Stevens Honored for Innovative Teaching
January 29, 2025
Dr. Erika Stevens, professor of Spanish at Walters State, has received the Distance
Learning Teaching Award for Higher Education from the American Council of Teachers
of Foreign (World) Languages.
Stevens’ recognition stems from her creation of the academic certificate in Spanish
offered Walters State. The program attracts both current students and students who
are not otherwise affiliated with the college.
“This certificate expands the role of learning languages at a community college,”
Stevens said. “We’ve had people with bachelor’s or master’s degree enroll in this
program. These are people in the community who need to speak Spanish for their roles
in health care, law enforcement, hospitality and other fields.”
The program can be taken completely online. Stevens said modern technology allows
students to speak with the teacher and with other classmates.
“The certificate also has a program where students learning Spanish can with native
Spanish speakers who are learning English,” she also said. “This program has enhanced
security and those you’re speaking won’t know anything but your first name.”
As part of the award, Stevens will teach a webinar for the organization’s members
in April. The title of her presentation is “Designing Online World Language Courses
to Meet the Needs of Students and the Community.”
Stevens received the award at the group’s cannula convention in Philadelphia.