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I have
taught ESL for over twenty years and have had a variety of experiences
working with students from all over the world. I began teaching
ESL as a Peace Corps volunteer in Senegal, West Africa. I taught
in a secondary school in Rufisque, about 20 miles from Dakar, for
two years. While living in Senegal, I enjoyed working with the students
and learning about African culture. I traveled throughout Senegal
and also visited Mali, Mauritania, and Morocco. I will never forget
my trip up the Niger River to visit the Dogon country in northern
Mali or my trip across the Sahara in Mauritania. While in Africa,
I also studied French and Wolof, an African language.
A
few years later, when I was in graduate school, I spent a year studying
in Toulouse, France, as a Fulbright scholar. My own experience as
an international student has helped me understand the problems and
concerns of international students in the United States.
After
I finished graduate school, I taught ESL in the Chicago area for
six years. After teaching in an intensive English program, I worked
with Spanish-speaking people in the western suburbs of the city
for three years. I learned some Spanish and developed an appreciation
for Latin American music.
I
have been teaching at the ELC for fifteen years. I enjoy working
with international students and learning about their cultures. I
try to plan a variety of activities to interest the students in
language learning. I also make an effort to learn about new and
better ways of teaching language. During the last few years, I have
done some research on methods of teaching writing, especially in
business classes, and have given presentations at state and national
teachers' conventions.
I
welcome you to the English Language Center and look forward to working
with you.
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