My name is Spyridon (Spyro) Simotas and I teach French courses at the University of Virginia. ¶ This website is my e-portfolio, and it is a work in progress. I change it often, because I like to experiment with new designs, and I like to keep up with new technologies for generating static websites. The time for an overhaul has come, and a new website will be published soon.
news
May 6, 2021
My FREN 3585 students and I made a zine this semester called Repenser la France.
Here is a preview of all 46 pages.
Jan 8, 2021
Courses I am teaching in Spring 2021.
Sep 3, 2020
This fall semester, I am teaching two sections of Intermediate French II and a Business French class, completely online.
Jun 3, 2020
Black lives matter. I share the sorrow and rage of our community, and I stand in solidarity with peaceful protests against police brutality. I am committed to anti-racist pedagogy and to the production of knowledge for social justice.
Apr 20, 2020
I successfully defended my dissertation via Zoom today. My friend Aidyn-Lorraine who attended the defense heard my advisor Ari Blatt saying that I had written a “dynamite dissertation.” Later that day, she surprised me with a chocolate cake; she had pasted this sign on the box. I am so grateful to my committee, friends, and family who supported me throughout this project.
Mar 27, 2020
Social distancing office hours.
FREN 2020 students ask me anything here.
FREN 3035 students ask me anything here.
Nov 25, 2019
Sneak peek of the letterpress poster my FREN 2020-008 students and I are printing over at Rare Book School. More about the project here.
Aug 25, 2019
This Fall I will be teaching two sections of FREN 2020 and one section of FREN 1050. Students click on the appropriate link to find useful ressources for you. See you in class!
Last week I presented a paper in the 20th & 21st Century French & Francophone Studies International Colloquium in Oklahoma City. I really enjoyed the conference and the city. Photos. 📷
Here is a Log to help students record their daily progress and discover patterns in their learning over time. It is designed for my FREN 1050 students this semester, but it can take many iterations. My inspiration for this kind of daily self-tracking comes from Feltron’s Annual Reports. Thanks to Professor Karen James for the help!
Sep 18, 2018
Why is it important to learn a foreign language, and more specifically French? To get the joke!😉
