professor
Office: WPC 247
Phone: 209.946.2920
Email