An Introduction

I am a curious person. I love books, languages and history. My favorite college classes were the History of Western Civilization and the Structure of Modern English.

I have been in the insurance industry for most of my adult life. Opportunities to apply my interests at work are limited, but I have found other avenues through which I applied and developed my interests and knowledge, the primary of which was getting involved with my local library.

Through my involvement with my local Friends of the Library, I became acquainted with the literacy coordinator, who was looking for ways to engage English as a second language learners in the community. I pioneered the book/short story club that requires me to lead discussions to help the learners gain confidence in preparing and discussing ideas. I also develop lesson plans to enrich their grammar, pronunciation and vocabulary. I select stories and folklore that explore commonality and the singularity of human experience.

The work through the library helped me realize that I have a love of teaching and helping others achieve their goals of being able to understand and express themselves in English. This experience has enabled me to apply and further develop my listening skills. It has also emphasized the benefits of lifelong learning. My openness to learning, whether it be about their cultures or personal stories of the basics of their languages, enables me to understand them and break down barriers to learning.

I have obtained my TESOL certificate as the first step in my goal of becoming an English language instructor.