In an interview, the Brazilian intellectual Conceição Evaristo said: "I was not raised surrounded by books, but by words”. She urges that her analytical and writing skills were forged in her opportunities to listen to stories carefully. Her testimony challenges the hierarchies of value in knowledge production: where is the repository of history, and what knowledge do we value? Following Evaristo’s advice, my teaching approach understands listening as an active practice that shapes the classroom. We listen to the materials we work with, we listen to each other, and we listen to ourselves. For me, being an educator is to forge the conditions for listening to the stories we collectively curate. Part of her interview is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UsChokd6sU.
I am currently teaching the course Gender, Violence, and the State. Syllabus is available here.
I have worked as a Teaching Assistant for different courses in Canada and Brazil.
Feedback from Students as a Teaching Assistant (tutorials): here
Feedback from Students as a Course Instructor:
"Professor Roberta was absolutely amazing at engaging the students with the content and readings, and really catered to the students' needs. For example, she gave us career guidance and taught us how to write academic papers. She would always ask for our opinions and created polls, allowing us to provide feedback on the readings. Being a writing-intensive class, the last creative portion helped to balance it out and encouraged us to engage with the material in other meaningful ways. Overall, I could not say better about Professor Roberta. She is one of, if not the most, respectful, supportive, and engaging professors I've had so far at UofT."
“I truly appreciate the invaluable feedback you provided during my position paper as a TA for SOC201 at that time, which significantly improved my academic writing skills. Now, in SOC351, I find the in-class activities and discussions also very enriching, helping me keep up with the course content. Your engaging teaching style build a more supportive environment than the other classes I have attended and has made me feel more confident in tackling complex topics or doing a project on my own. Even as someone who tends to be more reserved in discussions, I feel encouraged to engage with my classmates, and I cherish the sense of community you’ve created in the classroom.”
“I have greatly appreciated your teaching and guidance throughout this semester in your SOC351 – Gender, Violence, and the State course. Your course has taught me and continues to teach me so much about how society and the different intersecting layers of inequality in Canadian society for women who face violence. Taking your course and being able to learn from you has solidified my interest in pursuing a graduate program that focus on societal issues, inequalities, and how to study and positively change these issues.”
I have been providing free mentorship for Brazilian scholars interested in studying in Canada. Please e-mail me.