Edwards adjunct Faculty of Year named awardee for all CMC campuses
On a recent Wednesday night, Colorado Mountain College President Dr. Carrie Besnette Hauser, along with several faculty and staff, burst into adjunct instructor Lindsey Thomson’s classroom in Edwards to surprise her with an announcement: She has been honored as adjunct Faculty of the Year for all of the college’s 11 locations in north-central Colorado.Thomson, who teaches English as a second language and GED classes, was stunned, but her students and colleagues saw the well-earned honor as no surprise.
“She has a lot of energy and ideas to keep us going,” said student Jesus Ortiz. On the night of the award announcement, he and his fellow students were examining political cartoons and writing their own.
“She thoroughly engages students in pertinent classroom activities that encourage growth and application outside the classroom,” said nominator and instructional coordinator at CMC’s campus in Edwards, Amy Blakey. “She is a dedicated, responsible, self-disciplined, enthusiastic, compassionate and confident instructor, who goes above and beyond to create independent students for success in the real world.”
Sets clear expectations, creates custom assignments
Thomson designs her classes for maximum language retention, and many assignments require that students leave their seats and convene in small groups or teams. “Her hands-on, physical, kinesthetic approach to instruction increases language acquisition and fully engages students in their learning,” said Blakey.
Thomson also works hard to create lessons that address the target goals of individual students. “I have a lot of students who take time off of work or hire babysitters to attend class,” she said. “I try to make sure they have personal, meaningful goals for each class, so their limited time is well spent.”
She clearly enjoys interacting with her students outside the classroom as well. “When I see an ESL student at the grocery store,” she said, “I ask them what they have in their carts.”
It’s a fun, interactive way to practice vocabulary in a real-world setting, she explained.
Students inspire instructor to set goals, work hard
Thomson said she is frequently impressed by the abilities and tenacity of the students in her classes. For instance, one former GED student is currently a math tutor at CMC in Edwards, she said. “A lot of my GED students are willing to work really hard,” she said. “Even though they’re juggling jobs and families, they’re doing this for their kids. They want to show their children that education is important, that learning is valuable.”
Her ESL classroom often resembles a mini United Nations. She’s had students from Turkey, Bulgaria, Estonia, Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala and China. “On the first night of class, I ask them to say their names, and not everyone can answer,” said Thomson. By the end of each semester the students are bonded, and their cultural and linguistic barriers fade.
Fulbright grant expanded Thomson’s horizons, compassion
Thomson has great empathy for her ESL students as they struggle to learn a new language. After earning an undergraduate degree from Whitworth University in 2007, she received a Fulbright grant to teach English as a second language in South Korea.
“Korean has different word endings depending on the level of respect you’re communicating,” she said. “There can be four different ways of saying the same thing, depending on the respect you have to show. I was always making someone mad by getting it wrong.”
Despite any challenges with the Korean language, Thomson thrived in the classroom and so did her students.
“I had planned to go back and get a master’s in international relations,” she said, “but I decided I really wanted to pursue teaching instead.” After returning to the U.S. that’s just what she did, earning her master’s from Gonzaga University in Washington state in 2010.
Thomson, who also speaks fluent Norwegian and French, said learning Korean made her more aware of how difficult English must be to first-time speakers.
Supportive colleagues, driven students, culture of learning keep instructor motivated
Thomson has been teaching at CMC in Edwards for the past two years, during which time she has experienced numerous high points that remind her why she decided to pursue a career as an educator.
“It’s exciting when students call to tell me: ‘I got my GED,’” she said. One student sent her a photo of a newly received diploma. Others have brought chocolate or small gifts to thank her on the last day of classes.
Thomson is also quick to acknowledge the contributions of her colleagues in her formation and motivation as an instructor. “They’re super supportive,” she said. “My colleagues are always ready to share resources and ideas.”
When asked what brought her to Edwards, she said that she wanted to live somewhere where she could pursue her passion for teaching alongside her passion for rock climbing. Edwards was a perfect fit. “Although sometimes, it’s more ice climbing,” she laughed.