Oladipo Olagbenro is a Fulbright scholar and seasoned educator. In this interview, he talks about the role of technology in language teaching, his research and the values that drive him.
Can you tell us about your academic journey and what inspired you to pursue a career in your chosen field?
Well, I consider myself a lifelong learner and teacher. I sort of knew I would become a teacher when I was a teenager. I remember some of my friends calling me “professor” in secondary school because of my love for academic pursuits. I graduated from Obafemi Awolowo University as one of the best students in my class. My love for teaching found more expression while I worked as lecturer in Nasarawa State Polytechnic, Lafia, for NYSC. I was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to go to the United States during my time in Lafia. After Fulbright, I got my MA and PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and I currently teach at Wayne State University. So, that’s like a summary of my academic and professional journey so far.
Why are you interested in language teaching and learning, and how do you see your work contributing to society at large?
I think language is one of the most important tools available to humankind to shape the world. I have always been fascinated with the idea of uttering, say, a word to shape reality. When I was young, this fascination made me spend a lot of time studying historical figures and how they leverage the power of language to alter societal realities. When Martin Luther King said he had a dream, for instance, he was leveraging language to invite his audience to a different world. As I got deeper into my fascination with putting language into action, I began to narrow my interests on which language skills I would like to focus on. So, I decided to focus on writing and speaking. Right now, the bulk of my work centers on teaching writing in American universities. But, because writing in itself can be boring, I tend to center my course around important themes. My students write on anything and everything that affects the world they live in. Democracy, maternal mortality, poverty, climate change, technical communication, culture, etc. I don’t limit the thoughts of my students. Essentially, in a way, my approach to language teaching is that most language skills should be used ethically to understand the world we live in in order to make it more livable. This is why I think my work as a language (or writing) teacher is important.
What are the most significant challenges facing language teaching and research today?
As important as technology is, I also think it is a big challenge to teaching and research. Recent advancements in artificial intelligence, for example, pose tremendous challenges to how we teach students to read and write. AI, for example, complicates how we assess students’ work and requires us to ask serious questions about ethics. If you consider the fact that there are many students who do not have easy access to some of these AI tools, you will realise that the work of a professor now involves navigating so many unknowns. I remember that after ChatGPT became a thing in recent times, most universities in the United States had to come up with policies on the role of AI in higher education. Some universities are pro-AI and some are anti-AI. My university supports AI but requires a great deal of training on the part of professors. Luckily for me, my research was already evolving toward the place of AI in writing instruction by then. It wasn’t really much of a challenge. Perhaps the biggest challenge I have faced would be how to make students understand the ethical implications of using AI.
As a specialist in language teaching and higher education, what are your views on the argument that the government should devote more resources to STEM courses than, say, the humanities?
Well, I don’t think that is a good argument. Of course, there is a need for the government to encourage people to pursue STEM disciplines. But, if you really look at it, of what use is, say, a quantum physicist that doesn’t know anything about the ethical part of technological innovations? Or don’t you think it would be disappointing to have scientists who do not have the language to communicate their work? To me, considering how dangerous some of the recent technological advancements can become, I believe it is now more expedient for stakeholders in higher education to prioritise humanities majors. While STEM can help humanity reach lofty heights, Humanities majors will help us make sense of our desires to reach those heights and the implications of those desires for the human race. So, we need philosophers, teachers, painters, etc. as much as we need engineers.
How do you balance teaching, research, and mentoring students in your role as a university lecturer?
Frankly, I don’t think I think too much about balancing because I love teaching. So, in that sense, I don’t see it as a work. Teaching is largely a labour of love for me. I really like the fact that I get to contribute to the transformation of minds and nations through my work. As a writing teacher, actually, I really enjoy knowing that my work has a direct link to students’ upward social mobility. Few things beat the feeling of knowing that through my work, my students have a better shot at life. And so is my research. Lately, as I mentioned earlier, my research has evolved towards learning how to teach writing in an age of disruption. And because I enjoy what I do, I don’t really think too much about balancing. The student mentoring aspect of my work is like the icing on the cake. I enjoy it so much that I find myself thinking on how to help my students to get the best out of my classes even after school hours. I don’t know if I have answered your question. I guess I should just say that I enjoy my work so much that I don’t think it requires balancing. The teaching, research, and mentoring work hand-in-hand.
What values or principles guide your personal and professional life, and how do they influence your work?
I think my love for helping people become the best they can be is one of the key factors in my career. I love helping students. Another thing that is quite important to me is excellence. If I am going to do something, I like to give it my all. So, professionally, having that track record of excellence is important to me. This is true of my time teaching in Nigeria and now in the United States.
In your opinion, what are the most significant challenges facing basic education in Nigeria, and how can they be addressed?
I think the biggest issue will be funding. Education is not adequately funded in Nigeria. And if we want to talk about funding, we have to talk about leadership. Nigerian leaders don’t necessarily care about education. They know the right things to do to improve basic education in the country, but they would rather invest in ridiculous ventures.
What advice would you give to young people and researchers starting out in their careers?
Pretty simple. Pursue excellence and all other things shall be added to you. There is no shortcut to it. I also think it is imperative for one to research the things you are passionate about. That way, your work will not look boring. As a matter of fact, if you don’t enjoy what you are researching, maybe you have to think again.
