Teaching & Pedagogy

As an instructor, I like to explore themes of culture and power to help students develop effective intercultural communication skills.

The three courses in my regular teaching rotation are highlighted on this page. However, a more detailed list of the courses I have taught is included below. In all my classes, I try to embrace active learning through various in-class discussions and activities that center students in the learning process.

Communication Theory

This course teaches students how metatheory informs research practices. From there, each lesson covers a different theory and includes an activity that allows students to actively apply the theory.

*Image by Jason Rosewell: https://unsplash.com/@jasonrosewell

Intercultural Communication

This course begins with a general discussion of intercultural communication and slowly moves into more complex topics, including intercultural conflict, intercultural relationships, inequality, and microcultures. I have had the opportunity to offer this course to students in Huazhong Agricultural University.

*Image by diGital Sennin: https://unsplash.com/@digitalsennin  

Communication & Immigration

This course is organized around three units: immigration history in the United States, media representations & rhetoric, and experiences within immigrant communities. Students learn through a combination of academic articles, news articles, and opinion pieces.

*Image by Elias Castillo (from Unsplash)

Courses Taught
Auburn University (Assistant Professor)
COMM 3400- Organizational Communication
COMM 3450- Intercultural Communication
COMM 3500- Foundations of Human Communication
COMM 3510- Research in Human Communication
COMM 5450- Communication and Immigration
COMM 5430 & 6430 (Bridge Course)- Gender, Work, & Communication
COMM 7000- Communication Theory

Purdue University (Graduate Instructor)
COM 114- Fundamentals of Speech Communication
COM 303- Intercultural Communication
COM 320- Small Group Communication
COM 102- Introduction to Communication Theory
COM 324- Organizational Communication

Teaching Publications
Martinez, E. K., & Sánchez Sánchez, V. (2021). Reimagining the bunker: Increasing the stakes in role-playing and group decision making simulations. Communication Teacher, 1-5. https://doi.org/10.1080/17404622.2020.1746818

Sánchez Sánchez, V., Martinez, E. K., & Jackson, D. L. (2020). “Double syringe!”: Using a popular TV show argument to illustrate the differences of objective and interpretive paradigmatic perspectives in action. Communication Teacher, 1-5. https://doi.org/10.1080/17404622.2019.1662069