I am an experienced ESL instructor, knowledgeable in TESL pedagogy and the CASAS system. I highly value communication, cooperation, and variety. I am committed to supporting the immigrant and refugee population as they gain the cultural knowledge and skills they need to succeed in their new community.
ESL Consultant, Des Moines Area Community College Urban Campus, IA (2006-2007)
-Trained ten new teachers on registration, CASAS forms, and competencies.
-Identified errors in paperwork or accounts (reviewing approximately 1000 forms per semester.)
-Improved communication and cooperation between the non-credit ESL program and other departments involved.
-Created system for tracking administrative details regarding ESL students, improving ability to identify gaps and follow-up.
ESL Instructor, Des Moines Area Community College Urban Campus, IA (2004-2007)
-Developed lesson plans and taught adult ESL and citizenship courses.
-Assisted students in the language lab, including their use of software such as Rosetta Stone, Focus on Grammar, and Tell Me More.
Educator, LanguageTech Inc., Des Moines, IA (Dec. 2003- Sept. 2004)
-Taught and assisted with beginning level adult ESL classes.
Coordinator and Teacher, Neighborhood Summer School, Des Moines, IA (July 2004),
-Networked and collaborated to find references, resources, students, volunteers, materials to make the summer school a reality.
-Obtained $1000 grant.
-Developed curriculum for two 20 hour courses.
-Taught math and language lessons to two groups of 7 elementary students.
Volunteer Mentor, Lutheran Services of Iowa, Des Moines, IA (2001-2003, intermittent)
-Befriending recent refugees and becoming a resource during their acculturation.
Volunteer Nanny/Homeschool Teacher, North India (Jan.-July 2001, May-June 2002)
-Taught three children and supervised five for an American family
Resource Developer, AmeriCorps*VISTA, Lutheran Services, DSM, IA (1999-2001).
-Coordinated volunteers for the program. (Up to 130 volunteers, averaging 18 new faces and 300 hours per quarter.)
-Planned recognition and fundraising events for the program. (Up to $15,000 in in-kind and cash donations per quarter.)
-Publicized refugee needs through media, mailings and public speaking.
M.A. in Teaching English as a Second Language (expected 2009) Iowa State University, Ames, IA
B.A. in Political Science, minors in Sociology and Business (1999) Drake University, Des Moines, IA Honors: Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa, Mortar Board
Other coursework:
Spanish I and II (2006), Des Moines Area Community College, Des Moines, IA
Elementary Education classes (2003-2004), Iowa State University, Ames, IA
Beginning Arabic (2002), University of Missouri, Kansas City, MO
Volunteer Management (2000), Des Moines Area Community College, IA