Meet Instructor Thomas Hardy
"The best part about teaching is learning," said Thomas Hardy, an instructor with UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education’s International Programs since 2018.
Born in Florida and raised in Georgia, Thomas—like many of his students—is not a native Californian, which helps him relate to their experience. "I like to think that gives me a glimpse of what my students go through, because sometimes I also have culture shock here," he said.
Thomas teaches standard writing and grammar courses, as well as classes in U.S. culture, business, college preparation and science. With two master's degrees in linguistics and more than 10 years of experience teaching English—including several years abroad—he brings a depth of experience and knowledge to the classroom, offering a fresh perspective for international students.
What are some of your most memorable experiences teaching abroad?
I worked as an English teacher in Daegu, South Korea, for two years, where I taught all ages and a wide variety of courses—from kindergarten to job interview preparation for recent college graduates. Because of this, I was fortunate to see many facets of South Korean society. Five-year-olds shared their favorite foods, and middle-aged businessmen told me about specific types of drills used to make subway tunnels.
I also worked at a German English summer camp as both a curriculum developer and an English teacher. I worked under a German high school administrator, and the experience taught me how different an English course could be. What will stick with me most was the cooking activity—students had to read instructions in English and cook the food. They learned English through every sense, including taste!
What do you want students to take away from your courses at UC Davis?
I want students to learn English as a tool for communication and as an expression of culture.
What do you enjoy most about teaching?
Teaching gives me the opportunity to learn more about the subject I’m teaching—and how that subject can be understood by others. Almost every time I teach, at least one student asks why something is the way it is. That question allows me to get to the heart of why students may struggle to understand a concept. My favorite example is when I’m asked why written English vowels have so many associated sounds. By explaining that the letters used in English come from Latin, it opens the door to exploring how different communication tools are influenced by their origins. Making these connections is one of the things I enjoy most about teaching.
What do you value most about working with the international community?
The most valuable aspect of working with the international community is diversity. When you work with someone from a different background, you can’t help but notice that they do things differently. That leads to a deeper understanding of yourself and your own culture.
One example comes from cooking. If you look at how Chinese, Japanese and Korean cultures cut food, you’ll see it’s often prepared to be easily picked up with chopsticks.
What is your favorite thing about UC Davis?
My favorite thing about UC Davis is the library. I love having access to books with such specific knowledge in them—even if I can’t understand everything.
What makes Davis unique?
UC Davis is a leading research university, and California is home to some of the world’s top industries—making UC Davis CPE an ideal place to study English. Davis is also a wonderful town, and I love living here.
What do you want students and partners to know about you?
In my classes, I patiently push for excellence.