By Christina Thompson, contributing writer
Robert Flannigan’s quest for knowledge has led him down a path that may not have been typical for an associate professor of Spanish.
After graduating from Northeastern University in Boston, he entered the U.S. Army where he spent the next 28 years traveling abroad in a number of countries such as Germany, Spain, France, Vietnam, South Korea, and Thailand.
As part of a military assignment, Dr. Flannigan was sent to the Defense Language Institute to study Spanish. After he completed his training, he was stationed in Spain for more than three years and began working with the American Military Mission, where he helped bring Spanish armed forces up to North Atlantic Treaty Organization standards. After his stay in Spain, he was selected to teach Spanish at West Point for two years.
“It was a good job. It’s not like being out in the cold or the heat, living in tents and doing all that stuff. I began to think that I should do this full time; it’s easier than working for a living,” he says jokingly.
This decision began Dr. Flannigan’s teaching career in Spanish.
“One of the good things about teaching is that you end up being a student yourself. You continue to grow intellectually. It gives you an opportunity to do all the things you’re interested in. I like that, and I like the contact with the students,” says Dr. Flannigan.
It is through this contact with students that has inspired him to write a book. Dr. Flannigan is currently working on a book to revolutionize foreign language teaching methods.
“It’s taking an approach to language teaching that’s unconventional. It’s trying to get away from the boring conjugation of verbs and tries to teach language similarly to the way people learn their first language,” he says.
Dr. Flannigan received his bachelor’s degree from Northeastern University, master degrees from the University of Arkansas and Georgia Southern University, and a doctorate from the University of Georgia.
Name: Robert Flannigan
Position: Associate Professor of Spanish
How long at ASU: Began as a part-time instructor in 1993; became full time in 1998
Little known fact: Dr. Flannigan has participated in the Running of the Bulls in Spain at least 50 to 60 times.
Personal philosophy: He strives for self-gratification in his work. “You have to do things because you take satisfaction in doing them yourself. You shouldn’t be dependent upon [awards] for your sense of worth, so I have my awards and decorations hanging in the back of my closet,” says Dr. Flannigan.
Feb 7, 2009
Profiles