Metaphorical pedagogy: Enhancing learning experiences through Lakoff and Johnson's conceptual metaphor theory

Informed by Lakoff and Johnson's conceptual metaphor theory, I have integrated various metaphors into my teaching practice to illuminate complex topics for my students. Based on their theory, metaphor is not just a linguistic device but a cognitive mechanism through which we make sense of abstract concepts by mapping them onto more concrete domains of experience. For instance, I have employed gardening and cooking metaphors to illuminate the assessment writing process. The feedback from students in the SuES has been positive, with many pointing to the efficacy of metaphors in enhancing their understanding of complex topics and improving their assessment writing skills. Upon reflection on my teaching practice and informed by a comprehensive literature review, it is evident that metaphors possess multifaceted potential as a robust pedagogical approach, functioning as a blueprint of critical thinking, a teaching aid, an evaluation tool, a means of reflection, and a research instrument.