BELTA Day '19: Meet the Speakers: Thanh Mai and Jendayi Jones

Thought Puzzles: Using philosophical and political experiments to promote language conversations

Thanh Mai
Fulbright English Teaching Assistant
Hasselt University and PXL
America

Jendayi Jones
Fulbright English Teaching Assistant
Athénée Royal Serge Creuz
America

Talk

Room: TBA

Length: 45 minutes

Main Conference Strand

ABSTRACT

Thought puzzles are about using abstract thought experiments to get students to think critically about political and philosophical issues. The goal is to use these puzzles to help language students engage in fruitful conversation and debate by allowing students to imagine alternative perspectives and creative solutions. Not only do students practice their English language skills, but such exercises also promote critical thinking.

BIOGRAPHY

Thanh Mai graduated from Loyola University New Orleans in May 2018 with a BA in Philosophy and History, along with a minor in Political Science. As a recipient of the Fulbright Scholarship, Thanh will spend a year in Belgium at Hasselt University teaching. Her ultimate goal is to share her love of philosophy with others by engaging in philosophical and political issues. She hopes to one become a public intellectual.

While at the University of Chicago, Jendayi studied Public Policy and Biology. She was a co-president of the UChicago Climate Action Network during her second year and was involved in advocating for environmental justice both through community organizing and internships with a Chicago environmental law firm and New Jersey waterways stewardship group. These positions, along with her bachelor’s thesis on urban agriculture fueled her interests in education and sustainable development.

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