Graham Johnson

Graham Johnson, a new instructor of English, knew from the moment he stepped on Reinhardt’s campus that he had found where he wanted to teach.
    “I was looking for a position in medieval studies, and Reinhardt was the first on- campus interview that I had,” said Johnson. “I instantly felt comfortable and at home.”
    A native of Canada, Johnson came to Reinhardt from St. Louis University. The difference he has noticed between Reinhardt and other institutions is the “ability of professors to be more accessible because of the smaller class sizes.”

Informal Teaching Style
    Johnson's expertise is in medieval English language and literature, historical linguistics, Old Norse literature, with a special interest in proverbs and wisdom literature. He teaches classes at Reinhardt in composition, and British, Arthurian, and American literature. Johnson describes his teaching style as informal, with lots of jokes and entertainment to encourage learning. 
    “I cultivate a relaxed and comfortable personality for the class to get participation, and then inject them with content and insights,” he explained.   

Interactive Classroom Atmosphere
    Johnson relies more on interaction and presentations than lectures and note-taking.
    “I have students give informal presentations about a short story we are reading at the time to get a discussion going in class,” said Johnson. “My students thrive on the interaction they have with their classmates.”

"Teaching and Learning go hand-in-hand"
     During his first year at Reinhardt, Johnson has continued to develop his teaching methods and cultivated mentoring relationships with his students. According to his students, Johnson has already successfully accomplished both goals.
    “Professor Johnson facilitates an atmosphere that causes one to think deeper about the material and provides the support for quality learning," explained Sarah Burress, a senior from Kennesaw, Ga. "His classes are prime examples on how teaching and learning go hand-in-hand.”